In recent years, many new forms of white cabbage have been bred, however, varieties that have been tested by experience and time continue to remain popular among summer residents. One of these hybrid forms is Nadezhda, long and successfully cultivated by summer residents, farmers and large agricultural producers. This article will introduce you to the characteristics of this vegetable, planting technique, as well as the intricacies of caring for it.

History of the variety

Hope is a hybrid of White Cabbage, obtained by crossing such varieties as Enkgoisen Glory and Damselfly. The variety was bred in 1969 by the Soviet breeder N.M. Nasrullaev. The variety is zoned for cultivation in open beds even in the northernmost areas.

Description and characteristic

External data, the fruit of the variety Nadezhda is similar to a white cabbage: a head of cabbage is dense, round or flat-round in shape, medium in size, but rather weighty (weighing 2.5–3.5 kg). The outer leaves of the fork are light green, at the cut - white cabbage. The inner stump is short.

The presented variety is famous for its stable fruitfulness. 3.4-10 kg of vegetables are collected from 1 square meter. The timing of ripening vegetables is average. The period from the appearance of sprouts to technical maturity is 120–125 days, and it takes 80–95 days from planting seedlings to the ground before harvesting.

Did you know? The first mention of cabbage dates back to the Stone and Bronze Ages. And in the XV century BC. e. it was actively cultivated by the ancient Egyptians.

The hybrid is marked by increased drought and frost resistance, is relatively resistant to ailments that often affect white cabbage (gray rot and black leg). The tasting qualities of the variety were highly rated. The vegetable is universal, widely used in cooking. But best suited for salting and pickling.

Pros and cons of the variety

• Gardeners choose this hybrid variety due to its undeniable advantages:
• good stable fruiting;
• presentable presentation and excellent taste of heads of cabbage;
• forks are an ideal raw material for pickling and pickling;
• resistance of heads of cabbage to cracking and flowering;
• immunity to many infections;
• cold resistance, allowing to cultivate plants in areas with low temperatures;
• high drought tolerance;
• the fruits are remarkably transported;
• good keeping quality - the crop can be stored for at least 5 months.

The disadvantage is vulnerability to bacteriosis and keel.

Optimal landing times

Sowing seeds of the variety Nadezhda for seedlings falls on the period from the end of March to the first decade of April. On average, seedlings grow in a month and a half, but adult strong young bushes can be transplanted to an open bed (under the film) in the third decade of April.

Features of growing varieties

A hybrid is usually grown in seedlings at home. This allows you to get healthy seedlings and an earlier crop. On the right technology for the cultivation of cabbage Hope, read on.

Learn how to plant and grow cabbage properly.

Seed preparation

Before sowing, seeds require preparation in the form of treatment with potassium permanganate. The procedure allows you to eliminate harmful microorganisms from the surface of the seeds, spores of fungi and larvae of pests. Then the planting material must undergo disinfection in water, the temperature of which is +45 ... + 50 ° С.

Calibration is an important selection process for large germinating seeds. Soak them in 5% sodium chloride solution for 5 minutes. Those that will not sprout will emerge. Seeds should be kept in water for 20-30 minutes, after which they quickly cool with cold water. At the last stage, the seed material is recommended to be treated with a growth stimulator - “Agat-25”, “Zircon” or “Albite”.

Growing seedlings

As containers for seedlings, pots of 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm x 3 cm in size are ideal, which are filled with a mixture of sand, peat and sod land in the same proportions. The substrate is pre-watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, thus disinfecting it. Seeds are placed in the soil, deepening by 0.5-1 cm, after which the crops are immediately watered. Before the shoots appear, the earth is moistened with warm water for 5-6 days in a row.

Read also about how to properly process cabbage.

Then the soil is irrigated as it dries, stopping watering 7-8 days before planting the plants in a permanent place. The temperature in the room where the seedlings are kept should be maintained in the range of +20 ... + 25 ° С. With the advent of the first sprouts, it should be reduced to +5 ° C during the day and +10 ... + 12 ° C at night in order to adapt the bushes to external conditions.

Hardening will help the cabbage to transfer the transplant more comfortably. Also, during the hardening period, the leaves should be sprayed with a solution of potassium sulfate and urea (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water), 250 ml per bush. Plants with 2-3 sheets are transplanted into separate cassettes or large boxes. Diving allows you to get strong seedlings, sifting out weak sprouts and freeing up space for more viable samples.

Preparation of the place and soil for planting

Since sunlight plays a very important role in the development of this variety, beds for seedlings need to be prepared in a place well lit by the sun. In order to prevent infectious diseases, crop rotation rules should be followed. Never plant cabbage in one plot for more than one season.

Important! Planting in a shady place or in partial shade should be avoided, otherwise nitric acid salts will accumulate in the ripening heads of cabbage, plants will develop worse. Heads themselves will form loose and less laid.

The best predecessors of this vegetable are nightshade or gourd. A row before planting young bushes of cabbage should be fertilized with a sufficient amount of fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and calcium. In autumn, organic matter (manure or compost) is added to the soil. If the land on the site has an excessively acid reaction, dolomite flour or lime must be added to it in the fall.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

Seedlings are ready for transplanting to open beds at the moment when the seedlings reach a height of 18–20 cm, and will have 4-5 full leaves.

The transplant is performed using proven technology:

1. Pour up to 2.5 L of water into pre-prepared recesses.
2. Lower the young bushes into the holes, covering the roots with soil from above. Gently compact the ground so that there are no voids around the roots.
3. On top of the soil, around the seedlings, sprinkle a layer of mulch so that the water evaporates less quickly.

Important! The distance between plants in the garden should be at least 40 cm, and between rows - up to 50-60 cm.

Features of cabbage care in the open ground

The next stage in the care (after disembarkation) of the hybrid Nadezhda consists in performing standard agrotechnical procedures. First of all, regular watering is important. While the bushes take root, they are watered daily. Already formed cabbage is irrigated once every 6-7 days, 1-2 liters of water for each plant, up to 3-4 liters as the head of cabbage grows. If summer turned out to be sultry, and at the same time there is no rain, plants need even more water.

If the soil is overdried, the heads of cabbage will crack. Waterlogging the soil is also not worth it - an excess of water leads to the defeat of the heads of the black leg, rotting of the roots and death of the plant. 2-3 weeks before harvesting, watering should be stopped. After irrigation, the beds are loosened, at the same time ridding the site of weeds and hilling bushes. The need for hilling will disappear after the growth of the lower tier of foliage.

Did you know? The leader in growing plants of the cabbage family is China - 31.759 million tons per year.

As for feeding, during the summer season at least three procedures are necessary. During the growing season, fertilizers with nitrogen content are applied, and in the ripening phase of the head of the cabbage, mineral (phosphorus and potassium) formulations are required. For the first time, fertilizers are applied 2-3 weeks after transplanting seedlings to a permanent site. Subsequent feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the previous ones.

Features of harvesting and storage of crops

Harvesting of the variety Nadezhda falls on August-September. Choose a warm, sunny day to harvest. Using a shovel, carefully dig out the heads of cabbage, being careful not to violate their integrity. Roots and stumps should be freed from the ground. On each head of cabbage, 2-3 cover sheets should remain.

Harvested for long-term storage must be lowered into the cellar or basement. Vegetables intended for pickling can be stored in a cold room. Heads of cabbage should be systematically inspected for lack of damage. The top foliage starting to rot should be removed immediately. Heads of variety Nadezhda do not crack during long-term storage. Vegetables do not rot and do not deteriorate in a cool room for up to 5 months.

Also read about how to store cabbage in cling film for the winter.

As you can see, cabbage Nadezhda deservedly has a reputation of a variety that is resistant to various negative factors. The hybrid form is loved by many summer residents. Try it and you plant this delicious and unpretentious care hybrid. A rich harvest of vegetable crops will provide your whole family with heads of cabbage for pickling and long-term winter storage.