Features of the Bronco Cabbage Variety

Cabbage - one of the oldest types of vegetables, which is appreciated in the culinary of many countries. It is widely distributed throughout the world in hundreds of varieties. The hybrid grade Bronco F1 is one of them. Read the review about its features and growing technology.

The history of breeding varieties Bronco

Bronco F1 is a classic representative of mid-season cabbage varieties. This hybrid is characterized by attractive solid heads weighing from 2 to 4 kg of small diameter. It is represented by the Dutch company BEJO ZADEN BV. Suitable for cultivation in the central regions of Russia (4th winter hardiness zone). The date of inclusion of the variety in the State Register is 1997.

Did you know? The history of white cabbage is unknown. Her wild relatives of the cruciferous family grow around the world. But there is no sufficient reason to assume that just this or that plant is its direct ancestor.

Description and characteristic

White cabbage belongs to the cruciferous family. This is a herbaceous plant with a straight and barely branched stem on which the leaves are located. In most cases, they have a rounded shape with slightly sloping edges. The head is formed as a result of the development of the core and the fact that the upper leaves are compressed relative to it. The cabbage development cycle lasts 2 years. In the first year, a head is formed. In the second year, a stem is formed that blooms and forms seeds.

The Bronco variety can be considered the standard for white cabbage. It belongs to the universal, for which it is appreciated in the traditional culinary of many countries. Cabbage is prepared in various ways: stewed, fried, canned, but it is also good in the form of fresh salads.

Cabbage is recommended in a hypocaloric diet, as it is rich in fiber and contains few calories. In addition, it is an important source of vitamins and minerals, as well as other biologically active substances. For Bronco are characteristic:

Leaf sockethalf raised
Headrounded, compact, dense, light green
Leavesmedium-sized, roundish, dark green, waxed
The weight2–4 kg
Diameter15-17 cm
Texturethick, crispy
Tastesweetish
Sustainabilitythe variety is resistant to Fusarium, tolerant of black rot and bacterial burn
Ripening period79 days

Productivity and fruiting

When planting cabbage, the farmer always counts on high productivity. For Bronco, it is 5–8 kg / m² of area. By 60–65 days of growth, one head of cabbage weighs at least 2 kg. To increase productivity, you need to provide the plant with excellent watering and timely top dressing.

Ripening time

Bronco is a mid-season variety. His heads of cabbage fully ripen for 75–79 days, reaching their maximum weight. But you can cut off the heads for direct consumption as early as 60 days.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The originator declared the resistance of the variety to Fusarium, relative tolerance to black rot and bacterial burn. Cabbage tolerates drought and adverse weather conditions. Also, its heads are resistant to cracking.

Did you know? The ancient Greeks knew several varieties of cabbage. They are mentioned in the treatises of Feofast. But it is not known whether they are associated with modern types of cabbage or were they other cruciferous.

Pros and cons of the variety

  • Grade advantages:
  • excellent presentation of heads of cabbage;
  • good taste;
  • high productivity;
  • unpretentiousness;
  • friendly ripening;
  • the possibility of growing in the northern regions.

  • The disadvantages of the variety:
  • short shelf life - 2-3 months;
  • there is no data on the resistance of the variety to pests, so all preventive measures must be carried out necessarily.

The rules for growing varieties

Cabbage needs a sunny area and dense soil. To do this, from the fall on the selected site make rotted manure and leave for the winter to compact the soil. Before planting, make sure that the heads will stand firmly in the soil.

Important! You can not grow cabbage in the area on which it grew last year. In addition to open ground, it is possible to grow heads in containers or in greenhouses. Sowing can be carried out by seeds or seedlings. The second method is convenient in that it allows you to get a crop in the soil earlier than if you sow the seeds. In addition, before cabbage in this area, you even have time to grow a salad.

Preparing planting material

A good crop depends on many factors, including the proper planting of the vegetable. Preplant planting consists of seed preparation and site preparation. After removing the seeds from the bag, soak them in a solution of ordinary salt 3%. Action time - 5 minutes. This process is called calibration.

All “empty” seeds will emerge, and those that settle to the bottom can be planted. It is believed that the larger the seed, the greater the potential for development. Therefore, small seeds are rejected, if possible.

Soaking at a temperature of + 50 ° C disinfects them from spores of fungi. The same effect can be achieved by soaking in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes. Germinated seeds germinate faster and more friendly.

To do this, they are placed on a saucer under a piece of wet gauze or napkin. The temperature in the room should be normal - about + 20 ° C. After 3 days they will be ready for landing, but you can wait a few more days if they sprout is not friendly enough.

Growing seedlings

Growing seedlings begins with soil preparation. It will take turf land and humus, taken in equal quantities. As a potash fertilizer, add ash - 1 tbsp. spoon per 1 kg of soil mixture.

Plan to plant cabbage on seedlings 4 weeks before its intended planting in the ground. Seeds are sown in prepared containers to a depth of 0.5 cm. If planting occurs in boxes, then at a distance of 2 cm from each other. If in cups, then 1-2 seeds in each cup.

Then, you can leave the plant that will be better developed. The approximate time for planting seedlings is March. Seedlings should be under bright lighting. The soil must be constantly moistened. Seedlings are planted if it has 3 true leaves and the temperature in the street has reached + 10 ° C.

Did you know? The largest head of cabbage was raised by Scott Robb. She was presented at an exhibition in Palmer (USA) in August 2012 and weighed 62.71 kg.

Site and ground preparation

Dig the soil in the autumn in order to remove weeds, loosen it well and add lime for deoxidation if the acidity level is above 6–6.5 pH. During the spring digging fertilizers are applied. It can be rotted manure or humus.

Before fertilizing, the soil is disinfected with a hot solution of copper sulfate 1% (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water). The variety is almost insensitive to drought, but needs sunlight. Therefore, the site should be located so that it is lit at least 4 hours a day.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

Cabbage is planted in the soil if it has 3-5 real leaves formed and the temperature in the street is not lower than + 10 ° С. Landing is performed in sunny calm weather. The day before transplanting, seedlings need to be well watered.

If the plants grew in soluble cups (peat, cardboard), then the seedlings are planted without taking them out. It is necessary that the distance between the individual plants is at least 40 cm. If the glass is plastic, then remove the seedlings carefully so as not to damage the roots. Plant to the same depth that it grew in cups. The distance between the rows of plants can be from 50 to 70 cm.

Landing technology:

  • prepare the ground;
  • make a trench about 5 cm deep;
  • water abundantly;
  • place the seedlings of cabbage in a trench at a distance of about 30 cm from each other;
  • compact the soil around seedlings and fill in the trench;
  • gently pour again.
Important! The best time to land is in the early morning or late afternoon. So seedlings do not come in contact with the hot sun. Always water the cabbage well before and after planting.

Plant care

After planting, cabbage needs watering, periodic top dressing, pest control and weed removal. Removing weeds leaves more seedlings with nutrients and improves its growth.

Watering and feeding

Cabbage constantly needs moist soil. It should not be swampy or with water standing at the roots, but weekly watering is required. If in a week the soil dries to a depth of 7–9 cm - water more often. Morning watering is preferable to evening watering.

The approximate rate of fluid flow is 10 liters per 1 m² area. To maintain a constant level of soil moisture, add up to 10 cm of mulch around the cabbage. Mulch slows down the evaporation of moisture and prevents overheating if the weather is hot.

The best materials for cabbage are spunbond or agrofiber. They cover the soil before planting, and seedlings are planted in cuts on the material.

Cabbage consumes a lot of nutrients. You will need to fertilize every 2 weeks. The best option is a balanced composition of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in a ratio of 10-10-10.

The numbers indicate that in the composition of the fertilizer, the share of each of the listed substances is 10%. The soil must be well watered before fertilizing and after that.

Loosening and weeding from weeds

Loosening is carried out on demand after each watering. If the plot is covered with mulch, then this is not necessary. Mulch prevents the growth of weeds and keeps the soil moist and loose. If cabbage just grows on the beds, then the depth of tillage is 4-8 cm.

Loosening is carried out after watering, combining with the removal of weeds. You can loosen a garden hoe, electric or mechanical cultivator. If it rains, loosen the soil after it dries slightly.

Did you know? In ancient China (about 1000 BC) it was believed that cabbage helps against baldness. She was the main special elixir. It is not known whether the remedy helped the ancient Chinese, but this vegetable does contain many beneficial nutrients.

Pest and Disease Control

If there are a lot of butterflies in the garden, then cabbage definitely needs protection. Some farmers advise covering the cabbage with a net so that butterflies cannot land on leaves and lay eggs. Another pest of cabbage is slugs. Sprinkle aisles with chopped shells, eggshells or other hard, fragmentation material. Slugs cannot crawl over it to the cabbage.

If the farm has poultry, they can be effective against pests. Farmers also practice manual harvesting of caterpillars, if found on plants. This is possible if a dozen heads of cabbage grow on the plot.

Leg of a head of Bronco variety - medium length. Therefore, farmers spend 1-2 hills per season. They plant the plant up to the point of formation of the leaf outlet. It is believed that the procedure helps to combat the cabbage fly, as well as some fungal diseases. For example, a black leg.

The first hilling is carried out 14 days after planting seedlings, and the second - a month after the first.

Important! Hilling is necessary for large heads. It helps to maintain weight.

Features of harvesting and storage of crops

As soon as the heads of cabbage are condensed - they are ready for harvesting. It is not worth keeping them in the garden - this can lead to cracking due to high moisture consumption. The heads are cut off at the base with a sharp knife and stored in a shaded room.

In the cellar, cabbage will be stored for up to 3 months. After harvesting, be sure to remove the entire stem and root system from the soil to prevent the accumulation of spores of fungi and other pathogens. The temperature in the storage room should be about 0 ° C, and humidity - about 90%.

Growing cabbage may seem like a time-consuming process, but if you do not forget to complete the basic agricultural measures in time, you can get a good harvest.

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