Cabbage Cossack F1: characteristics and important growing rules

Cabbage Cossack F1, while observing the basics of agricultural technology, pleases with early fresh heads of cabbage with a pleasant fresh taste and good juiciness. Many vegetable growers prefer this hybrid due to its hardiness and adaptability.

Characteristic

The white cabbage variety Kazachok is the work of Russian breeders, bred quite a long time ago and included in the state register. This type of vegetable crop is grown throughout Russia, as well as in Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan.

Vegetables ripen very quickly. In terms of ripeness, the variety is classified as early ripening. After planting the seedlings, 50-55 days pass before the first head of cabbage is cut. Full technical ripeness of Kazachok cabbage occurs 100 days after the appearance of the first sprouts.

Early ripening is also observed in some other cabbage crops of the white cabbage type. For example, the Parel species is a very early Dutch hybrid, cultivated in open and protected ground.

Bushes of the Cossack type are formed in the form of small plants with a spreading rosette of wavy leaves. The full height of the bush is approximately 25-30 cm. The heads of cabbage grow round in shape with leaves painted in a light green color with a matte, gray tint. The inside of the forks is white-yellow in color and has a very dense structure. The average weight of a head of cabbage is 1.3-1.5 kg, height is 16-17 cm. The inner stalk is 6-6.2 cm in size, the outer one reaches a length of 10 cm. The yield is 3.5-4.5 kg per square meter of planting.

Advantages of a hybrid

The main advantages of Cossack are its unpretentiousness to soil quality (it grows well even on infertile and poor soils) and good resistance to cold. The variety is also not susceptible to diseases common to white cabbage:

• vascular and mucous bacteriosis;
• black leg;
• keel

The hybrid is characterized by average resistance to most insect pests. Cossack is resistant to rotting. It can be stored for 6 months under normal conditions. Moreover, cabbage during this period not only does not deteriorate its taste properties, but also improves them.

The described variety has resistance to cracking, stable yield, and excellent presentation. The latter fact determines the demand for this crop among consumers.

The Cossack matures at the same time. It is convenient to collect and immediately (if necessary) recycle. And the good roundness and density of the crop ensures its easy transportation over any distance.

The Cossack matures at the same time

Pros and cons of the variety

The Kazachok type of cabbage has a lot of advantages, thanks to which it is very popular among gardeners.

pros

1. Unpretentiousness to soil type and growing conditions.
2. High resistance to diseases of vegetable crops.
3. Excellent taste of cabbage.
4. Early ripeness of forks.
5. Attractive appearance of cabbage heads.
6. The property can be stored for a long time.
7. Ability not to be damaged during transportation over long distances.

Minuses

The Kazachok variety has practically no disadvantages. It is only worth noting this fact: the culture does not tolerate very hot weather, and in hot conditions it slows down its development and growth.

Positive and negative qualities of a hybrid

Advantages

Many summer residents prefer the Kazachok F1 variety due to the presence of a large number of positive qualities. First of all, this variety of crop is famous for the fact that it is ideal for growing even by inexperienced gardeners. Cabbage is not sensitive to cold climates, and also grows quite well in infertile soil types.

Other advantages worth noting are good immunity. As noted earlier, Cossack F1 is protected from diseases such as mucous bacteriosis and blackleg. In addition, it is relatively protected from clubroot (the main cabbage scourge) and vascular bacteriosis.

The hybrid has a good taste, which is why it is in great demand in the market. The taste is enhanced by the large amount of sugar in the vegetable (about 4.2 g per 100 g).

Naturally, we should not forget that this is an early variety. The harvest can be harvested at the end of the 1st month of summer. At the same time, the heads of cabbage are not only tasty, but also look quite attractive.

Even though the variety is early, it is stored quite well and is resistant to rotting processes. During storage (like many late varieties of cabbage), cabbage only improves its taste.

The fruit is quite dense and leveled, so the vegetable does not suffer during transportation.

We recommend reading: Description of the June cabbage variety

Another advantage is the uniform ripening of the crop. This is highly valued in commercial cabbage growing.

Flaws

At the same time, it is worth noting some of the disadvantages of this cabbage. Firstly, the Cossack F1 cannot withstand the heat at all. Also, if you don’t have water and can’t water it consistently, you shouldn’t expect a good harvest. With a lack of water and extreme heat, the plant’s development is very slow and eventually it simply stops forming forks. For this reason, in the southern regions of the country, they try to plant Cossack F1 in the exhaust zone early, even before the peak heat sets in.

In addition, the cabbage completely stops fluttering in the shade. When planting Cossack, you need to choose sunny areas that are also protected from cold northern winds.

Features of cultivation

White cabbage of the Kazachok variety is grown in seedlings. Sowing of seedlings is carried out around the end of March. Young seedlings are ready for planting in open ground 40-45 days after sowing.

Preparing seedlings

Seeds of cabbage plants of the Kazachok variety, processed by the manufacturer, have a protective shell and do not need to be treated. Seed material collected independently must be prepared.

Description of seed preparation

The following steps are performed with Kazachok cabbage seeds:

1. They sort through the grains, separating the largest ones. Then the selected large achenes are placed in a glass of cold water. The cabbage seeds that have sunk to the bottom are suitable for sowing.
2. Cabbage seeds are wrapped in a piece of gauze and poured with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour. After this, the seed material is washed with clean water.
3. Gauze with achenes of the Kazachok variety is dipped in a hot saline solution (1 tablespoon of salt per 1 liter of water) and left for 15 minutes. Next, the seeds are transferred to cold water for 1 minute.
4. Place the seeds on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for 1 day for further hardening.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

The soil for sowing seedlings of the Kazachok cabbage variety is used in advance. Mix several types of soil in equal proportions: garden soil, humus, river sand. Add wood ash to the soil mixture at the rate of 200 g per 10 liters. land. Spill the soil with a strong, dark purple solution of potassium permanganate, and fill plastic containers or other containers with a wall height of at least 8 cm suitable for sowing seeds with the soil mixture.

On the surface of the prepared soil, grooves are drawn and cabbage seeds are placed in them, lightly pressing them into the soil to a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm. Next, the seedlings are sprinkled with a thin layer of soil mixture and the seedling containers are covered with plastic film or glass. Containers with seed material are placed in a warm room and await the emergence of seedlings.

When the Kazachok variety produces its first shoots, remove the film from the containers and transfer them to a colder room with a temperature of +12-14 degrees.

Seedlings should be watered moderately, but not allowing the soil to dry out, only at the root and with warm water. At the stage of 2-3 leaves, young plants of the Kazachok variety are ready for planting in open ground.

Site preparation

The Kazachok cabbage variety is planted in slightly shaded areas with neutral or slightly acidic soil. The soil is prepared in the autumn by carrying out the following work:

• remove weeds;
• dig up the ground;
• add organic matter.

Among organic fertilizers, humus and cow manure are suitable at the rate of 5-7 kg per 1 sq. m. meter of plot. In the spring, the soil is dug up again and beds are formed for planting cabbage of the Kazachok variety.

Description of planting seedlings

Before planting seedlings of the Kazachok cabbage variety, in pre-formed beds, the soil should be disinfected by spilling it with a hot solution of copper sulfate or potassium permanganate. Next, on the surface of the ridge you need to dig holes with a distance of 40 cm from each other. Between the rows of seedlings it is necessary to maintain a distance of 50-60 cm.

A little mineral fertilizer (superphosphate, nitroammophoska, etc.) is poured into the dug holes, covered with a small layer of soil, and seedlings of the Kazachok variety are placed, carefully removing them from the seedling containers. The soil around the stem is compacted, each seedling is watered abundantly and covered with a cut plastic bottle. You can remove the bottle after 2 weeks, when the plants adapt well to the ground.

Diseases and pests

Diseases

Cossack F1 has high immunity to blackleg and mucous bacteriosis, as well as relative resistance to vascular bacteriosis and clubroot.

According to the description, the culture is often affected by the following diseases:

• downy mildew;
• gray and white rot;
• fusarium wilt.

To prevent them, plants are treated with fungicides and insecticides. Spraying is carried out once every 10-12 days. You can use drugs such as “Prestige”, “Impact”, “Zoltan”, “Commander Maxi”. For this purpose, use an iodine solution (40 drops of the substance per 10 liters of water). 0.5 liters of liquid is poured under each plant. This product also acts as a top dressing.

Copper-containing substances are used to fight diseases. This can be Bordeaux mixture, bankol, phosbecid. The use of the drug "Fitosporin-M" does not pose a danger to humans.

Pests

White cabbage is often attacked by aphids and cruciferous flea beetles. You can fight them using folk remedies. To do this, prepare the following decoction:

• 2 liters of water are mixed with 400 g of tobacco dust;
• filter, add 50 g of crushed soap;
• add 10 liters of water.

You can get rid of pests by dusting the crop with mustard and ground pepper. The drug “Fitoverm” is also used. Traps and baits are made against slugs that parasitize cabbage. The area is covered with eggshells and river sand.

Care

The Kazachok cabbage variety does not require careful care. You just need to follow simple agrotechnical rules and the crop will delight you with a good harvest. Plant care activities include the following work:

1. Watering.
2. Loosening and hilling.
3. Feeding.

Watering

Moisture is necessary for the Kazachok cabbage variety. During the growth and filling of heads of cabbage, it is necessary to water the plantings 2-3 times a week, depending on weather conditions.

Approximately 25-30 days before the planned harvest, reduce the frequency of watering to once a week. Just before cutting the heads of cabbage, a week before the specified event, irrigation of the plantings is stopped altogether.

Loosening and hilling

Loosening the soil under cabbage bushes of the Kazachok variety is required in order to remove the hard earth crust that forms after watering or rain and prevents the free access of oxygen to the roots of the plants. Loosening is carried out to a shallow depth of 3-4 cm so as not to damage the cabbage root system.

Hilling is carried out to protect cabbage bushes from pests and provide the roots with additional moisture and nutrition. Hilling up is done with wet soil.

Description of feeding activities

Cabbage of the Kazachok variety requires additional nutrition, which should be produced using fertilizing. Organic and mineral fertilizers are used as fertilizing.

Organic matter must be added at the beginning of plant growth, 10-15 after planting. An infusion of mullein (1:10) or a weak solution of liquid urea are suitable. Subsequent feeding is carried out at intervals of 2-3 weeks, using complex mineral supplements containing potassium and phosphorus.

Reviews

The hybrid receives rave reviews from customers every year. Most summer residents and farmers are completely satisfied with cabbage. There are reports of unsightly fruits, but this is usually due to lack of watering and extreme heat.

According to summer resident Taisiya Vasilyevna, Kazachok F1 cabbage is excellent for seedling cultivation in open ground, without greenhouse conditions. Gardener Timofey Varchenko notes the amazing 100% germination of seeds and the excellent transportability of ripe fruits.

Cabbage Cossack F1 has a number of key advantages, so gardeners often choose this hybrid as an early variety. For a good harvest, you will need to follow simple care rules. You can avoid attacks by pests and diseases with the help of preventive measures.

Diseases and parasites

The Kazachok variety is highly resistant to various diseases of vegetable crops, including clubroot, downy mildew, and vascular bacteriosis.

Cabbage aphid

A dangerous pest that can attack the Kazachok cabbage variety. The parasite settles on cabbage leaves and pierces the foliage, sucking out the juice. Holes form on the cabbage heads, and then the cabbage leaves curl and turn yellow. The pest can cause great harm to plants, so preventive measures must be taken.

Since aphids like to lay larvae on neighboring weeds, you should carefully monitor the density of plantings and remove weeds as they appear. An effective way would be to plant a repellent plant nearby. For example, dill, onions, and garlic have the ability to repel pests. To treat cabbage from aphids, treat the bushes with a solution of laundry soap with the addition of ash.

Cruciferous bug

A small insect with a variegated color is a dangerous pest that can affect the Kazachok cabbage variety. The parasite overwinters in fallen leaves in gardens, waking up in the spring and immediately settling on weeds. After waiting for the cabbage to sprout, the pests settle on its leaves. Cruciferous bugs pierce cabbage leaves and suck the juice out of them. Cabbage leaves turn yellow and curl.

Several insects can completely destroy a head of cabbage, so preventive measures should be taken to protect the plants.

For prevention, tobacco dust is scattered between the rows, and onions, garlic, marigolds, and calendula are planted nearby. Carry out timely weeding. To destroy parasites, chemical preparations Aktara, Enzhio, and Match are used.

Cabbage scoop

An insect that causes damage to the cabbage crop of the Kazachok variety. The armyworm lives in the soil, pupating in winter. In spring, the pest comes to the surface and attacks vegetable crops. The parasite lays eggs on cabbage leaves. Next, the cutworm gnaws the cabbage leaves, causing damage to the heads of cabbage. If no action is taken, the cabbage cutworm will destroy the crop.

Prevention is done by deep digging of the soil in the fall and timely removal of weeds. The drugs Actellik and Aktara are suitable for treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages

Pros:

• strong bushes;
• friendly harvest return;
• good taste and marketability;
• uniformity of shape and size;
• stress resistance;
• precocity;
• resistance to rotting during storage;
• keeping quality and transportability;
• complex resistance to infections;
• cold resistance;
• tolerance to temperature fluctuations;
• universal application;
• frost resistance.

Minuses:

• love of light;
• does not tolerate the height of the heat (in the south they are planted earlier to avoid the hot period);
• moisture-loving (with a lack of water, the formation of forks is disrupted).

Harvesting and storage

Heads of the early variety of white cabbage Kazachok can be cut 50-55 days after planting the seedlings in a permanent place of growth. Young forks are suitable for summer use. Full harvesting is carried out 100-105 days after the appearance of the first shoots, when the cabbage reaches technical maturity.

The Cossack variety is stored quite well. Cabbage heads are cleared of soil and stored in a well-ventilated, dry room with an ambient temperature of at least + 1 degree and a relative humidity of 90-95%.

My review of cabbage Kazachok F1

For summer use, I usually plant Transfer and June cabbage, but I decided to try the new hybrid Cossack. I prepared the seedlings in a greenhouse and sown the seeds on April 5th. They sprouted together within 4 days and developed well.

I planted cabbage in the garden on May 9, immediately sprinkling the plants with a mixture of ash and tobacco dust to protect them from the cabbage flea beetle. When planting, I added 2 handfuls of vermicompost from California worms and 1 teaspoon of granular OMU fertilizer for vegetables into the holes. I didn’t feed the cabbage anything else.

The Cossack grew well, I didn’t find any diseases on it, but I had to treat it for aphids with Aktara.

Photo by the author

The first forks suitable for cutting ripened in mid-June. The weight turned out to be 0.7 - 0.9 kg. In the salad, the Cossack turned out to be tender and tasty, but it must be added to the cabbage soup at the very end of cooking, otherwise it will become overcooked.

The rest of the cabbage was removed as needed until September. The heads of cabbage did not crack or rot, remaining juicy and strong.

Conclusion: I liked the Cossack hybrid for its unpretentiousness and did not like the excessive tenderness of the leaves. I will plant several plants specifically for making salads; for stews and soups, cabbage with a coarser structure is needed.