Nadezhda cabbage: characteristics and description of the variety, planting and care

Description of Nadezhda cabbage

The Nadezhda cabbage variety is valued primarily for the density of heads of cabbage and high, stable yield, little dependent on weather conditions. She is rarely affected by disease.

The leaf rosette of young cabbage Nadezhda looks semi-spreading in the photo. The upper leaves are large, with a wavy edge. The color of the leaves is from green to dark green, with a pronounced waxy coating. The head of cabbage itself is formed by light green leaves. The waxy coating is absent or insignificant, almost invisible to the eye. The cut is white, with a short stalk and no voids.

Nadezhda cabbage produces flat-rounded, even-sized heads of cabbage with an average weight of 3-3.5 kg. The heads of cabbage are very dense, the leaves adhere well to each other.

According to descriptions of the variety and reviews from gardeners, the taste of Nadezhda cabbage is rated as excellent. The leaves, despite their increased density, are quite thin and remain juicy and tender for a long time. They have a sweetish taste.

White cabbage Nadezhda is an unpretentious variety. The main problem for vegetable growers in the middle zone is the need to grow it through seedlings. In addition, the Nadezhda variety, like most types of cabbage, is demanding on site lighting and soil fertility. The fact that plants are rarely affected by pests makes care much easier.

Cabbage variety Nadezhda, a description and photo of which is given in the article, is zoned for all regions of the Russian Federation, with the exception of the Far North. Excellent characteristics allow it to be grown in the unstable climate of the middle zone, short daylight hours in the northern and northwestern regions and in the arid southern regions.

Cabbage care

Nadezhda is an unpretentious hybrid to grow. However, in order to get a good harvest, you must follow at least the simplest agrotechnical rules:

• Cabbage should be watered regularly, especially at the beginning of the growing season. Water for irrigation should be warm. Also, it is advisable to water the plant at the root, without getting on the leaves (especially in the heat).
• After watering, it is advisable to carry out loosening. This will saturate the soil with oxygen.
• It is advisable to fertilize. Experienced summer residents feed cabbage 3-4 times per season. The first time 3 weeks after planting the seedlings in the exhaust zone. The second time 2 weeks after the first feeding. The third time 12-14 days after the 2nd feeding.
• Hilling is done 1-2 times per season. Hilling has a beneficial effect on the size of the head of cabbage.
• This hybrid is not protected from bacteriosis, so preventive measures to prevent this disease will not interfere. For this, special store-bought chemicals are usually used. In addition, you can use the old fashioned method and scatter dry wood ash around the plants.
• You can fight harmful insects with the Fitoverm insecticide. If the insects are large (for example, caterpillars), then they can be collected by hand.

Diseases and pests

Nadezhda cabbage has high immunity to most diseases, including gray rot. To achieve good results for disease prevention, crop rotation is observed. Cabbage should not be planted after other cruciferous vegetables, which include radishes, daikon, and turnips. These vegetables should not be planted next door either.

The Nadezhda variety is rarely affected by pests. However, in hot and dry years, planting may be attacked by the cruciferous flea beetle. Vegetable growers have many traditional ways to combat this pest, including mulching the soil with ash or treating the plantings with an infusion of hot pepper.

Harvesting

Nadezhda is best suited for sourdough and pickling

Collect the heads of Nadezhda cabbage, when they become dense, the lower leaves drop, the head of cabbage is formed, and it will no longer feel empty to the touch. You can harvest immediately by uprooting the plants and then cutting off the heads, or by cutting off the heads and then removing the remains of the crop. After sorting, Nadezhda cabbage is put away for storage.

The Nadezhda variety can be used to prepare soups and side dishes. Best suited for sourdough and pickling. After processing, the leaves become softer (crispy when fermented), with a pleasant aroma and delicate texture.

Reviews about Nadezhda cabbage

Polina, 35 years old, Velikiye Luki I have been growing the Nadezhda variety in my summer cottage for several years. And its stable productivity is always amazing. Rain or drought, cold or hot, he will always please you with the harvest. Of course, today there are varieties of cabbage whose heads grow up to 6-7 kg. Just whether they are necessary.

Daria, 45 years old, Kostroma I have been planting Nadezhda for several years now, and only recently found out that it is a rather old variety. I didn’t believe it for a long time. Its resistance to cold and drought, immunity to disease is quite at the level of more modern species. And the taste is simply wonderful. This cabbage is stored in the cellar until almost spring. I like.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the variety:

• stable and high productivity;
• universal use of heads of cabbage;
• lack of tendency to cracking and discoloration;
• good keeping quality and transportability;
• drought and frost resistance;
• high commercial qualities;
• immunity to blackleg and gray rot.

The disadvantages of Nadezhda include a tendency to be affected by clubroot and bacteriosis.

Differences from other varieties and hybrids

A comparison of Nadezhda with other mid-season cabbage varieties is presented in the table:

Briefly about the origin of the variety, its description

Nadezhda cabbage is the brainchild of Siberian breeders. She was bred in 1968, and 6 years later she was added to the State Register of the Russian Federation. The plant was recommended for cultivation in most regions of Russia.

The vegetable refers to cabbage. The variety has a powerful compact rosette, forming a slightly flattened rounded fork. The diameter of the ripe head most often reaches 70 cm.

The head of cabbage consists of medium-sized leaves. They are grass-colored on top, white or white-yellow on the inside (see photo). Their edges are wavy. The waxy sheen on the forks is faint. According to the characteristics of density, cabbage was given a high rating, which affects the average weight of a head of cabbage - 3 - 3.5 kg. The rosette is not raised high above the ground. The inner stump is shortened.

Landing

The period for planting seeds for seedlings begins one month before the expected planting date. The cabbage is transplanted into open ground when the ground warms up enough, to about 10 degrees Celsius. The most optimal time for replanting plants begins at the end of April and lasts throughout May. Plants can be transplanted into the greenhouse from the beginning of April. Some gardeners prefer to grow cabbage by direct planting in open ground. The method is quite acceptable if the climate in the region is not too harsh. When planting Nadezhda, pay attention to the following points:

• illumination of the area. The bed is located in a well-lit place; partial shade is not suitable for growing;
• the soil. The quality of the crop largely depends on the fertility of the soil. The soil must contain organic and mineral fertilizers, which were applied in the fall or early spring. Cabbage reacts best to horse and cow manure, humus, and peat;
• seed preparation. The seeds are disinfected in advance by soaking them in hot water. You can use peroxide or a weak solution of potassium permanganate for processing.

Seeds should be sown to a depth of no more than 5 mm, otherwise they will take a long time to germinate. After sowing, the temperature in the greenhouse is maintained in the range of 23-26 degrees Celsius.

On a note! Under no circumstances should the soil be allowed to dry out; at the initial stage of growing seedlings, they may die from lack of moisture.

Seedless growing method

Being a frost-resistant crop, cabbage can grow when sown directly into the ground. The advantage of such cultivation is the absence of transplants, which cabbage does not tolerate well. As a rule, early and middle varieties are grown in this way.

Features of the seedless method:

• Cabbage is sown in late April-early May.
• The soil is carefully dug up and fertilized. Prepare the holes in the same way as when planting seedlings. For example, 30x40 cm. Between adjacent plants - 30 cm, between rows - 40 cm. The distance is selected depending on the variety and ripening time.
• Fertilizers are added to each hole - half a bucket of compost or humus, as well as 0.5 liters of ash. 5-6 seeds are placed in one hole. If there are doubts about germination, add a dozen seeds. The seeds are covered on top with a soil mixture of fertile soil, peat and humus.
• The plantings are watered, and so that the seeds sprout as quickly as possible, they are covered with a double layer of non-woven material or film. The covering material is removed no later than the second true leaf appears. If the film is not removed in time, the cabbage will stretch out and its stems will bend.
• It will take about a month until the seedlings grow and get stronger, acquiring 3-4 true leaves. All this time, careful care is required - weeding, treatment with preventive agents.
• When the seedlings have 4-6 true leaves, they are thinned out, leaving the strongest sprouts, only one plant in one hole.

Description of a time-tested variety

Nadezhda cabbage is a classic commercial variety. It is cultivated in most Russian regions without greenhouses.

When planting, large areas are not allocated for bushes, since their rosettes are moderately spreading. The diameter of the fork reaches 70 cm. The heads are formed from medium-sized, wrinkled leaves with wavy edges. The top layer of cabbage is light grassy, ​​with a waxy coating clearly visible on it.

The inside of the vegetable is white-cream, like all white cabbage representatives of this family. The photo shows that the shape of the head of cabbage resembles a slightly flattened circle. The outer region of the stalk is moderately elongated, the middle region is short. When cabbage is formed, the leaves close together tightly, which affects its hardness.

Features of agricultural technology

This type of cabbage is suitable for sowing in open soil and for growing seedlings. The second option is more preferable for gardeners, since by the time of planting the seedlings will already have become noticeably stronger and will easily take root in open soil. In general, the procedure for growing a crop is standard and does not involve any special difficulties.

Growing seedlings

Already in the fall, it is recommended to prepare the soil for planting plants and the appropriate containers (boxes or individual cups). An earthen substrate for planting is prepared by mixing peat with sand, a small amount of ash and soil from the garden. All components, except ash, are taken in equal proportions. After mixing, the substrate is poured with copious amounts of boiling water with potassium permanganate to disinfect.

Water with potassium permanganate

The Nadezhda cabbage harvest is usually scheduled for late August - early September. Accordingly, sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out from the end of March to the first ten days of April. The procedure is carried out using the following technology:

1. In the box, every 2-3 cm, furrows are made for planting, 0.5-1 cm deep. Plenty of warm, settled water is poured into the grooves.
2. The day before planting, the seeds are disinfected in hot water. 2-3 hours before sowing, they can also be soaked in a solution of Zircon, Albit or similar biostimulants.
3. After preparation, the seeds are placed in grooves in increments of 2 cm.
4. The rows are covered with soil on top and sprinkled with water.

After planting the seeds, the box is covered with glass and put away in a well-ventilated, bright place.

The first shoots appear after 3-4 days. During this period, the room temperature is set at 20–24 degrees. After sprouts are detected, it is reduced to 14–16 degrees. Caring for young plants involves the following nuances:

• In addition to natural lighting, lamps are also installed above the box for additional illumination.
• Watering is carried out as the top layer of soil dries. At the same time, excessive moisture should be avoided. After watering, the soil is loosened.
• After two weeks, when 2-3 leaves grow on the seedlings, they are picked into separate containers.
• The plantings must be fed.

Fertilizer is applied to the soil twice. The first time when two true leaves appear on the plants. The second feeding is carried out 4 days before planting the seedlings in the ground. In both cases, the following composition is used as fertilizer:

• 10 liters of water;
• 25–30 g of potassium chloride;
• 30 g phosphates;
• 15 g urea.

All components are mixed and the liquid is carefully poured under each bush.

Important! 8–10 days before the intended transfer to the garden bed, the seedlings are hardened off. In the first days, simply open the window for ventilation. Then the boxes are taken outside for 3–4 hours. In recent days, she has been completely left in the fresh air around the clock.

Terms and rules for transplanting into the ground

Seedlings of this species are ready for planting in open soil within 25–30 days after the first shoots appear. Moreover, each transplanted seedling should have 4–5 true leaves, and the plant’s height should be at least 20 cm.

The area for planting is prepared in late autumn. The site chosen is one that has not had cabbage, radishes, horseradish, or turnips in the last couple of years. After such crops, pathogenic microorganisms may remain in the soil.

Humus for fertilizer

Be sure to add humus or manure to the site in the fall. Inorganic potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus mixtures are used carefully, since their excess can harm vegetation. The recommended scheme is 10 kg of manure and 30 g of superphosphate for each square of bed area.

In the spring, the area is carefully leveled and, if necessary, weeds are removed. The transplant itself is carried out as follows:

1. On the prepared site, holes 25 cm deep are dug at a distance of 60 cm from each other. As an alternative, furrows can be made with the same depth and a row spacing of 50–60 cm.
2. The soil in the depressions is watered until a viscous consistency is obtained.
3. Seedlings in cups are also watered. After this, it is removed along with the soil and placed in a hole (furrow).
4. The top of the hole is sprinkled with earth so that there is still a 2-3 cm depression left to the surface.

Reference. At first, until the seedlings take root, it is recommended to cover them with cardboard or buckets to minimize burning of the leaves by direct sunlight.

Caring for Nadezhda cabbage

Proper care of cabbage consists of timely watering of the beds and applying fertilizers. Water the seedlings every day for the first week, pouring 1 liter of water under the bush. After the roots of the plants become stronger and they begin to grow, the frequency of watering is reduced to one or two times a week (depending on weather conditions). At this time, about 4 liters of water are already spent on each bush. In case of increased dryness, moisten the vegetation in the morning by sprinkling. If there is no heat, it is enough to use drip irrigation.

After each watering, it is recommended to loosen the top layer of soil so that a crust does not form on it, preventing the passage of air and moisture to the roots. Also, in parallel with watering, weeds are removed from the beds and hilling is carried out (once every 10–15 days). In this case, first, dry soil is raked from the surface, and wet soil is raked to the stump. Then the dry soil is returned back.

Another mandatory point in caring for growing cabbage is fertilizing the soil. Fertilizing is applied three times during the cabbage growing season:

1. The soil is fertilized for the first time 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. To do this, take 20 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium chloride and 10 g of urea for each square of area.
2. The second feeding is planned for the initial period of head set. At this time, the components of the composition are not changed, only the amount of superphosphate is increased to 30 g.
3. The third feeding is carried out 2 weeks after the previous one, and urea is completely removed from the mixture.

Reference. For greater variety, one or two feedings can be carried out using solutions of mullein (1:10) or bird droppings (1:15).

Diseases and pests of crops

Nadezhda cabbage is susceptible to bacteriosis and clubroot. As a preventive measure, in both cases, thoroughly water the holes when transferring seedlings to the beds with boiling water with dissolved potassium permanganate. Special chemicals also help in the fight against bacteriosis. When clubroot disease occurs, infected plants must be promptly removed from the garden bed.

White butterfly caterpillar

The main pests of cabbage are white moth and cutworm caterpillars. You can get rid of these and other insects by spraying wood ash on the bushes and around them. Also, dill or marigolds are often planted between plants, which repel pests with their smell. Of the chemicals used to combat insects, Fitoverm, Karate, Iskra and other insecticides help.

Timing of harvesting and storage of heads of cabbage

As already noted, full ripening of heads of cabbage occurs 80–90 days after planting the seedlings. By this time, the forks acquire a characteristic density, and the lower leaves gradually dry out. When planning harvesting, the main thing to remember is that you should not allow ripened cabbage to remain in the beds if the temperature drops to -6. This significantly reduces shelf life.

The method of storing assembled heads directly depends on the specific direction of their use. Heads of cabbage intended for fermentation should be quietly left in a dry, ventilated area. If you plan to save the crop for the winter, then it is better to immediately put it in a cool basement. Moreover, before hiding the supplies, they must be carefully sorted and dried outside.

Nadezhda cabbage has been grown in Russian gardens for almost four decades. And the constantly growing assortment of new varieties has not diminished interest in this proven variety. The reasons for this demand are high yield, long shelf life, and good taste of the vegetable. Moreover, the technology for growing such a crop does not involve any particular difficulties, and even novice summer residents can master it.