Description and characteristics of the variety
- Kolobok is a hybrid bred by breeders from Moscow. It was included in the State Register of Russia in the late 90s of the last century.
- Every year this cabbage becomes more and more popular.
- The hybrid is suitable for cultivation both in the Moscow region and the middle zone, the north-west, as well as in Siberia and the Urals.
- It is a 1st generation hybrid, so seeds collected independently do not retain quality characteristics and are not suitable for further sowing.
- Medium late. The first cabbage forks can be collected from the plot 120 days after the seedlings are planted in the ground.
- It gives a stable harvest; about 15 kg of cabbage is harvested from each square meter.
- Resistant to crop diseases.
- It does not tolerate drought, so it requires moderate and timely watering.
Watering
Regular and moderate watering is necessary for the Kolobok variety. Typically, 10 or more liters of water are used per 1 square meter. Watering depends on the weather and climate where it grows, but you need to know that dry soil and lack of water have a bad effect on the plant, especially on the amount of harvest it will produce.
At first, watering is carried out only around the root system. Then from above or along the rows, this method will wash away the pests. You can also water this variety by sprinkling, which will have a good effect on the plant.
Fruit characteristics
- The leaves are dark green with a whitish surface inside.
- Smooth, rounded with wavy edges and a waxy coating.
- The shape is ovoid.
- There are veins of medium size.
- The head of cabbage is dense and round.
- The fetus gains weight of about 4 kg.
- The rosette is raised and large.
- At least 35 cm in height.
- The diameter of the fruit reaches 50 cm.
- The stalk is medium.
- Great taste.
- Universal use.
- It is stored for 7-8 months, retaining all the beneficial properties.
- Resistant to long-term transportation.
- Does not crack even when fully ripe.
Reviews from experienced gardeners
Gardeners who have already grown and tasted the Kolobok F1 hybrid speak positively about it, noting its good keeping quality and unpretentiousness to the soil and climate.
Anna, Pskov region: “What I like most about this variety is that it keeps well fresh until spring. We keep some of the cabbage in the refrigerator, and some in the basement. Everything is always fine with this variety. You throw away a few of the top leaves, but the middle is always good and of high quality.”
Natalya, Nizhny Novgorod: “ I have been doing gardening for many years. I tried many different varieties of cabbage. Once I saw a photo and read a description of the white cabbage variety Kolobok F1, tried it, and now from year to year I plant this late-ripening cabbage. The heads of cabbage are very dense and are stored until the next harvest. The hybrid is undemanding to soil and weather conditions. It is better to eat this cabbage after the New Year. It’s tough in the fall.”
Advantages and disadvantages
The fact that this hybrid has many positive characteristics is evidenced by its massive popularity among Russian gardeners. Among the advantages of culture are the following:
- Long shelf life at temperatures up to 6 degrees Celsius in an unlit and ventilated area.
- Heads of good density that do not crack.
- Beautiful presentation.
- Resistance to long-term transportation.
- High yield.
- Cold resistance.
- Excellent taste, no bitterness due to optimal glucose content.
- Good immunity to most diseases.
Disadvantages include the need for watering. With a lack of moisture, the density and weight of the head of cabbage decreases. It is necessary to take into account the composition of the soil.
Important! Kolobok cabbage grows well in slightly acidic loamy soil.
The soil should retain moisture well and be rich in organic matter.
Harvesting
The late-ripening hybrid cabbage variety Kolobok ripens at the end of September.
Harvesting is carried out in dry weather at a daytime temperature not lower than +4°C, and at night - not lower than 0°C. The bun is not highly frost-resistant; it can withstand frosts of no more than -5°C. Cut heads of cabbage are even less resistant to low temperatures, so the harvest is carried out in one step and immediately put away for storage.
The Kolobok cabbage variety has all the properties for long-term storage without loss of quality
The cabbage is cut off at the base, leaving the outer length of the stalk up to 3 cm and 2-3 covering leaves to protect the cabbage from mechanical damage.
Storage
Cabbage should be stored in a dry, dark, cool place at a temperature of 0...+1°C and a relative humidity of 85%. Only dense, undamaged and unfrozen heads of cabbage are selected.
There are many ways to store cabbage fresh. Let's look at the most common and reliable of them:
- In boxes and crates. Selected heads of cabbage are placed in one row; the heads of cabbage should not touch each other.
- On the shelf. In the storage room, shelves are installed along the walls at a height of 50 cm from the floor, about 25 cm wide, so that a head of cabbage can easily fit on them. The heads of cabbage are wrapped in paper and laid with the stalk facing up.
- In sand. If the stalk was left long during harvesting, the head of cabbage can be stuck into a sand cushion. You can also completely fill the head of cabbage with sand by cutting the stalk to the base. In this way, you can lay several layers, the main thing is that the heads of cabbage do not touch each other.
- In a clay shell. Coat each head of cabbage with liquid clay, let dry and place on shelves.
- In stacks. A slatted structure is made in the storage in the form of lattices with 10x10 cm cells and the cabbage is laid out on them, completely cutting off the stalk. This design can have several levels. Thanks to good ventilation, the shelf life of cabbage increases noticeably.
- In limbo. This storage method is used to save space. When harvesting, leave the stalk as long as possible, then wrap it with rope and hang it for storage, avoiding the heads of cabbage coming into contact. Excellent ventilation prevents the occurrence of diseases.
- In a refrigerator. The temperature in the refrigerator corresponds to storage standards, so the cabbage does not spoil for a long time in the vegetable compartment.
The Kolobok variety is suitable for harvesting for the winter. This includes pickling, pickling, and preparing canned salads in combination with other vegetables.
The Kolobok variety is excellent for pickling and pickling
Features of cultivation
Kolobok cabbage can be grown by seedlings and without seedlings.
Seedless method
Among the advantages of this method are the following:
- Stronger and hardened seedlings.
- The head of cabbage reaches technical ripeness 10-14 days earlier.
- Larger fruits.
The disadvantages of this method include the high consumption of seed material, since some of the seedlings will need to be removed.
Cabbage can be grown without seedlings in open ground or in peat pots. 2-3 seeds are sown in a hole or pot to a depth of 1 cm. Each hole is dug at intervals of 70 cm from each other. The plantings are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect.
When 4-5 true leaves appear on the seedlings, leave a strong sprout, the rest are removed. The soil is watered as it dries.
Important! Kolobok cabbage seeds can be sown in open ground only in the southern regions of Russia.
Seedling method
In the Moscow region, central Russia, Siberia and the Urals, it is better to plant already strong seedlings in open ground.
When and how to plant seedlings
For seedlings, Kolobok seeds are sown 50 days before planting the sprouts in a permanent place. This time falls in mid-April.
Soil preparation
Fertile soil is used for sowing seeds. You can buy it at a garden store or prepare it yourself by combining:
- peat – 7 parts;
- humus - 2 parts;
- turf soil and mullein, 1 part each.
In such a soil mixture, the seeds will germinate faster, thanks to which the heads of cabbage will reach technical maturity 2 weeks earlier.
Before sowing, the soil and seeds are watered with a hot solution of dark pink potassium permanganate. Next, add wood flour to the ground and mix well. It will saturate the soil with the missing microelements and protect the seedlings from blackleg damage.
Seed preparation
Seeds are disinfected and hardened before sowing. To do this, they are immersed in gauze for 20 minutes in water heated to 50 degrees. Next they are immersed in cold water. Then lay it out on a napkin and dry it.
Important! The seeds should be buried no deeper than 1 cm in the soil, otherwise they will take a long time to germinate.
Plantings are watered very carefully so as not to wash out the seed. This is best done with warm water from a spray bottle. Everything is covered with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect, so shoots will appear faster.
Next, the seedlings will need to be watered moderately with cool water.
After the seedlings emerge, the containers are moved to a well-lit place so that the seedlings do not stretch. The room temperature should be maintained at 20 degrees.
After 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted. The seedlings are planted at a distance of 6 cm from each other, but it is better to immediately plant them in separate cups. When the seedlings are accepted, they begin to take them out into the open air for hardening. By this time, 5-6 leaves should form on each seedling.
Feeding seedlings
Kolobok cabbage seedlings are demanding of fertilizers. Before transplanting seedlings into the ground, they are fed at least 2 times:
- 10 days after picking, add a mixture of ammonium nitrate (10 g), superphosphate (20 g), and potassium sulfate (10 g). All are diluted in 10 liters of water.
- 10 days before transferring the seedlings to a permanent place, they are fed with the following mixture: 25 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water. If necessary, copper sulfate or potassium permanganate, 0.2 g each, can be added to the composition. After applying the fertilizer, the seedlings are shed with clean water to avoid burns on the leaves.
If you do not want to use mineral fertilizer, then before transplanting into the ground, seedlings are fed with mullein infusion. To do this, dissolve 1 tbsp in 1 liter of water. a spoonful of infusion.
Outdoor care
Holes are dug in the area according to a 60x70 cm pattern. To make caring for cabbage easier, it is recommended to use two-line plantings.
Use in cooking
Kolobok, due to its taste, is universal for cooking . It can be used fresh for salads. Cabbage is suitable for stewing, making soups and borscht. But the most widespread are fermentation, pickling and salting of this hybrid, both with leaves and whole heads of cabbage. This is due to the high glucose content, as well as the optimal density and juiciness of the cabbage leaf.
Attention!
The high shelf life of Kolobok makes it possible to ferment this cabbage even in early spring.
Beneficial features
Like many white cabbage varieties, it is rich in nutrients. Cabbage contains biotin and vitamin K. It also contains large amounts of iron, phosphorus, calcium, etc.
We recommend reading: Description of the Moscow late 15 cabbage variety
Thanks to its rich composition, regular consumption of this cabbage results in such positive properties as:
- Normalization of the digestive tract.
- The risk of scurvy is reduced.
- Improved bowel function.
- Slags and toxins are removed from the body.
- Prevention of thyroid diseases.
- Getting rid of hangover syndrome.
In addition, cabbage juice is often used in folk medicine to treat problems such as constipation, hemorrhoids, ulcers, etc.
