Broccoli Fiesta: description of the hybrid and agricultural technology for growing and caring

Broccoli variety Fiesta: reviews, photos, description, planting and care

Useful and fairly easy to care for, broccoli cabbage is still an infrequent guest in Russian garden beds in the open ground and in greenhouses. And many vegetable growers admit that they have never even tried this cruciferous vegetable plant.

But today, breeders from around the world have developed a large number of varieties and hybrids of this tasty and healthy variety of cabbage, which are successfully grown by farmers in other countries.

This article will talk about the hybrid of the Dutch selection of broccoli Fiesta F1, its main characteristics, advantages, nuances of cultivation in open ground and much more.

The content of the article:

1. History of the variety 2. Description of the variety 3. Productivity of cabbage 4. Advantages of the variety 5. Diseases and pests 6. Agrotechnics of cultivation 7. Stages of fertilizing broccoli in open ground 8. Reviews of broccoli Fiesta 9. Description and characteristics from the manufacturer

History of agricultural product

Etymologists have determined that the name of this vegetable comes from the ancient Greek word caput, which means “head”. The homeland of cabbage is considered to be in Western Europe, and it also grew in areas of northern Africa.

The inhabitants of Ancient Rome used this culture as a separate dish, serving it boiled along with various seasonings. The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates argued that, compared to medicine, cabbage is a dietary remedy, and in the 5th-4th centuries before our chronology he used it for the purpose of treatment and general strengthening of the body.

During the period of people settling new lands on the territory of Russia, in VII BC. e., this culture was brought by the Greeks. Cabbage by its nature contains all the vitamins that are found in other foods. There is more vitamin C than in oranges, less calcium in milk than in cabbage, and vitamin D contained in cabbage is found only in animal products, and so on.

Taking this into account, the described vegetable among gardeners has become one of the main types of agricultural crops grown in open ground with seeds and ready-made seedlings throughout Russia.

History of the variety

The history of broccoli goes back centuries. It first appeared in the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean, then gradually spread to other European countries. This vegetable plant was brought to America, where its popularity became simply enormous.

Photo of broccoli Fiesta

Good to know!

Broccoli contains a large amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements and other active substances that are beneficial to the human body, but its taste is still rather bland. Therefore, in many countries it is consumed in cooked dishes with various sauces.

Although there are currently a huge number of varieties and hybrids of broccoli, the latter are more valued among vegetable growers and farmers - they have higher productivity, greater resistance to diseases and changes in weather conditions.

Among farmers in many countries, the varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops bred by Dutch breeders are most valued, since such plants have a large number of advantages with a minimum of disadvantages, are grown on almost any soil, are undemanding to care, and do not reduce productivity even with constant changes in weather conditions.

Brief description of Fiesta broccoli - video

Interesting!

Broccoli Fiesta F1 was bred in the last quarter of the last century by Dutch specialists and has already become popular among vegetable growers. At the very end of the last century, seeds of this variety appeared in Russia; the relevant authorities even issued a special permit for growing Fiesta broccoli in the country.

This hybrid is recommended for cultivation in open ground not only in small farms, but also at the industrial level, since Fiesta broccoli is unpretentious, does not require special care, and is high-yielding. Many summer residents write in reviews about this variety that once they planted this variety of cabbage in their garden, they preferred to grow only this hybrid in the future.

How to choose a variety

Asparagus cabbage, or broccoli, as it is commonly called, is an annual plant with a height of 70 to 100 cm. Broccoli cabbage is somewhat reminiscent of cauliflower in appearance. Although it is almost twice as good in taste. It contains much more protein and mineral salts, as well as vitamin C. For this, adherents of a healthy diet especially love it. Like all crops, this vegetable is divided into hybrids and varietals. But what should you be guided by when choosing a variety of this cabbage?

There are two main criteria by which you need to choose a broccoli variety:

1. Vegetable ripening time. Some species ripen as early as 45-50 days, while others ripen for more than four months.
2. Productivity. It can reach up to 8 kg per 1 m2 of area. In addition, the seasonality of harvesting, resistance to frost and drought, insect pests, the weight of the fruits themselves, how large or not they will depend on the variety.

That is why gardeners approach the choice of broccoli varieties with special care. Otherwise, the wrong choice of broccoli, for example due to bad weather conditions, can lead to its flowering, which significantly reduces the quality of the harvest.

To prevent this, professionals recommend paying attention to zoned varieties

Broccoli Fiesta: variety description

The Fiesta broccoli hybrid is a medium-early variety in terms of ripening - about 90 days pass from the moment the sprouts appear to the harvesting of the ripe heads. Therefore, many summer residents grow Fiesta for harvesting both in summer and in autumn.

This hybrid has a rosette of elongated blue-green foliage located strictly vertically. The leaves are wavy, with a characteristic curve of the contour and noticeable bubbly. A waxy coating of bluish color is noticeable on the foliage. Broccoli Fiesta is distinguished from other varieties of this cabbage by the absence of side shoots.

The ripening heads are compacted (in this they are very similar to cauliflower), large, round, and may be slightly flattened. Usually their weight does not exceed 1 kg, however, subject to proper care, individual heads can weigh up to 1.4-1.5 kg. They are partially covered by lateral foliage.

It should be noted that the ripe heads of Fiesta broccoli have excellent taste and a high content of vitamins; it is recommended to be included in the diet of those who are on a diet.

The harvested crop is universal: it can be used for preparing first and second courses, as a side dish, and frozen for the winter. After defrosting, the heads do not lose their presentation and taste.

Broccoli Fiesta, when grown in open ground, does not reduce yield even in conditions of sharply changing air temperature and humidity.

BROCCOLI!

• Broccoli TONUS: description, photos and reviews

Types and varieties of broccoli

Broccoli is superior to our beloved cauliflower in many ways:

• she is not afraid of cold weather;
• it is quite resistant to pests;
• broccoli has high yield and remontant ability;
• it is undemanding to growing conditions;
• In addition to broccoli inflorescences, you can also eat its young shoots up to 15 cm long.

Broccoli is found in two varieties: the familiar calabrese form with a dense inflorescence on a thick stem and Italian, or asparagus broccoli, which forms many stems with small inflorescence heads. And in total, as we have already written, there are about 200 varieties of broccoli. According to the ripening period, varieties are divided into early, mid-ripening and late. We offer you the best varieties of broccoli that you can grow on your site.

The most popular early ripening varieties are:

• Tonus is one of the most delicious and productive varieties of broccoli, ripening from 70 to 90 days, with a large dark green head of medium density weighing up to 200 g. After cutting the central inflorescence, lateral shoots weighing 50-70 g quickly grow;
• Broccoli F1 is a medium-yielding hybrid with a large, medium-density malachite green head. This cabbage is consumed both fresh and processed;
• Linda – This medium-height broccoli variety matures in 95 days. The average weight of the head is 300-400 g, the lateral shoots reach 70 g. The Linda variety is used for fresh eating, canning and freezing;
• Vitamin-rich - this broccoli will ripen from 72 to 90 days, it has a dense dark green central head weighing from 130 to 250 g. One and a half to two weeks after cutting the central head, lateral inflorescences with a diameter of 4-5 cm grow;
• Curly head is a variety resistant to major diseases and unfavorable climatic conditions with a dense green head weighing up to 600 g, ripening in 80-95 days. After cutting the main inflorescence, cabbage of this variety quickly forms many lateral heads. The variety is suitable for long-term storage.

In addition to those described, you can try to grow such early varieties of broccoli on your site as Summer King, Comanche, Green Sprouting, Vyarus, as well as hybrids Emperor, Corvette, Laser, Tribute and Fiesta.

The best mid-season broccoli:

• Senshi is a tall variety that ripens in approximately 110 days with a large, hard, dome-shaped head of dark green color, suitable for long-term storage;
• Compacta is a compact variety that ripens approximately 100 days after sowing, with a dome-shaped central head of dark green color. The variety is suitable for dense planting;
• Calabrese - this variety of cabbage ripens within 90 days. The heads of broccoli of this variety are medium dense, dark green in color, weighing up to 400 g, 6-7 side heads reach a weight of 100 g;
• Greenia is an extremely productive variety, forming a rosette of leaves up to 60 cm high and a central head weighing up to 300 g;
• Atlantic - the height of the stem of this variety is 50-60 cm, the heads are large and dense - the central one weighs up to 400 g.

Varieties and hybrids of mid-season broccoli Arcadia, Balboa, Genoa, Greenbelt, Gnome, Green Favorite, Monton, Fortuna and Caesar are also popular in cultivation.

Late broccoli is represented by the following varieties:

• hybrid Lucky - a variety with a large and dense central head weighing up to half a kilogram, green color and delicate structure;
• the Monterrey hybrid is a productive variety with a large central head weighing up to 500 g, but this broccoli does not produce lateral shoots;
• Continental - the central head of this variety is also dense and large - reaches a weight of 500 g;
• hybrid Marathon - these plants have a raised rosette of leaves, the central head is dense, green, with a delicate texture, weighing up to 700 g.

Advantages of the variety

Broccoli Fiesta has many main positive qualities:

1. high productivity;
2. excellent taste;
3. healing qualities of the heads;
4. good presentation of the harvested broccoli crop;
5. universal purpose;
6. unpretentiousness to growing conditions and care;
7. Fiesta cabbage is highly resistant to most diseases.

Of the negative qualities of this variety of broccoli, only the following can be noted:

1. the plant does not form side shoots, so there is no second wave of ripening harvest;
2. The ripening cabbage crop must be harvested immediately - after a couple of days the heads simply fall apart.

Main characteristics of the variety

Broccoli is grown in the Central and Southern regions of the country, where high yields are noted (up to 440 kg per 1 ha). When planting in the northern part, the harvest amount is slightly reduced (300 kg per 1 ha).

Description of the fruit

The Fiesta broccoli variety of category f1 is characterized by the ability to form a vertical rosette. The leaves are long. Their color is blue-green. There are small pimples on the surface of the leaf. The edges are ribbed and wavy. The wax layer is medium.

A distinctive feature of the Fiesta broccoli variety of category f1 is the inability to form side shoots.

Features of the fetus

The head of a ripe fruit is characterized by increased density. It has a round shape, rich green color with a slight blue tint. The average weight of the fetus is 1-1.2 kg. With proper cultivation and care, the fruits of the variety reach a weight of 2 kg.

High yield rates are noted (5 kg per 1 sq. m). When overripe, products often crack, so you should not delay cleaning.

Broccoli Fiesta is characterized by a rich, pleasant taste. It contains useful chemical elements: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iodine, which help maintain balance in the human body. The product is ideal for those who are on a diet. The fruits are suitable for long-term storage.

Diseases and pests that affect broccoli

According to the description of the originators of the hybrid, Fiesta broccoli is characterized by increased resistance to most diseases that affect other varieties and hybrids of cruciferous vegetable crops, in particular to fusarium.

Photo of garlic infusion against pests - photo

Pests also practically do not “attack” this vegetable crop. But for preventive purposes, it is recommended to treat Fiesta broccoli with tobacco or garlic infusion several times a season to repel slugs, snails and other pests.

Landing dates

Broccoli grows well in open ground, in greenhouses, and at home. You can sow vegetables for seedlings in boxes at home or directly in a garden bed. Cabbage has a short growing season. The planting time depends on the specific crop variety.

When to plant seeds

For a good harvest, you should plant broccoli seedlings in 2020 according to the lunar calendar. It is better to sow in early spring so that the vegetable can grow by autumn. It is recommended to sow in boxes (at a rate of 300-400 seeds per sq.m. area). Keep the seedlings in a warm room. The optimal time for planting seeds for seedlings is the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Table of days for sowing cabbage for seedlings at home

If you plant broccoli at temperatures below -5 C, this can lead to woodiness of the leaves and poor ripening of the vegetable during the growing season.

Sowing seeds in open ground

The optimal time for sowing is the end of March - the beginning of April. Before sowing, the seeds must be properly prepared. To do this you should:

• select large, healthy seeds;
• wrap them in gauze;
• immerse in hot (50 degrees) water for a quarter of an hour;
• Dip into cold water and hold for a minute.

In order for the seedlings to germinate well, and for young plants to be less susceptible to diseases during growth in the future, the seeds are recommended:

• soak in a liquid mixture of boric acid and potassium permanganate (dissolve 1 g of each product in 1 liter of water); leave for a day;
• keep them in an ash solution (1 tablespoon of ash per liter of water) and heat them in the freezer.

Early and late varieties of broccoli should be sown in the ground with a slight time difference (10-15 days). Seedlings should be picked at the stage of 3 true leaves.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground, timing by region

Start transplanting broccoli seedlings in early April. If you plan to plant cabbage directly in open ground, then you need to focus on the weather (the temperature during the day should be at least 16-20 degrees). This way the soil will warm up faster.

7-10 days before planting broccoli seedlings in open ground, it is recommended to harden them. To do this, boxes with seedlings are taken outside for 1 hour every day. This way they can quickly adapt to environmental conditions. After this, you can plant broccoli seedlings in open ground.

Table of timing for transplanting broccoli into the ground

When planting seedlings in open ground, you must be guided by weather conditions. If a drop in temperature or frost is predicted, then it is better to postpone planting in the ground. The optimal regime for broccoli seedlings is 15-17 C.

Unfavorable time for landing

There are days in the Lunar calendar when sowing broccoli for seedlings is extremely undesirable. Plants sown during this period will not germinate well and will be weakened and thin. You won’t be able to wait for a good harvest from such cabbage.

It is not recommended to sow broccoli:

• March 7, 10, 19-21, 23-26;
• 3, 4, 15-17, 20-22, 30 April;
• May 13, 14, 17-19, 25-29.

Agricultural technology for growing broccoli

Planting and caring for Fiesta broccoli will be described below.

To grow the Fiesta broccoli variety, you need a well-lit area with loose, fertile soil, without stagnant moisture.

Some vegetable growers grow this variety of cabbage indoors, but there is no particular need for this, since Fiesta broccoli ripens well in open ground.

GOOD TO KNOW!

• Rules and terms for growing strong cabbage seedlings of all types

Broccoli Fiesta perfectly manages to set heads, which reach a marketable state even when planting seeds directly into the soil (without seedlings).

Important!

When growing Fiesta in seedlings, the optimal time for planting seeds at home is the first ten days of April. After 25-30 days, strong, healthy seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place in the garden, and in the last ten days of June, the ripe heads can be cut off.

It is recommended to plant broccoli seeds directly into open ground no earlier than the last days of April (depending on the climatic conditions of the region), the seeding depth is no more than 2 cm. The distance between plants in a row is no more than 0.35 m, the row spacing is about 0. 5 m.

Broccoli seeds Fiesta - photo

It is better to dig up the soil on the site and fertilize it in the autumn by adding organic matter (humus, compost or rotted manure).

Further care for broccoli cabbage plants of the Fiesta variety is standard: regular watering, loosening, removing weeds, applying fertilizing.

If the summer is rainy, then this hybrid has to be watered extremely rarely - Fiesta broccoli does not tolerate excessive soil moisture.

During the dry period, the frequency of watering is once every 2-3 days.

Landing procedure and preparation for it

For a bed with broccoli, select an open area well warmed by the sun. It is desirable that some natural or artificial barrier protect it from gusts of cold wind from the north, without creating a shadow. The best predecessors for this crop are any green manure plants, potatoes, legumes, onions, garlic. And after other varieties of cabbage and cruciferous vegetables, it can be planted no earlier than after 4–5 years.

Broccoli loves open, sunny places, but does not respond well to prolonged, intense heat.

Fiesta F1 prefers soil that is nutritious, but light, well permeable to water and air. Fertile loam or sandy loam is suitable for it. When preparing a bed, add powdered clay to a too light substrate, and add sand to a heavy one. To increase soil fertility, add humus or rotted compost (6–9 liters per square meter of bed). Fertilizers include simple superphosphate and potassium sulfate (40–50 g and 25–30 g per 1 r/m, respectively). For those who prefer their natural analogues to mineral fertilizers, there is another option - sifted wood ash (0.5 l jar). All preparatory work has been carried out since the fall.

Wood ash is a natural source of phosphorus and potassium

Broccoli will not grow in acidic soil. When the pH value does not fit into the range of 6.0–7.0, dolomite flour, powdered eggshells or slaked lime are distributed over the bed during the digging process. It is undesirable for groundwater to approach the surface closer than a meter. Otherwise, the roots of the plants may begin to rot.

Dolomite flour is a soil deoxidizer that has no side effects if the dosage is observed.

Almost throughout Russia, broccoli is grown as seedlings. This allows you to get the harvest 2-3 weeks faster. In addition, in the Urals and Siberia it is impossible to predict what the summer will be like in terms of weather. Perhaps the heads simply do not have enough time to mature.

In order for the seedlings to turn out strong and healthy, it is necessary to carry out pre-planting preparation of the seeds. First, they are immersed in hot (40–45ºС) water for a quarter of an hour and immediately in cold water for a few minutes. To avoid the appearance of pathogenic fungi in the future, right before planting, the seeds are dipped in a raspberry solution of potassium permanganate, an infusion of wood ash for 6–8 hours, or kept for a quarter of an hour in a solution of any fungicide of biological origin (Alirin-B, Baikal-EM, Ridomil-Gold , Byleton). After this, the seeds are washed under running clean cool water and dried to a free-flowing state.

For broccoli seeds, pre-planting preparation is required.

So-called shock therapy is also practiced, but it takes longer. The seeds are placed in a container with damp sand or peat. For a week, it is put in the refrigerator at night, and during the day it is kept in the warmest place in the apartment. For example, a window sill facing south would be suitable.

Broccoli seeds sprout quite quickly if pre-planting preparation has been carried out properly.

Growing seedlings proceeds according to the following algorithm:

1. Small plastic cups or peat pots are filled with soil. Broccoli does not tolerate picking well; fragile leaves and roots are often damaged in the process. A drainage layer is required at the bottom. Both purchased soil for seedlings and a self-prepared mixture are suitable. Cabbage loves a loose nutrient substrate, so for seedlings you can take humus or rotted compost, peat and sand (the last component is three times less than the first two). A useful additive is crushed chalk or powdered activated carbon (a tablespoon per three liters of self-prepared substrate). Any soil must be disinfected. Before planting, the substrate in containers is watered abundantly and leveled.
2. Broccoli seeds are planted in pots of 2-3 pieces. Until they germinate, the container is left in a dark room at a temperature of 17–20ºС. To create a “greenhouse effect”, glass is placed on top or film is stretched.
3. As soon as the seeds germinate, the “shelter” is removed, the seedlings are provided with daylight lasting at least 10–12 hours (ideally 14–16 hours) and the temperature is reduced to 14–16ºС during the day and 10–12ºС at night. For additional illumination, it is best to use special phytolamps or LED lamps. They are placed 20–25 cm above the containers at a slight angle. In the phase of the second true leaf, culling is carried out, leaving one of the most powerful and developed seedlings in each pot. The rest are carefully pinched or cut off.
4. Further care of the seedlings consists of watering and fertilizing. Like any cabbage, broccoli is a moisture-loving crop, so the substrate is moistened as soon as the top layer of soil dries out. But you can’t flood the seedlings either. In wet soil, similar to a swamp, the development of “black leg” is more than possible. This dangerous disease can deprive a gardener of a future broccoli harvest right now. Three to four waterings per week are usually sufficient. Each time after it the room is ventilated. Broccoli is fed 12–15 days after germination and another 1.5 weeks. The first time, 2 g of potassium and nitrogen and 4 g of phosphorus fertilizers are taken per liter of water; the second time, their rate is doubled. A week before planting, broccoli seedlings are sprayed with a solution of urea or other nitrogen-containing fertilizer (3-4 g/l).
5. 7–10 days before transplanting into the garden, broccoli seedlings begin to harden off. First, you can simply open the window for a couple of hours or take the containers out onto a glassed-in loggia or veranda. By the end of this period, the cabbage is already “sleeping” outside.

Video: growing broccoli seedlings

Seedlings ready for planting in the ground have 6–8 true leaves and reach a height of 15–20 cm. Their age is about 35–40 days. The older the seedlings, the worse and longer it takes to adapt to new living conditions. Fiesta F1 is a mid-early hybrid, so seeds for seedlings are sown in the first ten days of April, and seedlings are transferred to the garden bed in May. In principle, seedlings can withstand cold temperatures down to -10ºС, but it is better not to risk the future harvest. Experienced gardeners sow it several times at intervals of a week and a half to extend the harvest period.

When planting broccoli seedlings in the ground, be sure to maintain an interval between plants

Each plant needs sufficient area for nutrition; they are placed on the bed at intervals of about 40 cm. The gap between rows of broccoli is 50–60 cm, seedlings are placed in a checkerboard pattern. This will help “compact” the plantings.

Choose a cool, cloudy day for planting. Or they spend it in the late afternoon, when the sun has already set. The depth of the hole is 10–14 cm. A handful of humus, a couple of pinches of wood ash or crushed chalk, and a little onion peel are placed at the bottom (it repels most pests that hibernate in the soil). The hole is well watered so that the broccoli is planted in the “mud”.

The stem is covered with earth to the lowest pair of leaves. Seedlings that were grown in peat pots are planted directly with the container, the rest are taken out of the container along with an earthen lump on the roots. It will be much easier to do this if you thoroughly pour the substrate about half an hour before the procedure. After planting, broccoli is also watered abundantly, spending about a liter of water per plant. It is advisable to mulch the bed. This will protect the soil from overheating and help retain moisture.

Mulching helps retain moisture in the soil and saves the gardener time on weeding.

In the southern regions of Russia, where the climate is predominantly subtropical, Fiesta F1 broccoli can be planted immediately in the garden, bypassing the seedling stage. Here, too, it will not be possible to avoid pre-planting seed preparation. 5–7 days before the procedure, the soil in the garden bed must be deeply loosened and watered with a solution of any fungicide. You can use both well-proven products tested by more than one generation of gardeners (Bordeaux mixture, copper sulfate) and more modern preparations (Topaz, Skor, Horus, Raek, HOM, and so on).

The seeds are sown following the same pattern as recommended for seedlings, several per hole, deepened no more than 1.5–2 cm. Then they are sprinkled with humus. Before emergence, the bed is covered with black plastic film.

Broccoli seedlings obtained from seeds planted in open ground must be thinned out

Caring for seedlings is almost the same as caring for seedlings grown at home. But there are some differences. Broccoli in the second true leaf phase must be treated with any suitable preparation to protect against cruciferous flea beetle. This common pest of all Cruciferous crops does not disdain broccoli. And when 3-4 leaves are formed, carefully add soil to the base of the stem so that the bushes do not fall. Young seedlings are sensitive to direct sunlight, so they are covered with spruce branches, old buckets, or a temporary canopy is built over the bed from any white covering material. It is also recommended to cover the seedlings until they take root in the new place and begin to grow.

Stages of feeding broccoli in open ground

Broccoli is very demanding when it comes to soil fertilization, loves fertilizing, and responds well to it.

Feeding broccoli - video

For the first time, fertilizers are applied to young Fiesta broccoli plants 2 weeks after transplanting into open ground. If broccoli seeds were planted immediately in open ground, then the first fertilizing is done approximately three weeks after emergence. It is best to use an organic infusion for this - mullein (1:10), bird droppings (1:20) or greenfinch. Such infusions should be kept warm for several days before fertilizing. But you can also use mineral fertilizing - for example, a solution of azofoska.

Photo of Fiesta broccoli in open ground

The second time the broccoli is fed a couple of weeks after the first application of fertilizers.

Important!

It is better to fertilize immediately after watering.

The third time feeding broccoli cabbage is carried out at the moment of formation of inflorescences on the cabbage. At this stage, you can prepare a solution of complex mineral fertilizers: take 10 g of ammonium nitrate, 5 g of potassium sulfate, 20 g of superphosphate and dilute in 5 liters of water.

Features of care

It is important to prevent young shoots from freezing. Therefore, if frost is expected, they are covered at night.

Half of plastic bottles or glass jars are used as insulation. When the temperature drops to -2°C, the plants may die.

On sunny days, for 5-6 days, seedlings can quickly burn in the sun, so at lunchtime they need to be shaded with agrofibre or burlap.

Further care of the garden bed consists of several activities.

Watering and loosening

After watering, the soil is loosened to a depth of 6-7 cm so as not to damage the roots. This way the soil will allow moisture and oxygen to pass through well.

Feeding

To obtain a bountiful and very tasty harvest, you need to fertilize the cabbage several times per season. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after the introduction of nutrients into the hole. They use organic matter - 250 g of mullein is dissolved in a bucket of water. Additionally, you can add 10 g of urea or nitroammophoska. Instead of mullein, a solution of chicken manure in a concentration of 1:20 is suitable (consumption of one or another fertilizer is 1 liter per 1 m²).

The second feeding is carried out three weeks after the first. 20 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water. For 1 m² you will need 1 liter of working fluid.

The third time the cabbage is fed is in the summer - in the middle or end of August. Superphosphate (30-35 g) and potassium sulfate (10-11 g) are dissolved in a bucket of water. Use 1.5 liters of solution per 1 m², after which the bed is watered abundantly.

Additionally, you need to provide nutrition after harvesting the first crop. 1 tbsp. l. nitroammophoska is dissolved in 10 liters of water. 1 liter of working fluid is poured under one seedling. This will stimulate the growth of side shoots.

A week after this, the soil under the bushes is loosened, watered, then sprinkled with wood ash - one of the best sources of potassium. 250-300 g of fertilizer are used per plant.

Diseases and pests

At all stages of growth and development, broccoli can be parasitized by various pests:

1. Cabbage aphid. It feeds on the juice of inflorescences and leaves. Lacewings and ladybugs will help destroy the insect. You should also periodically inspect the plants and collect parasites manually.
2. Cabbage fly. To repel this pest, you need to sprinkle tobacco dust around the plants within a radius of 4-5 cm or a mixture of slaked lime and ash (1:1).
3. Scoop. When affected by this parasite, biological products are used - Lepidocide or Bitoxibacillin.
4. Mol. The best way to combat it is to irrigate the beds with Entomotoxin or Boverin.

Among the diseases of broccoli, Marathon f1 is susceptible to black leg, which usually appears on seedlings. Signs - the stem at the bottom turns black, becomes thinner, rots and the cabbage dies. The optimal environment for the development of the disease is humid air, frequent overflows, and dense plantings. Therefore, to prevent infection, you need to optimize care.

Sick plants should be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate (5 g per 10 liters of water). You can also irrigate cabbage with Rizoplan (0.1%). After three weeks, re-treat.

Broccoli Fiesta F1: reviews from those who planted and grew

There are quite a lot of reviews about this hybrid; below are just a few of them.

Ekaterina, 39 years old, Voronezh:

“I grew various varieties of broccoli on the plot, but often due to weather conditions the plants only bloomed, but the heads did not ripen. In one season I planted the Fiesta f1 hybrid, and now I only grow it every year. The hybrid bears fruit in any weather conditions - it is not disturbed by heat, cold, or rain. The only negative is that Fiesta broccoli seeds are not always on sale, so if I come across them, I buy them for future use, especially since their germination period is up to 3 years.”

Natalya, 46 years old, Volzhsky:

“Last season I planted Fiesta broccoli in my garden beds and was pleased with the result - I got a large harvest with minimal care, the heads have an excellent taste and are in good presentation. I froze part of the harvest in the freezer, and in the winter I took it out and prepared an almost fresh product.”

Ekaterina, 40 years old, Tambov:

“Last season I planted Fiesta in my garden. Previously, in early April, I planted the seeds at home for seedlings, and about a month later I transplanted them into open ground. Despite its small size, the broccoli set in perfectly and began to grow. These plants did not require special care; the main thing, as I understood, was not to let the top part of the soil dry out too much. The summer turned out to be practically without precipitation, so I watered the beds with broccoli every 2-3 days, loosened and removed weeds. It is very important to collect ripe heads on time; I didn’t have time to collect several heads - they were overgrown. I planted Fiesta broccoli to harvest in the summer, replanted it a second time in the summer, and harvested it in the fall. As a result, the September heads of broccoli turned out to be larger in size and weight, and the bushes themselves were more powerful and strong.”

Broccoli Fiesta

- one of the hybrids of this vegetable crop, which does not require special care, is characterized by high productivity, and the harvested crop is universal.
The seeds of the variety can be planted in open ground in April (if the soil has warmed up and weather conditions allow), and a high harvest can be harvested in the second or third decade of June. Broccoli is a dietary product, so it is recommended for inclusion in the diet of many categories of citizens, including children.

Harvest and storage

Vegetables of the first sowing are harvested in August, the second - in September.

How and when to collect

As soon as the green heads of the hybrid are fully formed, they are cut off along with the stem. After 2-3 days they will become loose and bloom - the broccoli will lose its presentation and the taste will deteriorate. For harvesting, choose morning or evening time - this way the fruits will retain maximum juiciness.

Storage Features

Broccoli has good shelf life, but the shelf life of the crop is short and depends on temperature and humidity:

• at room conditions – 3-5 days;
• in the refrigerator (+5...+7°C) – 3 weeks;
• in the cellar (-1…0°C) – 2 months;
• shock freezing (-18°C) – 8 months.

The best storage option is frozen. The heads are divided into inflorescences with a stalk no larger than 1-2 cm. The vegetables are washed, dried, frozen on trays in one layer and packaged in bags.

For storage in the basement, boxes with perforated walls are suitable. The bottom of the boxes is covered with a damp cloth. The heads are placed with their legs on the fabric so that they do not touch each other. The top of the boxes is covered with film. The optimal storage temperature is -1...0°C with an air humidity of 80-90%.

Broccoli Fiesta F1: description and characteristics from the manufacturer

Mid-early high-yielding hybrid of the Dutch seed plant. Ready for harvesting 85 days after sowing. The head is very large, dense, spherical. With proper agricultural technology, the weight of the central head reaches 1.5 kg or more.

It is exceptionally rich in vitamins, has medicinal properties, and is ideal for dietary nutrition. The hybrid tolerates night temperature fluctuations well and is resistant to downy mildew. Sowing for seedlings - from April 1 to 10, transplanting from May 1 to 10, harvesting from June 10 to 20.

Manufacturers: Gavrish, Russian Garden, Aelita, Semko, Rostok, Sedek and many others.

What does Fiesta F1 broccoli look like?

Fiesta F1 is a broccoli hybrid popular all over the world; the originator is the famous Dutch company Bejo Zaden BV. The hybrid entered the Russian State Register at the end of the twentieth century. It is recommended for cultivation on personal plots without specifying a specific region.

Broccoli is native to the Mediterranean coast. At the same time, it is successfully cultivated in the post-Soviet space. Even young seedlings are not in danger of dying when the temperature drops to -10ºC. The optimal indicator for its development is 18–24ºС. Accordingly, broccoli can be cultivated not only in the European part of Russia, but also in the Urals, Siberia, and the Far East. The crop exhibits a certain “plasticity”, yielding crops in weather conditions that are not always favorable. And long rains are even good for her. Broccoli is very suitable for high air and substrate humidity. Its fruiting period is extended compared to other varieties of cabbage - from each plant you can get not one, but two or even three harvests.

Broccoli Fiesta F1 is a relatively new hybrid that has already achieved recognition among gardeners all over the world.

Fiesta F1 is a mid-early ripening broccoli hybrid. It takes 75–80 days from planting seedlings in the garden to cutting off the heads. The plant is quite powerful, the rosette seems to be raised. The leaves are green with a bluish-blue tint, elongated, slightly dissected. Their surface is slightly “bubbly”, “corrugated”. The height of the rosette reaches 90 cm, the diameter of the head is 12–15 cm.

The average weight of this broccoli is 600–800 g; there are also individual specimens weighing 1.2–1.5 kg. It is most often slightly flattened in shape, although it can be almost round, moderately “lumpy.” Color - dark green with a bluish-gray tint. There is no point in delaying harvesting - broccoli is edible only until the flowers have bloomed (the buds have turned yellow).

Broccoli Fiesta F1 is valued not least for its taste and presentable appearance

The inflorescences are dense, juicy, and their taste deserves only rave reviews. The State Register of the Russian Federation recommends this hybrid for use in home cooking. Gourmets and professional chefs note the special tenderness of the taste and light nutty aftertaste.

The inflorescences of Fiesta F1 broccoli are dense, the stems can also be eaten

Among the undoubted advantages of the Fiesta F1 hybrid is the presence of “innate” immunity to such a dangerous disease for the crop as fusarium. It consistently produces a yield of about 3–3.5 kg/m² (or 240–350 kg per hectare), regardless of how lucky the gardener is with the weather in the summer. Such indicators are achieved due to the fact that after cutting the main head, the side ones begin to form. They are, of course, much smaller, but this does not affect the taste in any way. The hybrid is also distinguished by good keeping quality, transportability and external presentability.

The lateral heads of Fiesta F1 broccoli are formed on the stems left in the garden bed after the main crop of plants has been harvested

Like any other variety of broccoli, Fiesta F1 is extremely healthy. It is low in calories, but at the same time nutritious and high in vitamins and microelements necessary for humans. Of particular note is the presence of vitamins B, C (more than in citrus fruits), E, ​​A, K, PP and U, as well as potassium, magnesium, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper, selenium. In addition, broccoli is rich in fiber, proteins, and amino acids (including essential ones). All this is easily absorbed by the body. If this cabbage is served as a side dish, it helps digest heavier foods.

Nutritionists advise eating broccoli for diabetes of any type. It has been scientifically proven that it helps lower insulin levels and blood sugar levels, and cleanse blood vessels of cholesterol “plaques.” It is also needed by those who permanently live in areas with not very favorable ecology. This cabbage helps remove waste, toxins and even compounds of heavy and radioactive metals from the body.

Freshly squeezed broccoli juice is a storehouse of vitamins and microelements; it can be mixed with carrot and/or apple juice

Stewed and baked broccoli is very healthy, but it is not recommended to cook it in the microwave

Broccoli is a hypoallergenic product. It is very useful for pregnant women, as it contains folic acid in large quantities, and for young children. Broccoli puree is very good for starting complementary feeding.

Broccoli is widely used by baby food manufacturers, but puree it can also be prepared at home.

Growing cauliflower from seeds

When to sow cauliflower seedlings

Planting cauliflower seedlings is done in several stages: seeds of early varieties can be sown at the end of February, 40-50 days before planting the seedlings in the garden; after two weeks, medium-ripening varieties are sown, and then, a month later, late varieties of cauliflower are sown.

Growing cauliflower seedlings

Before sowing, cauliflower seeds are processed: first, they are placed in a thermos with water at a temperature of 50 ºC for 15 minutes, then dipped in cold water for a minute, then soaked in a solution of microelements for 12 hours, and then thoroughly washed and placed in the bottom for a day. refrigerator drawer. After this treatment, the seeds are dried and sown several at a time in separate pots, so as not to subsequently subject the seedlings to picking, which they do not tolerate well.

Drainage is placed at the bottom of the pots, then neutral reaction soil, which is made up of 4 parts of low-lying peat, 1 part of mullein and one and a half parts of rotted sawdust. You can also use a substrate of 10 parts humus, 1 part sand and 1 part lowland peat. Add a little ash to the wet substrate and mix it thoroughly. Cauliflower is sowed into the soil to a depth of half a centimeter, after which the substrate is compacted.

The conditions for growing cauliflower are as follows: before germination, the room temperature should be between 18-20 ºC, and when the seeds germinate, it should be lowered to 6-8 ºC, placing the seedlings as close to the light as possible. After 5-7 days, set the daytime temperature at 15-18 ºC, and at night – 8-10 ºC. Cauliflower seedlings growing in a room with too high a temperature (above 22 ºC) may subsequently not form inflorescences at all.

Growing cauliflower and caring for it during the seedling period consists of moderate watering, regular loosening of the soil and preventive treatment of the substrate with a pink solution of potassium permanganate against blackleg and other fungi. When the seedlings develop 2-3 true leaves, they are sprayed with a solution of 2 g of boric acid in 1 liter of water, and when the seedlings add another leaf or two, the seedlings will not be hindered by treatment with a solution of 5 g of ammonium molybdate in a bucket of water.

Cauliflower Pick

Growing cauliflower does not involve picking, since it is poorly tolerated by seedlings. But if you decide to sow the seeds not in separate containers, but in a common box, choose a deeper container and place the seeds less often so as not to damage the root system of the seedlings when transplanting into open ground.

For those who believe that it is necessary to pick cauliflower seedlings, we suggest doing this when the seedlings are two weeks old, seating them in separate containers, carefully trimming the roots when replanting. After picking, keep the seedlings at a temperature of 21 ºC until they take root, then set the temperature to 17 ºC during the day and 9 ºC at night.

Seed planting technology

To sow broccoli for seedlings, you need to prepare the soil and seeds. Both equally determine the overall success of future work. The simplest, but not very budget-friendly option is to purchase a package of ready-made soil mixture for vegetable seedlings in a store or market. But if you do this every time, in the end it will turn out that gardening is not worth doing at all: now you can buy almost everything in grocery stores! Therefore, we will save.

It’s easy to buy ready-made soil, but it often costs a pretty penny.

You need sufficiently nutritious, but at the same time light and breathable soil. The best mixture is turf soil and ready-made compost in equal parts. For one bucket of this mixture, add a liter jar of wood ash and mix well.

To prevent diseases, the prepared soil must be thoroughly soaked in a hot dark purple solution of potassium permanganate or simply fried in the oven. If seedlings are to be grown in a greenhouse, a mini-bed for it is prepared in the same way: compost and ash are added when digging, and then watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Usually, for growing seedlings at home, they take simple wooden boxes containing a layer of soil 7–8 cm high. It is much more convenient to do this in separate cups, but how much space do they take up!

1. First, drainage material is poured into the boxes in a layer of about 1 cm (small pebbles, coarse river sand).
2. Prepared soil is placed on top of it.
3. If the planting container is not divided into cells, grooves are made in it for sowing seeds at a distance of 5–6 cm from each other.

Of course, we will buy seeds in the store. There will be many varieties, but it is not at all necessary to rush to the most beautiful label. Often the most reliable seeds are hidden in the far corner and are in nondescript bags because they are inexpensive. When choosing a variety, carefully read the description! After all, varieties differ in terms of ripening, purpose, and growing regions. You can buy pelleted seeds; you don’t have to prepare them for sowing at all, but they will cost more.

Broccoli seeds are quite large and easy to work with.

Preparing regular broccoli seeds for sowing begins with an external inspection. They are quite large, small things can be discarded immediately if you have good eyesight. It’s easier to calibrate them differently; we’ll still disinfect them.

1. Place them in a jar of hot water (50 ºC) for 15–20 minutes.
2. Then change the water to cold. The worst seeds will float up, don’t feel sorry for them, throw them away.
3. Good seeds can be kept in a solution of a growth stimulant, for example, Heteroauxin (after reading the instructions for it).
4. We harden it in the refrigerator, placing it in a damp cloth for 1–2 days.
5. Dry until fluffy and begin to sow.

We sow the seeds to a depth of 1.5 cm, the distance between them is 4–6 cm. With more frequent sowing and good germination, thinning will have to be done, and this cabbage does not like picking, so there will be an overconsumption of seeds. But it’s a shame to throw away seedlings! Picking is possible, but undesirable, and there will be more hassle with it. Therefore, let’s spend an extra 5–10 minutes and sow rarely. Sprinkle the crops with soil, water them and cover them with glass or transparent film.