Broccoli Marathon F1: variety description and reviews

Vegetable growing » Cabbage

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Kira Stoletova

Broccoli marathon f1 is one of the most accessible and widespread subspecies of broccoli, which is rich in nutrients and minerals. The vegetable is universal in use.

Description of broccoli Marathon f1

Description and characteristics of broccoli Marathon F1

Broccoli Marathon is a variety of cauliflower. The originator of the hybrid is Japanese. The height of the plant reaches 80 cm. The leaves are elongated, on long petioles, of a gray-green hue. The plates are smooth with slight wavy edges.

The fruit is formed at the top of the main cabbage shoot. It has an ellipsoidal shape, 20 cm long. The fork is dense, but loose, weighing up to 800 g. The color of the inflorescences is blue-green.

Productivity

This type of culture is mid-early. The duration of the growing season for Marathon broccoli is 80-85 days. The yield of the hybrid, subject to the rules of care, reaches 4 kg per 1 sq. m. The yield of commercial forks is 98%.

Important! The hybrid is not suitable for growing in the southern regions of the country, as it reacts poorly to dry air.

Harvest and storage

When harvesting broccoli, timing is extremely important. Unripe heads are unsuitable for storage and processing, and overripe ones bloom and can no longer be eaten.

Important! A visual criterion for cabbage to be ready for harvesting is the sprouting of leaves through the head.

There are other signs of technical maturity:

It is better to harvest early in the morning. Under the scorching sun, forks quickly fade. Cut them so that about 10 cm of the stem remains at the bottom. It is not recommended to dig up a bush by its roots or pick a vegetable.

The timing of harvesting depends on the region, but on average the forks are cut in late August or early September. Over time, small lateral heads form on the bushes remaining in the garden bed, which are also eaten.

Fresh broccoli can be stored for no longer than a week. For long-term storage, cabbage is cut into inflorescences and frozen. The hybrid Marathon F1 is late, so it can be stored in a cool basement at a temperature no higher than +2°C. Each inflorescence is tightly wrapped in cling film and placed in a single layer in a wooden box with holes. Shelf life - no more than 8 months.

Advantages and disadvantages

Broccoli Marathon has many advantages, which is confirmed by reviews from gardeners. But the hybrid also has certain disadvantages that must be taken into account when growing it.

Suitable for freezing, baking, frying and fresh consumption

The main advantages of broccoli Marathon:

• high productivity;
• resistance to cold;
• low susceptibility to diseases;
• low maintenance requirements;
• excellent taste;
• increased content of useful components;
• good presentation;
• versatility of application.

Flaws:

• vulnerability to heat;
• needs regular watering;
• requires protection from pests.

Landing Features

Broccoli Marathon can be grown in seedlings and direct sowing in the ground. In order for the procedure to be successful, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of its implementation in each specific case.

When to sow Marathon broccoli for seedlings

It is necessary to plant Marathon broccoli for seedlings at home at the end of March, at the beginning of April. This will make it possible to obtain stronger seedlings by the beginning of the season. To do this, you need to prepare wide containers 10 cm high with drainage holes, as well as a nutritious soil mixture. It should consist of turf, humus, peat and sand, taken in equal proportions. A few days before planting, water the substrate generously with Fitosporin solution and then dry it slightly to disinfect it.

Also, immediately before planting, you should soak Marathon broccoli seeds in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water and lightly dry.

Seeds should be treated immediately before planting, as they will no longer be suitable for storage.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Fill the container with soil mixture.
2. Water it generously, level and compact the surface.
3. Place the prepared seeds at a distance of 1 cm from each other.
4. Sprinkle them with a 1 cm thick layer of soil.
5. Moisten the soil surface with a spray bottle.

After planting Marathon broccoli, the container with the planted seeds must be covered with film or glass to maintain the optimal level of humidity inside. Then you need to move the container to a dark place with a temperature of +20-25 °C.

Important! If all conditions are met, the first shoots appear on the fourth day, and friendly shoots appear after 6-7 days.

After the Marathon broccoli seeds germinate, transfer the container to a bright windowsill and lower the maintenance regime to +18 °C. This will slow down the development of the above-ground part and activate the growth of the root system. Every day, ventilate the seedlings for half an hour and remove the accumulated condensation from the film or glass. And when the seedlings get stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions and the cover must be completely removed.

It is necessary to water Marathon broccoli sparingly as the top layer of soil dries out. And at the stage of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings need to be planted in separate cups, which will allow the seedlings to grow a powerful root system. A week after this, it is recommended to carry out the first feeding of cabbage using a complex mineral fertilizer containing boron and molybdenum.

Marathon broccoli seedlings should be planted in a permanent place in mid-May, when the soil has warmed up sufficiently. The recommended layout is 30 by 50 cm, so that plants can fully develop and not compete for moisture and nutrition.

By the time of planting in a permanent place, seedlings should have 4-5 true leaves.

Sowing in open ground

When directly sowing Marathon broccoli in open ground, it is necessary to prepare the bed in advance. This must be done at least two weeks in advance. To do this, you need to dig up the area and add humus at the rate of 10 kg per square meter. m. And after that, carefully level the surface.

For planting, prepare holes 1 cm deep at a distance of 30 cm and maintaining a distance of 50 cm in the row. Then water them generously and wait for the moisture to be absorbed. Plant three seeds in each hole, then sprinkle them with soil and compact the surface. After planting, cover the bed with agrofibre.

After seven days, when friendly shoots of Marathon broccoli appear, remove the cover and water the crops using sprinkling. When the seedlings grow up, you need to leave one of the strongest ones in each hole and remove the rest.

Features of cultivation

Gardeners have been successfully growing this crop for several years now. If you follow all the rules of planting and care, you can also successfully carry out this process.

Seed preparation

High quality planting material is the key to a tasty and abundant harvest. You can purchase seeds in a specialized store or order them online.

Before sowing, they must undergo special treatment:

• first you need to carry out sorting - select the largest seeds without mechanical damage, mold and unnatural stains;
• immerse the selected material for an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy pathogenic microflora on the surface;
• To make the seeds hatch faster, after sterilization they are immersed in cold water (10°C) for an hour;
• The last stage of preparation is to dip in one of the growth stimulants (Heteroauxin, Epin) for 7-8 hours, then rinse in clean water and dry.

Soil preparation

For growing seedlings, use a loose and breathable soil mixture. Mix several components in equal proportions - wood ash, turf soil, humus and coarse river sand.

Features of care

Broccoli Marathon does not require complex care. Therefore, any novice gardener is quite capable of growing it.

Cabbage must be watered regularly throughout the growing season. To do this, you can use settled water at a temperature of +18-23 °C. Moisturize in the evening at the root of the plant. During hot periods, it is necessary to additionally place containers of water on the bed to increase evaporation and increase air humidity.

As the bushes grow, they need to be periodically hilled up, which helps strengthen the root system. It is also necessary to regularly weed until the bushes close.

To protect the crop from caterpillars, you need to inspect the Marathon broccoli bushes and spray them with insecticides when the first signs of their activity appear. In addition, for preventive purposes, you need to spray garlic solution on the plants every week. To prepare it, you need to chop 1 kg of tops of the spicy vegetable and pour 2 liters of warm water over it. Let the liquid infuse for a day and then use as directed.

To successfully grow Marathon broccoli, you need to feed the cabbage three times a season. It is recommended to fertilize seedlings for the first time ten days after planting them in a permanent place. For this you can use mullein 5 1:10 or chicken manure 1:15. Subsequent feedings should be done every two weeks. The second time it is necessary to fertilize Marathon broccoli with nitroammophos at the rate of 30 g per 10 liters of water. And for the third feeding, it is recommended to use superphosphate 40 g and potassium sulphide 25 g per bucket of water.

The nutrient solution should be poured under the cabbage root at the rate of 0.5 liters per plant

Care

Good care will increase plant productivity

To guarantee a harvest and improve its performance, you must follow certain rules.

1. Landing place. Based on the fact that broccoli is a light-loving plant by nature, it needs a well-lit area.
2. Priming. For successful growth of broccoli, it is necessary to give preference to soil with low acidity. Reducing the acidity level of the soil is carried out using chalk or lime. When preparing the soil, it is necessary to enrich it with compost; you can use ash. Apply superphosphate fertilizers in proportions of 10 g per 1 m2. Loosen the soil in a timely manner, this will increase the flow of nutrients to the root system. Remember to timely clear the planting site of weeds and hill up.
3. Irrigation. Watering should be regular and plentiful. In summer, it is recommended to spray cabbage with filtered water.
4. Correctly carried out fertilization procedure is the key to a bountiful harvest, however, it is necessary to strictly observe the specified proportions in order to avoid oversaturation of the plant with microelements. Primary feeding - diluted mullein (half a liter jar with 15 liters of water) with the addition of urea (1 tsp). The procedure is carried out 2 weeks after planting seedlings in open ground. Secondary fertilizing is saltpeter. Time frame: 3 weeks after initial treatment. Fertilizing before the onset of cold weather is carried out with nitrogen fertilizers. It is important to remember about potassium phosphate fertilizers, on which cabbage yield directly depends.

You can use ready-made mixtures, which can be found in any specialty store. Strictly follow the proportions indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.