In most garden plots you can find beds with cabbage heads, from which every gardener wants to get a bountiful harvest. Therefore, new varieties and hybrids of white cabbage are becoming quite popular today. Recently, summer residents have had the opportunity to purchase seed material not only of domestic, but also foreign selection. Many gardeners give preference to foreign developments. Centurion cabbage is the result of the work of scientists from a French-American company.
Breeders have bred a vegetable plant with a head of impressive size. The variety is young, its age does not exceed 10 years. But Centurion f1 cabbage has already been tested by biologists and various tests conducted by experienced gardeners. After receiving positive results, the variety underwent the registration procedure in the State Register of the Russian Federation.
Hybrid f1 - history
The white cabbage hybrid Centurion f1 was bred by specialists from the largest French breeding company Cloze Tezier, part of the international corporation Limagrain Group, which has been engaged in breeding, seed production and sale of vegetable seeds for more than two centuries.
In 2010, Centurion f1 was included in the State Register of Seeds of the Russian Federation and recommended for cultivation on personal plots and commercial production in the North Caucasus region. The hybrid has proven itself well and quickly gained popularity. Currently, the hybrid is successfully grown in almost all regions of Russia .
Description and appearance
The vigorous hybrid Centurion f1 has a tight rounded or rounded-flattened head of cabbage with a short outer and inner stump. Thin, medium-sized outer leaves, smooth, dark green or blue-green in color with a waxy coating and a slightly wavy edge, fit tightly to the head. The leaf rosette is raised, which prevents rotting of the base of the head of cabbage at high soil moisture. Powerful root system.
The internal structure of the head of cabbage is thin, with high density (4.3 points). When cut, the head is snow-white or with a slight yellowish tint.
The hybrid has excellent product and production characteristics:
- mid-late hybrid, vegetative period from germination to commercial maturity 130-150 days, with seedling cultivation method 100-110 days;
- average head weight - 2.5-3.5 kg, maximum - 5.0 kg;
- universal purpose (fresh consumption, cooking, processing, fermentation, long-term storage);
- taste qualities are high;
- shows the average commercial yield (depending on the method and growing conditions) - 4.0-6.% kg/m², 40-61 kg/area, 447-615 t/ha;
- yield of commercial products - 88%.
The maximum yield recorded in the Krasnodar region is 650-655 t/ha.
Characteristic
White cabbage is ideal for cultivation both on an industrial scale and in small garden plots. Moreover, the methods of cultivating vegetables are not very complicated. Even an inexperienced summer resident can grow cabbage of the Centurion variety.
In terms of its taste, Centurion f1 differs from other representatives of late-ripening varieties. Cabbage leaves have the following characteristics:
- crispy;
- sweetish, without bitterness;
- tender and quite juicy.
The Centurion f1 variety is considered industrial and is simply ideal for growing over large areas. But even in summer cottages, white cabbage will delight you with an excellent harvest.
Productivity and fruiting
In central Russia, the mid-late variety Centurion f1 can be harvested as early as July. The formation of a head of cabbage occurs within 110-130 days after sowing the seed material into the ground.
Attention! Growing cabbage in seedlings reduces the period of fork formation by 5-8 days. If you maintain all the features of agricultural technology, then the yield of white cabbage Centurion f1 is very high
Moreover, it is stable in different years, despite weather conditions. Harvest from 1 sq. m can be 15-22 kg. Features of heads of cabbage:
If you maintain all the features of agricultural technology, then the yield of white cabbage Centurion f1 is very high. Moreover, it is stable in different years, despite weather conditions. Harvest from 1 sq. m can be 15-22 kg. Features of heads of cabbage:
- ripen at about the same time;
- have almost the same weight;
- voluminous, visually look great.
Features of growing the Centurion f1 variety are:
- Ability to grow and produce good yields on different types of soil.
- Undemanding to the sprinkling regime, the plant easily tolerates summer heat and drying out of the soil.
Important! In the southern regions, white cabbage is suitable for double crop rotation
Application area
Cabbage leaves are used:
- fresh for preparing various salads and cabbage rolls;
- when cooking soups and preparing main courses;
- as one of the ingredients in preparations for the winter;
- for fermentation and pickling.
Small forks, in which the leaves are pressed very tightly, can be perfectly stored until the end of winter in the basement or cellar.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The white cabbage variety is resistant to:
- Diseases caused by phytopathogenic fungi.
- Downy mildew.
- Attacks by insect pests, in particular thrips.
Differences and advantages
Centurion f1 compares favorably with other white cabbage hybrids:
- the ability to tie heads that are uniform in density, compact, aligned in shape and size;
- the absence of voids at the base of the short, wide stalk, allowing the head of cabbage to be used almost completely;
- versatility of cooking - suitable for canning, preparing salads, heat treatment of any intensity (cooking, stewing, frying, baking);
- crack resistance;
- long shelf life (read about cabbage varieties for winter storage here);
- possibility of planting in the first and second crop rotation;
- stable yield;
- amicable maturation;
- good transportability;
- the possibility of obtaining a harvest in the middle and late periods;
- simplicity of agricultural technology;
- long shelf life - until February-May.
The hybrid has a high content of sugars and vitamin C, which makes the leaf tender, crispy, juicy, and sweetish in taste, without any signs of bitterness.
We suggest studying information about other varieties of cabbage, including late-ripening varieties with a long shelf life: Slava, Zimovka, Amager, Moskovskaya late, Kolobok, Valentina and Sugarloaf.
The opinion of summer residents regarding the Centurion cabbage variety
Gardeners are accustomed to trusting not only producers, but also the opinions of vegetable growers like them. By reading reviews and drawing conclusions for themselves, they receive maximum useful information.
Ekaterina: “I love it very much and have been growing this variety for a long time. There are no problems with it, and the harvest is good. The cabbage tastes sweet and juicy. Stores well in a regular cellar."
Raisa: “I recommend this hybrid to all my friends. Everyone was satisfied. I can’t go anywhere without her. I use it in cooking and winter preparations.”
Alexandra: “I grow Centurion cabbage in a greenhouse. I am pleased with everything, in particular, with the unpretentiousness of the variety. It doesn’t require any special care, and the harvest pleases me.”
For many, positive characteristics are the basis for choosing a variety, but some gardeners rely on reviews. There are no negative comments, so the hybrid is rapidly gaining popularity.
Care and planting
Hybrid Centurion f1 is successfully grown in film greenhouses and in open ground (you will learn about the best varieties of cabbage for growing in open ground here). The method of planting cabbage is seedlings and non-seedlings.
Seed cost
The cost of seed material for the Centurion f1 hybrid is quite high. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the cost of professional packaging (2500 pieces of seeds) is from 1880 to 2035 rubles, consumer packaging (250 pieces) is 32 rubles.
Time
In the southern regions of Russia, the seedless method is used . Sowing seeds in open ground begins in March, immediately after the snow cover melts, in moist soil. In the central, eastern, western, and northern regions, it is optimal to plant cabbage seedlings to obtain high yields. They begin growing seedlings in March or mid-April.
Place and soil
For the hybrid, a well-lit area is selected, without close groundwater, with fertile, humus-rich soil.
The best predecessors for cabbage are onions, legumes, cereals, nightshade crops, cucumbers, and root vegetables. It is not recommended to plant cabbage after cruciferous vegetables - radishes, radishes, turnips, rutabaga, turnips, cabbage of all types.
To plant the crop, the soil begins to be prepared in the fall . The soil is dug up, plant residues are selected, and organic, complex mineral and microfertilizers (boron, manganese, molybdenum, copper, zinc) are applied. Acidic soils (pH 6 and above) are limed.
Landing
- With seedling and non-seedling growing methods, plants are grown on low ridges according to a 50x60x40 cm pattern.
- With the seed method, 2-3 seeds are planted in pre-prepared holes 1-1.5 cm deep. The seed planting rate is 2.0-2.5 g/m².
- Before the emergence of seedlings, the bed is covered with covering material or film.
- Subsequently, the seedlings are thinned out, leaving the most viable ones, maintaining a frequency of 2-3 forks per 1 m².
- Seedlings with 6 true leaves, reaching a height of 15-16 cm, are planted in a permanent place at the age of 35-40 days.
- Planting is done in holes, deepening the plants by 1.5-2 cm.
Unlike many varieties and hybrids, Centurion f1 seedlings tolerate picking and transplanting without complications.
Temperature and watering
The hybrid tolerates low and high temperatures well . Seeds sprout at a temperature of +5-6 ºC. The seedlings withstand frosts down to -7 ºC. The optimal temperature for forming heads of cabbage is + 16-18 ºC. Unlike many hybrids, Centurion does not slow down growth at an air temperature of 20-28 ºC. Water moderately as the soil dries.
Loosening, harrowing, hilling
After watering, loosening is desirable. To control weeds, harrowing is regularly carried out to a depth of 3-4 cm. 20-25 days after planting, the stem is sprinkled with soil to the first lower leaves - spud up. During the season, the procedure is carried out 2-3 more times, every 20-30 days.
Top dressing
Centurion f1 is responsive to the addition of organic matter . This should be done 2-3 times during the growing season. For feeding use:
- A working solution of slurry diluted with 4-5 parts of water.
- Mullein diluted in a ratio of 1 to 5.
- Bird droppings, previously soaked in water in a ratio of 1 to 1, diluted 6-10 times.
- Ash at the rate of 1 glass per 10 liters of water.
Mineral fertilizers are applied at the first and second stages of growth (ammonium nitrate, superphosphate, potassium chloride). During the formation of the head of cabbage, feeding is stopped.
Harvesting
The harvest begins in late September-early October . By planting Centurion f1 in 2-3 steps with short breaks, combining seedling and non-seedling methods, the harvest can be harvested in several stages.
Features of cultivation
In order to grow cabbage on your plot, you don’t have to do anything special. For those gardeners who want to get their harvest earlier, manufacturers recommend using the seedling growing method.
Seeds are sown in advance, 35-45 days in advance. Then cover it with polyethylene or glass and place it in a warm place. Planted in one large container. Then, as they grow, the plants are pruned so that they are strong and produce large heads of cabbage. This is done 15 days after germination. Or plant several seeds in separate pots. Weak shoots are then removed, allowing one plant to develop a strong root system and stem.
Read also: Pepin saffron apple tree: variety description and photo
Removing 1/3 of the roots of the plant increases the weight of the future head of cabbage.
To increase the percentage of survival and resistance to stressful situations, cabbage is fed at least twice during the growing of seedlings. Watering is limited because excess moisture causes root rot.
Cabbage, which has developed 5-6 leaves, is transplanted to a permanent place. There are 3-4 plants per 1 m2.
Direct sowing into the ground. Used by gardeners in warm regions where snow melts quickly and early. The centurion is not afraid of the cold. Seeds are planted in prepared holes. Also, distribute the crops so that there are 3-4 plants per 1 m2. 3 seeds are planted in each hole. Subsequently, the weak ones are removed, leaving the strongest ones.
Any culture needs care. Compliance with the simple requirements of agricultural technology for growing cabbage will help increase yields:
- Moderate watering. The soil should not be flooded or allowed to dry out.
- Loosening, after precipitation and each watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil near the trunk.
- Weed removal is prevention against diseases and pests. In addition, young plants often suffer from a lack of nutrients, which are taken away by weeds.
- Feeding. They are introduced until the moment when the head of cabbage begins to thicken. Mullein, chicken droppings, and mineral fertilizers are suitable for this.
Storage
One of the advantages of Centurion f1 is the long-term preservation of its presentation and taste. The hybrid can be stored until February-May, subject to the storage rules.
The heads of cabbage are placed in a dark, light-free room with good ventilation, in which the temperature is maintained at 0-10 ºC and air humidity at 95%.
The gas composition in the storage facility is monitored. The optimal oxygen content is 6%, carbon dioxide - 3%. When stored in a home underground, the heads of cabbage are placed in wooden boxes or cardboard boxes and placed on a layer of sand to prevent freezing.
Prevention
- As a prophylactic agent, to increase resistance to viral diseases and pests, industrial insecticides, decoctions and infusions of herbs, wood ash and tobacco dust, and iodine solution are used.
To reduce the risk of clubroot infection, organic fertilizers are replaced with mineral ones, cabbage is not planted twice in a row in the same area, roots, stems and leaves are burned after harvesting.- Before planting, the seeds are treated with steam, the soil is treated with fungicides, and the plantings are not allowed to thicken or become waterlogged.
To repel insects (aphids, cabbage butterflies), marigolds are planted between rows.
Centurion f1 is a promising French hybrid, perfectly acclimatized in Russia.
Initially recommended for cultivation only in the southern regions. The cabbage variety is grown in seedlings even in the conditions of the Urals and Siberia . Excellent product characteristics, long shelf life, excellent taste and versatility of use make Centurion f1 attractive not only for cultivation in private backyards, but also in the fields of large farms.
