Belorussian cabbage: variety description, photos, reviews

White cabbage is considered one of the oldest vegetable crops. It began to be grown in the 20th century AD in Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. But in those days the vegetable did not have heads. Cabbage appeared due to cross-pollination of biennial plants of the family.

Belarusian cabbage is a product of breeding work of Russian seed growers. The variety first became known in 1937. Many years have passed since then, but the popularity of the frost-resistant and productive variety has not fallen. On the contrary, new options have appeared - Belorusskaya 85, Belorusskaya 455 and other varieties. The article will give detailed characteristics and features of growing cabbage.

Description of the variety

White cabbage variety Belorusskaya 455 is a cold-resistant, light-loving vegetable crop. Seeds germinate at a temperature of +5 degrees. The plant easily tolerates frosts within -4 degrees.

To plant white cabbage, you need to choose an open place. This will ensure less damage by insects. In addition, with long daylight hours, an excellent harvest is formed.

A late-ripening variety of white cabbage. Heads of cabbage reach technical capacity in Belorusskaya 455 in 120-130 days, in Belorusskaya 85 a little more - 140-150 days from the moment of germination. The root system is weak, located in the top layer of soil at a distance of 25-30 cm. And the outer stalk itself does not exceed 10 cm.

Leaves and cabbage

The Belorusskaya variety stands out for its large dark green outer leaves with a waxy coating. They are round-flat in shape with a smooth surface. The edges of the leaves have medium waviness. The veins are thin, almost invisible.
The leaves forming the head of cabbage are light green and bleach by the time they are technically ripe. This is clearly visible when cut through cabbage. There is no space between the leaves, so the heads of cabbage are tight and dense. The heads of cabbage of this variety are so tight that hail cannot penetrate them.
According to the description of the Belorusskaya cabbage variety, the rosette is raised above the ground, semi-spreading, reaching a diameter of 90 cm. This must be taken into account when planting seedlings in open ground. Belarusian cabbage quickly sets heads at a temperature of 20-25 degrees.

In the heat of July, when the air temperature is above 30 degrees, the formation of heads of cabbage slows down.
During this period, you need to install a sprinkler over the cabbage beds to cool the soil and air around the plants.
The weight of heads of cabbage variety Belorusskaya 455 reaches 4-4.5 kg, and if agricultural standards are observed, it can be even higher. The yield of the variety per square meter is about 8 kg. Cabbage variety Belorusskaya 85 is less productive, the weight of heads is from 2.4 to 3 kg. The taste of both types is excellent.

Reviews from summer residents

Reviews about Belarusian cabbage are mixed online. Some people like this variety and plant it year after year. But for some, this white cabbage variety is completely unsuitable. Read their statements and draw your own conclusions.

Olga, Voronezh region

Previously, my parents grew Belarusian cabbage 455. But for many years now they have abandoned it in favor of hybrids. The heads of this cabbage are not bad and it is tasty. But pests love it very much. In addition, often more of this variety. You have to use all sorts of chemicals, but this is no longer useful and takes a lot of time.

Characteristics

Whatever variety of vegetable crops is considered, there are always pros and cons.

Positive sides

Based on the description of Belarusian cabbage, gardeners highlight the advantages of the variety, as they write in reviews:

High yield.
Excellent taste properties of cabbage, versatility of use.
Dense heads of cabbage do not crack even at technical ripeness.
Excellent transportability.
This is not a hybrid, so you can get your own seeds if you wish.

Flaws

If we talk about the disadvantages of the Belorusskaya cabbage variety, it is rather a weak immunity to diseases such as clubroot and vascular bacteriosis.

Comment! The older the cabbage, the less it gets sick, so prevention begins at the seedling level.

Of the minuses it should be noted:

Pests love her;
requires abundant watering;
does not tolerate transplantation well.

Despite its shortcomings, Belarusian cabbage is loved for its excellent taste and beneficial properties.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Gardeners who have experience in growing Belarusian cabbage note its significant advantages:
excellent taste;
universal use in cooking;
high yield;
cold resistance;
the heads of cabbage are strong and do not crack;
transport well;
You can collect your own seeds.

Did you know? Residents of Kievan Rus loved cabbage very much. The Izbornik of Svyatoslav, a reference book from 1073, provides guidance on how to grow and use this vegetable.

The disadvantages include the following serious factors:
no resistance to diseases and pests;
very demanding on humidity at the beginning of the growing season;
does not tolerate transplantation well;
doesn't like heat.

Growing seedlings

To get a good harvest, Belorusskaya cabbage seeds are sown in mid-May. This sowing period allows you to obtain heads of cabbage suitable for processing and storage. To obtain an earlier harvest of white cabbage, you can sow some of the seeds in early May.

Before sowing, planting material is not soaked. But it won’t hurt to treat it in a pink solution of potassium permanganate. The seeds of the variety are sown in fertile soil, previously filled with boiling water, to a depth of no more than 1 cm.

Shoots appear promptly on the 4th or 7th day. You need to immediately provide the seedlings with optimal lighting, otherwise the Belarusian cabbage will stretch out, which has a negative effect on the yield.

You can sow cabbage seeds in a nursery or directly in separate containers, so as not to dive. In this case, 2-3 seeds are placed in each glass. When the plants grow up, leave one, the strongest seedling.

Optimal planting dates

When calculating the timing of sowing seeds and planting seedlings in the ground, you need to take into account some features of the cabbage growing season:

shoots appear within a week after sowing;
seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place at the age of 30 or 40 days;
seedlings do not like high temperatures, so you need to have time to plant them before the start of the summer heat;
The weather is different in different regions.

Taking into account the above, we conclude: the timing of sowing seeds for seedlings varies from the end of March to the first half of May (earlier in warm areas, later in cold areas).

Landing in the ground

Belarusian cabbage is planted from the nursery in mid-June. Healthy seedlings should have a thick and strong root slightly thicker than a pencil and 5-6 leaves.

Plants are planted on loamy, well-fertilized soil in an open area. If you suspect it is highly acidic, add wood ash before digging.

The best location for cabbage beds is from north to south so that each plant receives enough heat and light. Planting is done in the late afternoon so that the seedlings have time to cope with stress before sunrise. If it rains, you can plant Belorusskaya cabbage seedlings during the day.

Advice! To improve the soil structure, mustard is sown in May, then the seedlings are dug up.

Cabbage variety Belorusskaya 455 is planted on medium-height beds in two rows. The distance between the ridges should be at least 50 cm. The holes are made according to the 50x50 pattern. A smaller distance will result in overlapping leaves.

The plant is lowered into moist soil up to the first leaves, the soil is squeezed well and watered. If hot weather is expected the next day, it is advisable to shade the plantings for two days.

Planting and caring for Belarusian cabbage

In the climatic conditions of the central zone, Belarusian cabbage is grown mainly through seedlings. Otherwise, even the mid-late 455 variety will not have enough time for the heads of cabbage to fully ripen.

To grow Belarusian cabbage, choose spacious, well-lit areas. As for soils, the variety grows well on loams with a high fertile layer and neutral acidity. Lighter soil will require frequent watering. He also does not like acidified soils. That is why it is not recommended to loosen them with peat.

It is worth paying attention to predecessors. Cabbage should not be planted for two years in a row in one place, or after other cruciferous vegetables: radishes, radishes, turnips, rapeseed.

Growing seedlings

Sowing of white cabbage seedlings Belorusskaya 455 and 85 is carried out in mid-April so that by the time of transplanting into the ground the seedlings have 5-7 leaves, and their age is at least 30-40 days.

Attention! Cabbage is a light-loving plant. Growing its seedlings on a windowsill is not very productive. Due to a lack of light and elevated air temperatures, plants become stretched and weak. Therefore, it is optimal to grow seedlings in containers placed in a greenhouse or self-assembled mini-greenhouses.

Purchased seeds do not require pre-treatment. Most often they are coated with a nutritional composition. Multi-colored jelly beans indicate this. Seeds prepared independently should be disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin.

Features of care in the ground

Caring for the Belorusskaya variety of white cabbage is simple, and novice gardeners can handle it. But we will still pay attention to some points.

Watering requirements

White cabbage Belarusian is demanding not only on fertile soils, but also on watering. The root system should always be moist.

It is better to water in the late afternoon, when the sun's rays do not burn the plants.
In the first days, the procedure is repeated daily. One root needs 2 liters of water. The soil is not loosened for seven days after planting. This is then done before watering so that the water penetrates faster to the root system.
Stop watering white cabbage of the Belorusskaya variety 10 days before cutting the heads.

Weeding and loosening

Weeds are also removed during the season. After all, they are the breeding grounds for diseases and pests.

Constantly weeding cabbage will help get rid of weeds and allow you to immediately notice pests.

Top dressing

As for fertilizing, it is carried out in the same way as for other varieties. The most commonly used infusions are mullein, chicken manure, and fermented herbs. White cabbage of the Belarusian variety responds well to foliar feeding with ammonia and iodine. Once a week, it is advisable to sprinkle the plants with wood ash.

Pest Control

The description indicated that the Belorusskaya variety is especially loved by insects. Frequent guests are midges and caterpillars. You can get rid of them using a soap solution. They spray the cabbage with it and dust it with dry ash on top.

To get rid of caterpillars, special means are used. Cabbage is processed in the late afternoon in dry, windless weather.

Caterpillars are the “children” of the cabbage butterfly. She is afraid of the smell of marigolds. These flowers are planted between cabbage seedlings. The smell of valerian repels the butterfly. This medicine (vial) is diluted in half a bucket and sprayed on the plantings.

Pest and disease control

Despite the fact that Belorusskaya cabbage is resistant to many diseases and pests, it is impossible to do without preventive measures to combat them.

to save plants from blackleg, water the soil with boiling water and potassium permanganate before planting;
against Phoma, treat the soil with fungicides.

As for pest control, cabbage plantings can be sprayed with insecticidal preparations against flies and cabbage butterflies. Sprinkling ground red pepper on the soil can repel some pests.

Attention! Caterpillars, snails, and slugs will have to be collected by hand.

Disease Prevention

Since the Belorusskaya variety is often affected by clubroot, it needs to be planted in a new place every year. In the fall, after harvesting, cabbage roots should never be placed in a compost heap. Even if there are no signs of disease, all cabbage remains are destroyed.

The Belorusskaya 455 variety has low immunity to vascular bacteriosis. This disease is popularly called black rot. You can notice it by the black veins.

Another problem is wet rot, which appears when plants are affected by vascular bacteriosis. Having noticed a disease, the plants need to be pulled out and destroyed.

Warning! Heads of cabbage with any signs of disease cannot be stored.

Reviews about the Belorusskaya cabbage variety

Anna, 36 years old, Pskov I have been growing Belarusian cabbage for several years now. I planted both 455 and 85. I didn’t notice much of a difference. There are larger heads of cabbage, and there are smaller ones. The main thing is that the taste is excellent and it lasts for a long time. Does not require special care. Watering only. So no cabbage will grow without water.

Olga, 58 years old, Golitsyno Belorusskaya cabbage is one of my favorite varieties. I take exactly 85, the later one. It is stored in the cellar until spring. Very tasty when fermented. The older variety is a little larger, but still tasty. The new one is more resistant to diseases. I didn't have any problems with him at all. Well, you will have to fight cabbage in any case.

Harvesting

Technical ripeness of the variety occurs in late September or early October. As we have already said, watering stops within two weeks. Felling begins on a sunny day after lunch, so that the sun eats up the frost or dew. The chopped cabbage is laid out on the floor to dry, and then put away for storage.

You immediately need to decide how the chopped cabbage will be used. If it is intended for winter storage, then when cutting it, leave a long stalk. For it, the head of cabbage is hung in the cellar or basement. All other forks are cut down without an external stump. Here they are, these handsome heads of cabbage, in the photo!

Attention! For storage, choose medium-sized heads of cabbage, tight, without signs of disease or any defects.

Harvest and storage

Cabbage planted in early spring fully ripens in the second half of September or the first half of October. Cleaning should be done in sunny weather so that there is no dew or frost on the heads of cabbage. If you plan to store cabbage heads in winter, then you need to leave small stalks (about 3 cm) by which they will be hung. For long-term storage, ideal heads of cabbage are selected, free from stains and other defects.

The storage area can be a dry, cool and well-ventilated area. For cabbage that is not intended for storage and will be processed, the stalks are cut off completely. In a cold place (+5...+7°C) they can last for a month. Belorusskaya cabbage is an old variety, but very tasty and productive. Planting and caring for the crop is very simple. This is why many generations of gardeners and vegetable gardeners love it.

Diseases

The Belorusskaya variety is susceptible to clubroot. To prevent the plant from encountering this disease, it is necessary to make beds annually in different places on the site. After harvesting, cabbage leaves and roots should not be used as future fertilizer, even if they are healthy and do not have any signs of disease. It is advisable to dry and burn all remains.

Irina Olegovna, Moscow, 45 years old.

I would like to share my experience of growing the “Belorusskaya” variety from the Aelita company. This year I purchased seeds from this particular company, although previously I had always purchased from. The variety is medium late, it was written on the packaging that it is preferable for storage and fermentation. But from experience I will say that cabbage spoils very quickly, after 2-3 months, so either ferment it or grow a little so that you have time to eat it. I plant the seeds in April in a greenhouse. I plant them together with tomatoes. I water the seeds periodically until shoots appear. The seeds from this company sprouted very well, I already transplanted them into the OG on June 3rd. I planted the seedlings at a distance of 40 cm, with a distance of 60 cm between the rows. The seedlings took root well and gradually began to gain growth. This year I was a little late in harvesting, but the heads of cabbage did not crack, which is good news. I recommend this variety for cultivation, as it is quite tasty and juicy. But at the same time, immediately take into account the fact that cabbage will not be stored for a long time. Therefore, either ferment it or grow it in small quantities.

Mikhail Ivanovich, Ryazan region, 43 years old.

We have been growing Belorusskaya 455 all our lives. The taste is excellent, it does not last as long as we would like, but it has delicate leaves, unlike many later varieties that are rough. We don’t like to experiment, although our neighbor has already told us more than once to try Kolobok and Amager, supposedly the latter is generally stored until the summer. In the village, we mainly grow Atria.

Anna Yuryevna, Voronezh, 43 years old.

Previously, Belarusian was grown. But she was constantly attacked by insects. They used various pesticides, and then abandoned it in favor of hybrids.

Early ripe white cabbage

The heads of such cabbage are loose and small in size. They deteriorate relatively quickly and crack easily. The advantage of these varieties is their resistance to frost and sudden climate changes.

Early ripe white cabbage

Heads of light green color reach 2 kg in weight. Early cabbage is very tasty when eaten fresh. A variety of green coleslaws combined with other greens are a good source of vitamins in early summer.

The most popular varieties include the following.

"Golden Hectare" The name of the variety speaks for itself. It is famous for its very large harvests. Up to 8.5 kg of vegetables are harvested from one square meter. The head of cabbage is not large in size, but reaches 2.5 kg in weight. The variety copes well with bad weather conditions. About 110 days pass from planting to harvest. The plant prefers bright places and abundant watering. For good growth you need black soil and regular fertilizing. Unfortunately, “Golden Hectare” has poor immunity to diseases.
"June". Contains a large amount of vitamin C. Tolerates frost well. Withstands temperatures down to -5°C. Small heads of cabbage have a slightly flattened shape and gain 2.5 kg of weight. The leaves on top of the head of cabbage are green, and towards the center they acquire a light green tint. The yield is average; up to 4.5 kg of vegetables are harvested from one square meter of plot. It takes about 100 days until ripening. This variety is planted directly in open ground in the spring. Cabbage reacts to sudden changes in weather conditions by severely cracking the heads.
"Present". The variety is known for its high nutritional and dietary properties. This cabbage concentrates a large amount of beneficial microelements and vitamin C. This makes the vegetable indispensable for baby food.
"Slava-1305". Beginners in gardening prefer to plant the crop. The plant does not require special care and is characterized by short ripening periods of heads of cabbage. Already 3 months after planting, you can get a head of cabbage large enough for an early variety, weighing up to 4.5 kg. Cabbage yield is good. Tolerates frost well.
"Cossack F1". A hybrid variety with unusual colors. The upper leaves have a bluish tint, while the inner leaves are light beige. The heads of cabbage are large and flattened, abundantly covered with a waxy coating. The seeds are sown directly into the garden bed. After 110 days you can harvest. Up to 4.5 kg of product matures on one square meter. The fruit does not crack. The plant resists diseases well. The vegetable tastes juicy and pleasant.

Mid-season white cabbage

The growing season of this cabbage is 80-170 days. The finished harvest is harvested towards the end of summer. The heads of mid-ripening cabbage are larger than those of early-ripening cabbage and have an average density. Types of mid-ripening vegetables are more productive than early-ripening ones, but inferior to late-ripening varieties. These varieties of cabbage are characterized by the presence of 20-25 small leaves.

Unlike its predecessors, mid-season cabbage is better suited for quick pickling in the autumn. But it is often used in its natural form. Stuffed cabbage rolls, vegetable pies, stews and pies are especially tasty. Another advantage over early vegetables is a longer shelf life. If all conditions are met, it can sit well for a couple of months.

Revenge

A popular hybrid among gardeners due to its high yield, which reaches 343-626 c/ha. The maximum yield was recorded in the Volgograd region - 895 c/ha. Cabbage ripens in about three months after it is planted. The plant loves water and light. Very resistant to many common diseases and pests.

Contains an ideal set of minerals and vitamins, has a good taste and good shelf life. Suitable for first and second courses, for fermentation.

Slava 1305

A time-tested old variety of cabbage. Her forks are large, juicy, and white. Unlike other varieties, “Slava” is well suited for growing in dry regions because it is unpretentious to moisture. It is not worth watering it too much, as the heads of cabbage may burst. Needs plenty of loosening. Productivity – 320-400 c/ha.

To keep cabbage juicy, it is harvested after the first frost. But you shouldn’t delay this, as it is prone to cracking. Easily tolerates sub-zero temperatures. Cabbage Slava is sensitive to diseases such as powdery mildew, clubroot, and blackleg. Included in the list of the best species for winter preparations, pickling, and salting. The shelf life of this type of cabbage lasts only 90 days.