A variety of cabbage Snow White will surely appeal to true connoisseurs of universal varieties of this vegetable. Even despite the late ripening, plant heads have many advantages, and caring for the crop will not be difficult. Why this variety is remarkable and what you should know about the features of its cultivation, read on.

Variety breeding history

The cabbage variety Snow White is of Ukrainian origin, since it is an achievement of breeders of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing. The new plant was obtained by free group pollination of varieties Amager 611, Zimovka 1474, Denish Bolkhed, Zimnyaya Gribovskaya 2176, Dauerweiss and some others, after which the selection of the most successful result was performed.

Initially, the variety was recommended for cultivation only in Ukraine and Kazakhstan, but today it is successfully grown in the central and southern regions of the Russian Federation.

Did you know? The word "cabbage" is associated with the ancient Greek and Roman concept of "kaputum", which means "head". It is likely that the vegetable got its name precisely because of its external resemblance to this part of the human body.

Description and characteristic

At first glance, Snow White cabbage is similar to many other varieties of this crop, but for those who have already grown it, the differences are more than obvious. Not only the appearance, but also the taste data of this vegetable deserve the attention of every gardener.

Heads of late-ripening varieties are most productive, retain useful properties for long months

Description of heads of cabbage

Heads of cabbage of late-ripening varieties are always the most productive, therefore it is not surprising that Snow White always pleases with the size of the heads. All of them consist of large leaves, with a diameter of 80-160 cm and are painted in a pale green color. The edges of the lyre-shaped leaf plates are smooth, which distinguishes the variety from many others.

The surface of the heads is dense and shiny (with a wax coating), and the small stump located on the outside has a round shape. The weight of one such large fruit ranges from 3-5 kg, and with a cross section, white flesh becomes noticeable.

Rosette cabbage rosette - medium size, transitional, with slightly raised or slightly lowered lower leaves. The fruits of this variety are highly resistant to cracking, but their main advantage is the high dry matter content: with a flat-rounded shape and an average density of heads of cabbage, they are 8.4–11.3%. The amount of sugars in this case is 4.1–6.0%, and ascorbic acid is about 32–41 mg.

Ripening dates

The fruits of the described cabbage are ready for mass collection in early September, however, this is only if the seeds were sown for seedlings in March or April. That is, from the appearance of the first seedlings to the collection of heads on average 127-150 days pass.

Most often, the fruits are consumed fresh, for pickling or winter storage

Frost resistance varieties

Snow White is a frost-resistant variety of cabbage, so even if you do not have time to harvest from the beds before the first frost, the heads will not lose their quality characteristics. When lowering to -5 ... -10 ° C, the crop will not suffer, however, it is better to avoid more significant frosts.

Important! For the active growth of young plants, organic compounds in the form of chicken droppings or manure are suitable, although solutions of urea and ammonium nitrate will be no less relevant. However, in order to form a firm head, it is advisable to continue fertilizing the plant with preferably nitrogen-free compounds in the form of nitrophoska or wood ash.

Average yield

Commercial productivity of the Snow White variety is 4.7–7.5 kg per 1 m², but this is not the limit. Often, these indicators increase to 10 kg per square meter, especially if the gardener did not forget to feed the cabbage with organic and mineral fertilizers in a timely manner.

Video: Cabbage varieties Snow White

Plus qualities and possible disadvantages

Like any other variety, Snow White cabbage has both positive and negative feedback from gardeners, which only confirms the difference in its characteristics.

• The advantages of the plant can be considered:
• good germination of seeds;
• quite large and juicy heads (in the latter case, much depends on a sufficient amount of moisture);
• universality of destination (harvested crops can be kept fresh, or you can cook sauerkraut or pickled cabbage for the winter);
• resistance to cracking;
• high portability and excellent head retention (can be stored for up to six, and sometimes eight months).

As for the disadvantages of the variety, the main ones will be medium resistance to diseases and pests and late ripeningHowever, some gardeners, on the contrary, consider this feature an advantage (guarantees the possibility of long-term winter storage of cut heads).

Growing seedlings

Cultivation of cabbage Snow White always begins with sowing seeds for seedlings, and this process consists of several important components: selection of optimal terms for the procedure, selection and proper preparation of the site for planting grown seedlings and presowing treatment of the seeds themselves.

Dates (sowing seedlings)

Snow White cabbage seeds are sown in seedlings in late February or early March, in order to transplant grown seedlings on a bed in two months. The mid-March is considered the latest deadline for the sowing process in the middle lane, since later planted heads will not have time to mature by the time of harvest.

When growing cabbage, it is important to adhere to the rules

Soil selection and preparation

Cabbage seeds can be grown in a group method, for which absolutely any seedlings are suitable - small pots or boxes. Transplanting seedlings is more convenient to carry out from individual containers or peat pots, but if they are not, then you can do with simple wooden containers filled with a light and nutritious substrate, which should be calcined in the oven before use.

Did you know? People have been cultivating cabbage on the territory of modern Russia since ancient times, about which there are corresponding entries in the ancient directory of Kievan Rus under the name “Svyatoslav Izbornik”. In the document, cabbage heads were described as everyday everyday food.

The optimal soil mixture for Snow White cabbage should consist of one part of sod land, one part humus and a small amount of wood ash (1 tbsp of sifted substance is enough for 1 liter of soil mixture). Soil disinfection can be carried out using elevated temperatures (calcination in the oven for 10–20 minutes) or by spilling the earth with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Preplant seed treatment

When buying Snow White cabbage seeds, be sure to pay attention to the shelf life of the selected product and the external characteristics of the package: there should be no signs of wetting, burning out in the sun or other signs of improper storage. Overdue or damaged seeds cannot guarantee high germination and the expected result of growing cabbage.

Pre-planting treatment of seed is necessary for rapid germination and the appearance of only strong and healthy seedlings, without the slightest sign of disease or pest damage.

The main stages of work in this case will be the following actions:

• soaking seeds in warm water;
• selection of settled and removal of floating specimens;
• warming and disinfecting suitable seed material.

The heating of cabbage seeds will be carried out by dipping them in hot water (temperature + 50 ... + 55 ° C) for 2-3 minutes, which will be quite enough to remove germs, bacteria and other possible problems of cabbage.

An alternative to this procedure is soaking the seeds in a one percent solution of potassium permanganate, where they remain for 15–20 minutes. After the specified time, it is worth rinsing the seeds under running water, dried and used for sowing.

Some gardeners prefer to soak in special growth stimulants (for example, Zavyaz or Epin preparations), but after this treatment, seed washing is no longer required.

The most difficult type of preplant treatment of cabbage is deservedly considered seed bubbling, which can increase the germination of a vegetable by three times. The procedure itself involves soaking the seeds in two liters of water and connecting an aquarium compressor lowered into a container with liquid and seeds. The duration of the apparatus should be at least a day, after which the seeds are removed and dried.

Seedling Care

Sowing cabbage seeds is carried out in two-centimeter grooves with a distance between them of 5 cm. After embedding in the soil, it remains only to water the plantations well and cover with a film. In the first few days, boxes with seedlings are a little shaded, and then sent to the windowsills and wait for the appearance of sprouts. Normally, this happens about a week after sowing seedlings, and already at this time you can remove the film from the box: it will no longer be useful.

Prior to the moment of picking (carried out after the appearance of the first real pair of leaves), you need to regularly moisten the soil from the spray gun and monitor the temperature indicators in the growing room, maintaining them at a level not lower than + 15 ° C.

The first feeding of cabbage Snow White is carried out 10 days after a dive using a solution of one liter of water, 1 g of potassium chloride, 2.5 g of ammonium nitrate, 4 g of superphosphate.

Video: How and what to feed cabbage seedlings

The second time, nutritional compositions for cabbage are added 10-12 days after the previous treatment. In this case, 3-4 grams of ammonium nitrate should be taken per 1 liter of water and, after thorough mixing, add seedlings. The third time, top dressing is carried out shortly before planting the plants at a constant place of growth, mixing 1 liter of water, 2 g of potassium chloride, 3 g of ammonium nitrate and 8 g of superphosphate.

Important! With lush growth and good development of cabbage, the third top dressing of seedlings can be omitted by fertilizing seedlings when planting on the site.

Transplanting seedlings to a permanent place

Seedlings that have grown and matured will soon become very small in seedlings, so after about 1.5–2 months you will have to transplant seedlings to a constant place of growth, having pre-selected a suitable place on your site.

The timing

The time for cabbage to be transplanted to the bed depends on the time of sowing the seeds, therefore, on average, it occurs at the end of March, beginning or middle of April, when the seedlings are no less than 35-40 days old. A few days before the procedure, the site is leveled and landing holes are organized.

When leaving, take into account on what soil the vegetable crop grows

Seat selection

When choosing a place for seedlings of the variety Snow White, you need to focus on the general requirements of white cabbage varieties of late ripening. Typically, such plants take root well in areas with fertile loamy soil in elevated areas.

The selected place should be well warmed up and illuminated by the sun.getting rid of the snow cover early. He does not like cabbage and sudden gusts of wind, so when choosing a territory it is better to consider its southern parts.

Important! Cabbage is returned to the previous bed no earlier than 4–5 years after the previous planting.

Good predecessors for Snow White cabbage are cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, beets, carrots and legumes, but it is better not to plant the described plant after cabbage and other representatives of the Cruciferous family. This will help minimize the likelihood of developing diseases and pests.

Scheme and depth of landing

The grown seedlings of Snow White are planted in a constant place of growth, adhering to a 50 × 60 pattern (the distance between adjacent plants in a row and the rows themselves). Planting depth depends on the size of the root system of plants, but usually it does not exceed 10-12 cm.

Landing care

Care for cabbage seedlings Snow White begins almost immediately after moving the plants to a constant place of growth and provides for timely watering, fertilizer, and soil care. In addition, the prevention of diseases and pests of a culture to which it does not have increased resistance deserves special attention.

Watering and fertilizer

When organizing irrigation of planted cabbage, it is important to take into account the condition of the top soil layer, but on average the substrate is moistened every two days using eight liters of settled water per 1 m² of plantings. It is possible to increase the dosage only at the end of August, when the regularity of liquid administration is reduced to two times every 7 days, but the amount of water rises to 10-12 liters per square meter.

As for the fertilizer of cabbage plantings, the first feeding is carried out 10-15 days after transplantation, using a solution of ammonia (25 g), superphosphate (40 g), potassium chloride (10 g) and a bucket of water. After another 10-14 days, you can add the cabbage with a solution of ammonium nitrate by dissolving 40 g of the substance in 10 l of pure water.

The third time top dressing of cabbage is carried out during the active growth and development of cabbage head. During this period, a solution prepared from a bucket of water, 0.5 l of mullein (or insisted chicken droppings) and 15 g of potassium monophosphate will be useful. One cabbage bush consumes 1 liter of the finished composition. With increased soil acidity on the site once a season, you can fertilize the earth with wood ash or dolomite flour, in the calculation of 1 kg of ash or 0.5 kg of flour per 1 m² of cabbage beds.

From ready-made fertilizers, when growing Snow White cabbage, you can use “Agricola” or “Hera” preparations, the application rates of which are always indicated on the packages

Soil care

Soil care on cabbage beds provides loosening the soil, removing weeds and hilling seedlings for its better growth and development. All actions are performed shortly after the next watering, when a crust forms on the surface of the site. In order not to damage the rhizome of the culture, it is advisable to deepen the tool (plane cutters, hoes, hand cultivators) by no more than 10 cm, trying to process only the space between the rows. During loosening, it is also very easy to extract weeds that can drown the plantings of a healthy crop.

Hilling of plants is carried out with a regularity once a week during the active growth of cabbage and every two weeks thereafter. Having organized a small mound under the bush, it is useful to sprinkle it with wood ash.

Pest and Disease Control

Subject to all agricultural technical requirements and crop rotation rules, infection of Snow White cabbage with pests and diseases is unlikely. As an additional prophylaxis of the black leg, keel and peronosporosis, “Fitosporin”, “Bactofit” and “Fundazol” are used, and already diseased plants are immediately removed to prevent the mass spread of the problem in the area. No less effective for the prevention of disease will be a solution of 4 g of potassium permanganate and a bucket of water, which are sprayed with cabbage from a spray bottle.

Of the pests of the variety Snow White are scary aphids, crucifer bugs, pedunctal stalkers and cabbage caterpillars, to combat which they use pollination with tobacco dust or wood ash.Among the chemical control agents, Confidor, Prestige, and Bankol preparations are especially popular, the working solution of which is prepared according to the recommendations on the package. So that the working fluid does not drip from the leaves, it is useful to add 1 teaspoon of detergent to the bucket of the mixture.

Harvest Dates

Snow cabbage is usually harvested in September or early October, and is subsequently stored in the cellar for six months. To maximize the shelf life, it is important to correctly assemble and fold the heads, cutting them only on a sunny and clear day. If you accidentally missed the right moment, and the heads of cabbage came under the influence of early frosts, you should wait a few days until it thaws on the vine. If this is not done, dark spots will appear on the leaves the first month after harvesting.

In general, there is nothing complicated in the cultivation of Snow White cabbage, it is only necessary to sow seedlings in time and to properly organize further care for it. Ripe cabbage will certainly please you with thick and juicy heads of cabbage, which you can use at your discretion.

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