Useful properties of kalrabi cabbage

Kohlrabi cabbage is especially popular with modern gardeners. This happened due to the fact that the benefits of using this vegetable crop are much higher than from ordinary cabbage. In addition, even an inexperienced summer resident can grow this variety.

What is kohlrabi?

Kohlrabi is a food biennial plant from the cruciferous family. Refers to a botanical variety of garden cabbage. The large leaves of the stalk are dark green in color. The lower root part resembles a turnip in shape. The color of the fruit depends on the variety, it can be light green and purple. It is a valuable dietary product with a pleasant cabbage stalk taste.

Historical facts

The first mention of kohlrabi dates back to 1554. The plant is considered the homeland of the eastern Mediterranean. Later, cabbage appeared in Western Europe. It was brought to Russia from Germany, it is translated from German - cabbage turnip. The Italian name is consonant - calvole rapa.

Resistance to adverse environmental conditions was a predetermining factor in its spread throughout the world. Kohlrabi is grown in the Far East and the Far North of our country, in America, Canada, and Europe. It is popular in Asia - China, India.

Useful properties of cabbage

The unique composition of kohlrabi is determined by a record amount of trace elements and vitamins:

• Magnesium is essential for nourishing the heart muscles and blood vessels;
• Phosphorus stimulates blood circulation in the brain;
• Potassium regulates the water balance in the body, normalizes the work of muscles and the nervous system;
• Selenium - antioxidant, strengthens the body's defenses;
• Calcium participates in hematopoiesis, metabolism, is necessary for teeth, nails, bones;
• Iron is responsible for the level of hemoglobin in the blood, prevents the occurrence of anemia, signs of fatigue;
• Vitamins of group B are considered a friendly team of power engineers, their deficiency entails extremely negative consequences;
• Vitamin E - vitamin of youth and beauty;
• Vitamin C plays an important biological role in all body systems.

In addition, this vegetable culture is rich in mineral salts and enzymes. It contains vegetable proteins, fiber, glucose, fructose. Along with this, the low calorie content of 41.8 Kcal per 100 g explains the dietary value of cabbage. Kohlrabi contains tartronic acid, it breaks down carbohydrates, preventing them from turning into fat.

Regular use of kohlrabi is recommended for problems such as:

• the appearance of edema;
• high cholesterol;
• constipation;
• pulmonary tuberculosis;
• upper respiratory tract diseases - asthma, bronchitis and others;
• gastrointestinal diseases associated with low acidity of gastric juice.

Growing from seeds

The cultivation of kohlrabi is carried out by sowing seeds in open ground and by the seedling method. In the middle zone of the Russian Federation, the latter method is recommended for obtaining an early harvest. Seedlings are grown at home in boxes or in greenhouses.

Seed sowing dates

Experts recommend three sowing dates. For an early harvest, seeds are sown for seedlings in the second decade of March. The crop is harvested in the first decade of June. In order for the crop to ripen at the end of July, seeds are sown for seedlings in early May. The third term - at the end of June, seeds are sown in open ground, harvesting at the beginning of October.

Sowing seeds and caring for seedlings

To obtain high-quality seedlings, pre-sowing preparation is carried out. The first stage consists in heat treatment in hot water for 10-15 minutes, followed by immersion in cold water. The second stage is to soak the seeds overnight in a solution with microelements. Third, after washing, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours. You need to wait for the seeds to bite in a damp cloth.

Further, individual containers or cassettes are filled with garden soil. Seeds are sown one at a time in a pot. This method eliminates the need for picking, which damages the root system of the seedlings. Crops are covered with foil. The temperature regime should be within + 20-22 degrees. After the emergence of seedlings, the film must be removed, and the temperature must be lowered to +10 degrees. After 12-14 days, set the temperature to + 16-20 degrees.

Seedling care consists of the following activities:

• maintain the required temperature in the room so that the seedlings do not stretch;
• to carry out prophylaxis against the "black leg" with a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• to feed plants in the phase of two leaves with microelements and complex mineral fertilizer.

Picking

A pick is needed if the seeds were sown in a common container. Then it is necessary to plant the plants in the phase of one true leaf in peat pots.

For unpicked seedlings, the temperature is maintained at + 18 degrees during the day, + 10 at night. The hardening of plants should be carried out several days before planting in a permanent place. Since cold weather initiates the appearance of arrows, there is no need to rush to plant seedlings.

How and when to plant seedlings in open ground

Sunny areas are chosen for the beds. The crop can also be grown as a sealant with other vegetables and herbs.

Soil for planting

Kohlrabi is not demanding on the composition of the soil, but tough fruits grow on acidic, unfertilized beds. In the fall, the site must be prepared for digging by introducing organic matter, ash, urea and superphosphate.

The amount of fertilizer applied will depend on the composition of the soil. Lime is added if necessary. In early spring, the soil is dug up, loosened. When digging, ammonium nitrate is added at 15 g per 1 m2.

Boarding rules and times

For work, we choose a gloomy day or evening. It is possible to plant seedlings in open ground when the plant has 5-6 leaves. It is necessary to plant the bushes observing the distance between the rows of 60 cm, between the seedlings 25 cm.The distance is adjusted depending on the variety. It may be slightly less in early ripening varieties. Most kohlrabi varieties are early ripening, ripening 65 - 70 days. The late growing season is 120 days or more.

When planting, the seedlings should not be deeply buried in the ground, because the formation of the stalk may be disrupted. After planting, the plants must be well watered and mulched.

At the same time, they are sowing seeds for seedlings of the second harvest, it will need to be planted in the second decade of June.

In open ground, kohlrabi seeds can be sown in early May. To harvest fresh cabbage fruits throughout the season, seeds are sown two more times with an interval of 20-30 days.

Sowing is carried out to a depth of 15-20 mm according to the 4 * 50 cm scheme.After the appearance of a real leaf, you need to thin out the seedlings. Ultimately, the distance between plants should be at least 20 cm.

Outdoor kohlrabi care

Fruits are formed when the plant has 7-8 leaves. They gain mass quickly. Care in the beds consists in the timely weeding of weeds, loosening the row spacings and hilling the stems.

During the growing season, root feeding should be carried out twice with complex fertilizer with microelements. If necessary, we do foliar spraying with a solution at the rate of 20 g of urea and potassium sulfate per bucket of water.

Protection from pests and diseases

Cruciferous plants are susceptible to disease and pests. Kohlrabi suffers from them somewhat less, but can be affected by bacteriosis, keel, powdery mildew, dry rot, mosaic, black leg. This will not happen if preventive measures are taken in time:

• observe agrotechnical rules of care;
• use tested and prepared seeds, with heating and disinfection with special preparations or potassium permanganate solution;
• remove and burn plant residues after harvesting with deep digging of the soil;
• systematically remove weeds;
• choose varieties with resistance to diseases.

There are quite a lot of insects, cabbage pests: cruciferous fleas, wireworms, scoops, slugs, bear, cabbage whites, aphids and others.

Prevention is also important here. In addition to the above measures, one of the main ones is the implementation of the rules for crop rotation.

In case of disease and insect damage, plants must be treated with fungicides and insecticides. Their assortment is wide enough on the modern market. However, the harm of chemicals is not in doubt. It is best to follow agricultural techniques and use harmless folk methods.

Harvesting and storage

Kohlrabi is a fairly cold-resistant culture. For winter storage, it is removed in late September, early October, when the temperature begins to drop to zero degrees. Harvesting takes place on a sunny day.

As you already know, three crops can be harvested during the garden season. The first two are harvested selectively, avoiding overgrowth of cabbage over 8 cm. With a larger diameter and weight over 100 g, it coarsens and loses its taste. Shelf life 3 days under normal conditions, up to one month in a refrigerator.

In order to correctly ensure the winter storage of cabbage, we recall the following rules:

• the purple colors of the fruit are best for storage;
• root crops are pulled out, shaken off the ground or wiped with a rag, do not wash;
• the leaves are cut, leaving the tips of 15 mm;
• choose healthy, whole fruits for storage;
• placed in a cellar in boxes sprinkled with sand.

Optimal storage conditions are to maintain a humidity of 95% and a temperature between 0 degrees and +5.

Many gardeners are biased towards kohlrabi, considering it an overseas culture. However, when simple agrotechnical rules are followed, this type of cabbage grows well in the Russian dacha. Due to its composition and beneficial properties, kohlrabi will provide your family with the necessary vitamins and minerals for the whole winter!