Planting and growing Savoy cabbage: practical recommendations

Savoy cabbage is a rare guest on Russian tables.
And, in our time, cabbage is slowly beginning to conquer our country. This is due to the beneficial properties that savoy cabbage has. In fact, it contains a huge amount of vitamins, macro and microelements, and various acids. Therefore, nutritionists, and not only others, paid attention to it. By the way, many people are attracted to Savoy cabbage by its unusual appearance. Scientists consider the Mediterranean to be the birthplace of cabbage. This is Italy and the County of Savoy in the eighteenth century. But, at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it moved to the countries of Western Europe and Asia. And at the moment, she is actually popular there. But in Russia, Savoy cabbage is just being discovered and is beginning to take root.

Savoy cabbage: history and distribution

The distant ancestors of Savoy cabbage were wild species of cabbage crops seen in Southern Europe and Mediterranean countries. The champion in growing vegetables was the small Italian county of Savoy, after which this crop was named. To this day, here in this town one can find the largest variety of subspecies and forms of Savoy cabbage, including leafy ones.

Due to a whole range of beneficial properties, cabbage quickly spread; it is now actively cultivated in Western European countries. It is most developed in Portugal, Spain and France, where cabbage is called Milanese cabbage. In Romania and Bulgaria it is called “Curly”.

Savoy cabbage appeared on the territory of modern Russia in the 17th century, but did not gain much popularity. Now it is grown in the northwestern regions and in the central zone of the country. In Ukraine it is seen even less often, despite conditions suitable for ripening.

Ripe head of savoy cabbage

Picking procedure and landing in the ground

Picking is done when the first cotyledon leaf appears. The procedure consists of shortening the roots to 1/3 and placing them in separate pots.

Advice! The sprouts are protected from direct sunlight to avoid burns.

Fertilizing is carried out on days 3-5 and 7-10 of growth after picking.

Before planting in the ground, it is necessary to harden the seedlings: for this, the seedlings are placed in a cooler place.

On day 35-40, seedlings are planted in the soil. In central Russia, the most favorable time for this is mid-April.

The nuances of growing seedlings

For Savoy cabbage, growing through seedlings will be the most relevant: this will allow you to get the harvest as early as possible. The quality, strength and endurance of future seedlings will depend on how complete the preparation of seeds for sowing is. So, preparation consists of several stages.

Stage 1: choosing soil for sowing

Important properties of soil for sowing are looseness, lightness, and slight acidity. Ideal compositions:

1. A mixture of peat, earth and sand in a 1:1:1 ratio, to which a tablespoon of lime or ash is added to reduce acidity.
2. Biosoil from a specialized store, which must be thermally treated before packaging. Such compositions have enhanced biological activity, promote rapid seed hatching and improve plant development.
3. A soil mixture of 3 parts coconut substrate and 1 part vermiculite. Thanks to its loose and light structure, this composition allows moisture and oxygen to easily penetrate to the roots, and vermiculite supplies the seeds with additional nutrients. In such soil, the risk of cabbage becoming infected with the most common fungal disease, blackleg, is significantly reduced.
4. Peat pucks. Often, seeds are sown in tablets, which, in addition to peat, contain growth stimulants, mineral compounds and antiviral components. Seedlings growing in this composition have increased immunity and develop more actively.

If the soil mixture was prepared with your own hands, it must be disinfected before sowing. Potassium permanganate or Fitosporin solution (1 drop per 1 liter of water) is suitable for this purpose.

The soil for sowing vegetables requires preliminary preparation.

Prices for peat tablets

peat tablets

Stage 2: preparing the container for seedlings

There are three options for containers where you can plant seeds. This:

• a long box from which grown cabbage with two or three leaves is transplanted into small jars;
• individual containers (yogurt cups, cut-off milk/juice boxes);
• nutritious peat pots with microelements, which are later placed on the site under the seedling.

To prevent the plant from experiencing stress once again, experienced gardeners recommend immediately choosing the second or third option. If the seeds are immediately sown in separate jars, the root system will remain intact immediately before being transferred to the ground, and will remain developed and strong. And when picking seedlings, no matter how careful it is, in any case the delicate roots are injured. Some of them remain in the ground, and the seedling will need additional strength to restore them.

Important! It is necessary to make small drainage holes in containers for seedlings so that the liquid does not stagnate in the soil after watering. Otherwise, the not yet ripe plant will begin to rot.

The best solution for sowing cabbage is individual pots

Stage 3: preparing seeds for cultivation

Some stores sell already processed seeds that can be immediately sown in the ground. Before sale, they undergo pre-sowing treatment and receive a mineral shell, which improves the quality of germination and makes the seeds more resistant to parasites.

Untreated seeds require preliminary preparation. It consists of the following procedures:

1. Calibration Seeds are sorted, choosing medium and large ones. Small seeds can be used as spare seeds: put in the sowing hole along with two or three large ones.
2. Disinfection. Selected seeds are disinfected in a solution of Fitosporin or potassium permanganate.
3. Activation. To activate the germination process, seeds are exposed to contrasting temperatures. They are wrapped in a paper napkin, placed in a container and filled with hot water (about 50°C). The seeds remain there for 10-15 minutes, after which they are removed and placed in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
4. Saturation. The seeds must be soaked in a solution of microelements for 12-14 hours. This can be Epin (2 drops per liter of water) or Nitrofoski (5 g). The procedure is carried out before placing the container in the refrigerator.

After completing the procedures, the seeds should be dried with a paper napkin if they did not have time to dry in the refrigerator on their own.

After soaking, tails peck from the seeds

Stage 4: sowing seeds

Dried seeds are planted in prepared boxes with soil. The most optimal sowing time is early March for early ripening varieties, late March/early April for middle and late varieties. The sowing algorithm will be like this:

1. Mark grooves up to 10 mm deep at a distance of at least 3 cm from each other.
2. Place 2-3 seeds in one nest, place the nests at a distance of 15 mm from each other.
3. Sprinkle the grooves with soil and level them, spray the soil with a spray bottle.
4. Place the boxes in a plastic bag or cover with film/glass.

7 days after sowing, it is necessary to thin out the planting, leaving a distance between the sprouts of about 2 cm. 2-3 sprouts should hatch from each nest, you need to leave the strongest ones, cutting off the rest with scissors.

Each variety of cabbage in the garden is marked or labeled

Prices for savoy cabbage seeds

savoy cabbage seeds

Seedling care

Savoy cabbage sprouts require comfortable conditions for development, only in this case the seedlings will turn out painless and strong. The conditions necessary for its qualitative development are given in the table below.

Table 1. Conditions necessary for the healthy development of Savoy cabbage seedlings.

If the planting is too dense, the sprouts need to be thinned out. When the seedlings have 2-3 pairs of true strong leaves, the plants are planted in separate containers, having first shortened the roots by 1/3. It is best to transplant into peat cups, where the seedlings will remain until planted in open ground.

Important! If the temperature and light conditions are not observed, as well as excessive or insufficient watering, the seedlings will stretch excessively upward and become thinner. This condition should be avoided. If, nevertheless, the seedlings have lost their former strength and become lethargic, they are transplanted into separate cups.

The sprouts are irrigated with a spray bottle so that the watering is not too abundant.

How to plant seeds for seedlings

Depending on the variety of Savoy cabbage, the growing season is slightly different. From sowing to planting seedlings in the garden, it takes from 30 to 50 days. Therefore, sowing dates are determined by the timing of crop ripening, as well as taking into account the local climate and weather conditions.

In general, Savoy cabbage can be sown as seedlings, focusing on the following dates:

• early March - early varieties;
• mid-March – late-ripening species;
• late March - early April - late varieties.

To grow seedlings, it is convenient to use separate pots at once. Cabbage seeds are quite large and easy to plant. In addition, this method will avoid picking and simplify the growing procedure. The soil must be prepared nutritious and loose, on a peat basis. Cabbage grows well in the following soil mixture:

• 3 parts peat;
• 1 part of turf land;
• a little sand and humus.

Savoy cabbage seedlings need additional lighting, otherwise they will stretch out. At first, until shoots appear, it should be kept in a warm room (up to 20°C). When the seeds sprout, the seedlings must be moved to a cooler place. Daytime temperatures should not exceed 15°, and night temperatures should not exceed 10°C. With this regime, the seedlings will be strong and will not stretch out.

When to plant cabbage in open ground?

The timing of transplanting grown plants into open areas depends on the early maturity of the subspecies. So, early-ripening cabbage is planted in the garden around the beginning of May, mid-ripening vegetables - a little earlier. If seedlings of early varieties are sent to the garden 45-50 days after sowing, then medium and late-ripening varieties are planted at 35-45 days.

Cabbage does not need to be watered for a week before planting in open ground. A couple of hours before placing them in the ground, the plants are shed generously with warm water.

Important! To ensure that the Savoy cabbage does not end up in the beds until late autumn, it is recommended to sow the seeds in several stages and in several varieties of ripening. Then the owners of the plot will have the opportunity to prepare fresh vitamin salads before frost.

Strong and healthy cabbage seedling in the garden

A little about varieties

We will describe some varieties and hybrids of Savoy cabbage to help gardeners make their choice when purchasing.

Early ripening varieties: their ripening periods range from 105 days to four months.

• Savoy cabbage "Jubilee" - heads of bluish tint, weighing up to eight hundred grams, prone to cracking.
• Savoy cabbage “Golden Early” is a light green, bright head of cabbage weighing up to a kilogram.
• Savoy cabbage “Moscow Lacemaker” is a champion in early ripening; the first products can be harvested within three months after germination. “Lacemaker” is ideal for preparing cabbage rolls.

Mid-season varieties: growing season from four to four and a half months.

• Savoy cabbage “Vertus” is a very good, long-standing head of cabbage, its weight reaches two kilograms.
• Hybrid "Melissa F1" is very productive. Pours three-kilogram heads of cabbage that are resistant to cracking.

Late varieties of Savoy cabbage, their growing season is over 140 days. Heads of these varieties are suitable for short-term storage.

• Savoy cabbage “Vertu 1340” is a popular variety in Russia, the weight of a head of cabbage reaches three kilograms. Stored until mid-winter.
• Savoy cabbage "Uralochka" - a head of cabbage weighing up to two kilograms is yellowish when cut. Suitable for autumn and early winter consumption.

Principles of planting Savoy cabbage in the ground

To get a decent cabbage harvest, it is important not only to grow good seedlings, but also to plant them in a permanent place according to all the rules. And vegetables growing in the garden require no less care than young sprouts.

The soil for planting Savoy cabbage must be prepared in the fall. To do this, the land is plowed and fertilized with organic fertilizers and minerals. In spring, ammonium nitrate is poured into the soil, which promotes the formation of a full-fledged head of cabbage.

Table 2. Important principles for planting Savoy cabbage.

Sandy loam, loamy, soddy-podzolic or neutral soil is optimal for the full development of this vegetable. Soil containing a lot of clay is not suitable for this purpose.

The first time after planting, young cabbage must be protected from the scorching sun, covering it with boxes or newspapers. The growing plant must have enough light and space for development.

Important! It is not recommended to plant savoy cabbage in the same place for more than 3 years in a row. It is best to change the area where it will grow annually.

Feeding scheme for Savoy cabbage depending on age

Planting seeds

Growing Savoy cabbage is possible using seedlings and non-seedling methods. Seedlings are necessary to extend the growing season. The seedless method is used to obtain a harvest from medium-ripening cabbage in the south of the country. When planting without seedlings, the seeds are sown in greenhouses or in a protected bed.

Early vegetables are sown at the beginning of the first spring month, in March, late varieties - in early April, medium ripening - in mid-April.

Although seedlings appear at +3-5 °C, the temperature suitable for plant development is +12-18 °C during the day and +2 °C at night.

Preparing seeds for sowing involves going through the following procedures:

• separation of viable seeds in salted water;
• heating in hot water for disinfection;
• keeping microelements in solution;
• cooling overnight in the refrigerator;
• drying before planting.

The prepared soil mixture should be loose, nutritious, moisture- and breathable. Mix peat, sand or moss, and soil in equal parts. No soil is taken from the greenhouse or garden.

In the planting box, grooves are made every 3 cm and 1 cm deep, spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and the seeds are laid out at a distance of 1 cm from each other. The crops are covered with glass to retain moisture.

Shoots appear on the second or third day. The glass is removed from them and transferred to a bright room. The temperature in the first seven days drops to +6-10 °C. During this time, the seedlings feed on the seed and grow roots. Then the temperature is raised again to +12-18 °C.

Growing and caring for savoy cabbage

To give your Savoy cabbage complete care, you just need to do 4 things: water, weed, loosen and hill up.

1. Watering . The vegetable crop does well in very humid environments, but frequent watering can lead to slugs. A formed head of cabbage should not be watered from above, as moisture may cause mucous bacteriosis to form on the inflorescences. Watering is done only at the root.
2. Weeding . In order for the cabbage to grow evenly in all directions and the head to be symmetrical, you need to regularly remove weeds from the beds.
3. Loosening . Loosening is carried out as often as possible, as it allows the roots to be better saturated with oxygen.
4. Hilling up . To maintain a dense vegetable and prevent its stem from breaking, cabbage needs to be hilled. The procedure is carried out after the head of the vegetable gets stronger and looks like a full-fledged head of cabbage.

Growing savoy cabbage in the garden

Plant care

The basic operations for caring for Savoy cabbage are the same as for any other: watering, fertilizing, loosening. Even though this crop is drought-resistant, this does not mean that it does not need to be watered. On the contrary, it requires a lot of water, and drought resistance only means that if there is a forced break in watering, it does not die, it tolerates this, but does not develop. Moisture evaporates intensively through large wavy leaves. For the first two weeks, watering is required every other day, then it should become weekly. The soil should become sufficiently moist, but without stagnant water. After watering, loosening is required to a depth of 8 cm until the leaves of neighboring plants close together. The denser the soil, the deeper it needs to be loosened.

Very soon, loosening and hilling will be impossible, and the leaves will have their own microclimate

After 2-3 weeks, it is advisable to start hilling the cabbage and do this while there is access to the roots. After the first hilling, the cabbage can be fed with mullein infusion (1:10). The second feeding is necessary at the moment the heads begin to set. If you don’t have mullein, you can also use mineral fertilizers, most conveniently complex fertilizers (nitrophoska or azofoska), strictly according to the instructions on the package. Each plant requires about a liter of nutrient solution, which it is advisable to apply into shallow grooves and then cover them with soil.

Savoy cabbage is rarely attacked by pests. A preventative measure against cruciferous flea beetle is dusting plants with wood ash.

Savoy cabbage is very frost-resistant. This is especially true for late varieties, which are often left in the garden for the winter, where it is under the snow. Heads of cabbage are cut when needed. And for earlier varieties, you shouldn’t be late in harvesting: some varieties crack severely after reaching full maturity. At a temperature of 1–3 °C, heads of most late varieties can be stored for about three months; among the early ones, only a few are well-stored.

Late varieties feel great in the garden even when the grass around has already withered and frozen

Diseases and pests

Pests of savoy cabbage include:

• cabbage fly;
• bedbugs;
• cruciferous flea beetle;
• wireworm;
• slugs;
• cutworms and white moths;
• aphid.

To avoid crop destruction, each head of cabbage is carefully checked for caterpillars, aphids, cabbage flies and other pests. If an unwanted guest is detected, he is immediately eliminated. However, you should not treat cabbage with chemicals, preferring a product made by yourself.

How to protect cabbage from pests using folk remedies

The most common diseases are:

• underwear;
• mosaic;
• powdery mildew;
• Phomasis;
• blackleg;
• black spot.

mosaic and black spot disease, it is necessary to remove the diseased specimen from the garden bed and spill the soil with a steep solution of potassium permanganate . If the cabbage becomes infected with fungus , it should be treated with copper sulfate or Bordeaux mixture .

Cabbage fly is a dangerous parasite that attacks Savoy cabbage

Tillage

Once the plants have taken root in the open ground, you can begin weeding. Cabbage does not tolerate being close to weeds, especially perennial ones, which quickly develop and take up a lot of nutrients.

To make it easier for weeds to be pulled out of the ground with their roots, it is better to do the procedure after watering or rain. They are pulled out by hand or knocked down with a hoe.

After watering, do not forget to loosen the bed to a depth of 5 cm to break up the earthen crust. Till the soil every 7 days. This procedure makes the soil soft and promotes the supply of oxygen to the roots.

Harvesting and storing savoy cabbage

With proper care, the first fruits of early-ripening cabbage appear by mid-June, and mid-ripening cabbage ripens by August. If the purpose of cultivation was winter harvesting, the harvest is harvested before the first frost: this way it will be stored longer. Savoy cabbage is preserved worse than white cabbage, so ripened heads of cabbage are stacked strictly in one row on shelves so that it does not rot under a layer of other fruits. For long-term storage, a temperature of -1 to 3 °C is suitable.

One way to store savoy cabbage

Cleaning

Early ripening cabbage begins to be harvested from the end of June. There is no delay in collection to avoid cracking. If there are pests, spray the cabbage with saline solution. To do this, dissolve 150 grams of salt in 10 liters. Using a watering can, give the bushes a salt shower.

Late cabbage is cut in August and September. You don’t have to rush; the heads of cabbage can withstand cold snaps and frosts down to −12 degrees. Ideal conditions for cutting for long-term storage:

• temperature from −1 to +1 degrees;
• lack of wind;
• dry weather.

Save 3-4 bottom leaves to protect the inner leaves from breaking off. To prolong the shelf life, fertilize with an ash-potassium solution 3-5 days before harvesting.

Do not water before harvesting.

How to store:

• the heads of cabbage are sprinkled with chalk powder;
• the stalk is shortened by three centimeters;
• lay out for three days to dry on lattice surfaces;
• transfer to wooden containers with the stalk facing up;
• place the heads at a distance of up to 3-4 centimeters so that they do not touch;
• lowered into a cellar with a temperature range of 0-3 degrees, a humidity level of 90-95%.

A convenient way to preserve the harvest is to hang the heads of cabbage in a net under the ceiling. A separate bag for each. Heads of cabbage are stored well if they are wrapped in paper and placed on the shelves of the cellar. You can also lay them in the shape of a pyramid, with the cuts directed upward:

• The largest heads are placed at the base and sprinkled with sand;
• the next layer is the middle heads, also sprinkled with sand;
• at the top there are small heads of cabbage.

Shelf life up to six months or more when optimal conditions are created.

In northern regions with stable winter frosts, cabbage successfully winters in beds under snowdrifts. When the need arises to cut, they rake away the layer of snow and take out fresh heads. Before use, immerse in cold water. A healthy vegetable that perfectly complements your diet.

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About the author: Lyudmila Vasilievna Nosikova

Agronomist of the state agricultural enterprise "Garovskoe" of the Khabarovsk region of the Khabarovsk Territory.

The benefits of savoy cabbage

This amazing vegetable is rich in microelements and vitamins. Each head of cabbage contains:

• vitamins of group B, A, C, PP, E;
• salts of phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium;
• fiber, proteins, carotene, ribolavin, iron, thiamine, glucose;
• phytoncides (natural antibiotics), amino acids, pectin;
• glutathione is a natural antioxidant that maintains the health and youth of the body;
• ascorbigen is a substance that prevents the growth of malignant tumors.

Savoy cabbage acts on the body as a diuretic, thins the blood and lowers blood pressure, and is suitable for diabetics. It strengthens vision and stabilizes blood sugar levels. In addition, this low-calorie vegetable helps burn fat.

Savoy cabbage makes tasty and healthy vitamin-rich salads

When to plant savoy cabbage seedlings and how to do it correctly

Savoy cabbage is undeservedly forgotten by gardeners and is rarely grown. But these interesting heads of cabbage with wrinkled leaves are tastier than white cabbage and contain more calories. Of course, you won’t be able to ferment it, but the salads turn out juicy and satisfying. Be sure to try setting aside a couple of beds for this variety. It is not difficult to grow, just like other related species - by seedling method. Today we will tell you how and when to plant savoy cabbage seedlings.

Savoy cabbage dishes

Because of its unique taste and soft leaf structure, Savoy cabbage can be consumed in any form - raw, stewed, fried, boiled. A variety of dishes are prepared from vegetables, here are some of them:

• aromatic cabbage rolls with thin skin;
• Korean carrot salad;
• borscht, cabbage soup, other cabbage soups;
• vinaigrette, vitamin salads, Caesar salad;
• canned salads for the winter;
• stewed cabbage with mushrooms and dietary meat;
• lean cabbage rolls or stew;
• beef rolls or pies.

Baked cabbage rolls from savoy cabbage

The choice of dishes is unusually large and is limited only by the hostess’s imagination. Savoy cabbage is a unique product that must be present on every dinner table. And even a person far from gardening can cope with growing Savoy cabbage and caring for it. The most important thing is to remember that this vegetable loves moisture, light, space and regular loosening.

Description of the plant

This is a biennial crop, which in the first year of vegetation forms a stump - a short, densely leafy stem. The following year, inflorescences form on the mother plants, from which seeds are obtained.

Savoy cabbage has looser heads than white cabbage; they consist of thin, corrugated leaves of a dark green color. Advantages of the plant:

• frost resistance;
• drought resistance;
• the crop is less susceptible to pest attacks.

Attention! In terms of yield and keeping quality, Savoy cabbage is slightly inferior to its relative.

Late varieties

The maturation of representatives of the culture of this group takes from 135-140 days. They are best suited for winter storage.

Virosa F1

This hybrid of Dutch origin was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2005. Its main characteristics:

• achieving technical ripeness within 137 days after seed pipping;
• raised type socket;
• the size of the leaf blades is moderate, the color is blue-green, intense waxy coating, the shape is rounded to transversely broadly elliptical;
• blistering is strong, wavy is weak;
• the shape of the heads of cabbage is rounded-flat or rounded, the covering is partial, weight 1.8-2.5 kg, color dark green;
• the length of the outer stump is medium to short;
• excellent shelf life (up to seven months);
• resistance to cracking and fusarium.

From 1 m² 3-4 kg of Viros F1 crop is harvested

Nadya F1

This hybrid has been listed in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 2010. Main qualities of the variety:

• achieving technical ripeness in 135-140 days;
• powerful sockets, diameter up to 0.8 m;
• the size of the leaf blades is large, the color is gray-green, the shape is broadly ovoid, the blistering and corrugation are strong, the waxy coating is moderate, the edge is wavy;
• rounded heads up to 3 kg, yellowish cut;
• the texture is delicate;
• taste good;
• resistance to cracking, fusarium wilt;
• good transportability;
• shelf life 2-3 months.

From 1 m² you get an average of 4.5 kg of Nadia F1 hybrid yield

Alaska F1

This hybrid is of Dutch origin and has been included in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 2006. The description is:

• raised type socket;
• the size of the gray-green leaf is medium, the shape is round, the waxy coating and blistering are pronounced, the edge is wavy;
• heads round, covered, weight 2.4 kg;
• excellent taste;
• stumps are short;
• keeping quality is high.

Commercial yield of Alaska F1 5.9 kg per 1 m²