Romanesko's cabbage - interesting and unusual vegetable which homeland Italy is considered. In the former Soviet Union this the plant unique in many respects is also known as Coral or Romance cabbage. Exotic vegetable is very vitamin-rich With, To, And yes also incorporates various minerals, flavonoids, carotinoids, antioxidants and cellulose. On the culinary properties Romanesko's cabbage is very similar to broccoli, however unlike the last it is characterized by more gentle creamy and nut taste.
It is not so difficult to grow up this miracle in the kitchen garden, this plant is not really exacting in leaving. At cultivation in the conditions of moderate or sharply continental climate it is only important to observe certain temperature condition and also to provide plant with regular, but moderate watering.
Choosing the place for landing of Romance cabbage, it must be kept in mind that this plant badly transfers the sour soil. That the work spent for cultivation of exotic vegetable was not gone for nothing, it is necessary to land it only in fertile chernozem soil. It is desirable to dig over the site under landing since fall that by the time of jumping of seedling the earth has managed to be saturated with air. In regions with frigid climate it is the best of all for romanesk to land in the seedling way, and here in the south seeds can be seeded to the open ground at once.
Cultivation of seedling
Depending on climatic features of the region the seeds on seedling sow at the end of March or in the second half of April. When choosing the most suitable time it is necessary to consider that it is the is best of all young heads of cabbage are tied at temperature from +18 to +20 °C. Too cold or hot weather is absolutely unacceptable for this plant. Improper weather patterns very often is basic reason of total absence of dense spiral heads by the end of the vegetative period.
The most optimum temperature condition from crops of seeds before emergence of the first sprouts makes from + 20 up to +22 °C. Further it is necessary to reduce air temperature surely to +15 °C in the afternoon and up to +8 °C at night. It needs to be made in order that young sprouts were not extended in growth, and formed strong and hardy root system which will be able to resist to various adverse environmental factors surely subsequently. Rather long daylight hours lasting not less than 12 hours is also extremely important for the correct growth of young seedling.
It is the best of all to plant seeds in separate tanks at once, however if necessary it is possible to use also the general box. Viability at seeds not always absolute therefore some seedlings can not appear. When landing it is desirable to use the soil bought in specialized shop consisting of equal parts of the turf, peat, humus and sand. The box for seedling is recommended to choose standard half-meter length with height of walls no more than 10 cm.
When landing the seeds bury to the soil approximately at 1 cm, at the same time the distance between future sprouts is desirable to leave not less than 3 cm. At favorable temperature condition the first shoots have to appear in 3-4 days. The correct forming of sprouts requires regular moistening of the soil from spray and moderate uniform lighting. It is possible to dive young seedling only after term not less than 14 days.
Planting of seedling to the open ground
The Romance cabbage which is grown up in hothouse conditions can be planted to the open ground in 45-60 days after vskhod of seeds. Landing of young saplings is made in in advance prepared and well humidified holes at distance about 45 cm from each other. It is the best of all to plant young plants in cloudy day or evening before sunset as in this case the possibility of emergence on leaves of solar burns will be almost completely excluded.
Bezrassadny way of cultivation
In regions with warm climate the landing of seeds to the open ground is usually made when the average daily daytime temperature of air reaches point above +15C. Unlike white cabbage, Romanesk does not transfer frosts at all therefore it is extremely important to exclude possibility of emergence of night frosts completely. Crops of seeds are carried out in well humidified soil on depth no more than 2 cm, at the same time the distance between holes is desirable to make about 60 cm. For heat preservation and faster germination of seeds sowing material can be covered with film or any other protecting cover.
Features of leaving and harvesting
Though Romance cabbage does not belong to whimsical cultures, nevertheless for receiving worthy harvest it is necessary to hold the whole complex of events for leaving which without fail includes:
- regular, but moderate watering 2-3 times a week;
- periodic scarification and removal of weeds;
- obligatory protection against various wreckers and prevention against some diseases.
Also at cultivation of Romance cabbage it is important to remember that for the vegetative period of plant not less than 3 times are recommended to feed up. As fertilizing it is possible to use specialized mineral or organic fertilizers (for example, superphosphates, mullein, saltpeter). The exotic harvest usually ripens in 4-5 months after emergence of the first sprouts, that is at the end of summer or in early autumn. Storage life of svezhesrezanny cabbage in the fridge makes no more than 7 days. To keep exotic vegetable for longer term, it can be frozen or subjected to preservation.