What is cabbage Romanesco and its cultivation

Romanesco cabbage, the more familiar name of which is Coral Cabbage or Romanesque broccoli is considered a new guest on our ridges. Its cultivation is practically no different from the care of varieties of cauliflower, However, there are certain nuances that are worth learning more.

Description and characteristics of the variety Romanesco

The main feature of this unique annual cabbage variety is the shape and location of the inflorescences. They resemble a pyramid of bright green hues, which are tightly spaced to each other. These inflorescences resemble a fractal spiral consisting of many buds of a similar shape.

Cabbage grade Romanesko

A fractal is a geometric shape, some part of which is repeated all the time, constantly changing its own size. This is the principle of self-similarity, according to which fractals resemble themselves in all their sizes.

Inflorescences varieties Romanesco surround large leaves of blue-green shade. Based on the growing conditions, the forks can reach a height of 1 m, and its fruits - the mass of 0.5 kg. Moreover, the size of the plant does not depend on the time when the seedlings were planted in the ground.

The origin of cabbage Romanesco

Italy is considered the birthplace of the variety, where it was bred by breeders in the 90s of the 20th century. However, some data states that Romanesco variety is known since the time of the Roman Empire. In our country, it became known about such heads of cabins quite recently, and since then many gardeners have become interested in such an interesting specimen.

Growing cabbage Romanesko in the 1st century BC Etruscans, and then, in our era, the peasants of Tuscany

Romanesco variety belongs to the same group as cauliflower, but it tastes like broccoli. The main difference from the color of Romanesco is its delicate texture and nut-creamy taste, where there is no characteristic bitterness.

Benefit for health

Eating this kind of cabbage helps to fill the body with a lot of vitamins (A, B, C, K), macro- and microelements, fiber and other beneficial substances.

Thanks to the useful qualities of the variety, it is possible to improve the state of human health, since Romanesco cabbage:

• eliminates metallic taste;
• increases strength and vascular elasticity;
• restores receptor sensitivity;
• thins blood;
• helps to fight cancer cells;
• does not allow to develop atherosclerosis;
• removes excess cholesterol from the body, toxins and other harmful substances;
• saves a person from digestive problems, improving the functioning of the digestive tract.

But, despite all the positive properties of the heads, do not abuse its technique. After all, overeating threatens with problems with the normal functioning of the digestive tract, one of which is increased gas formation.

How is cultivating a variety at home?

Choosing a place for planting, it is necessary to take into account the crop rotation and the former piece of land can be returned only after 4-5 years. The best forerunner for crucifers is potato, after harvesting which is very loose earth. Romanesco can also be planted after onions, carrots, tomatoes, legumes and beets. You can grow forks as seedlings and seeds, which is most often used in the south of the country. In other cases, it is better to plant seedlings.

Preparation of black soil

Romanesco does not like sour soil, so the best option for her would be black soil. DIn order to reduce the acidity of the soil, it needs to be treated with lime in the fall. Also it is necessary to add mineral fertilizers to the earth, which are made under the digging of the earth. They should contain chemical elements such as copper and molybdenum.

A good crop of cabbage Romanesco can be obtained in soils with an alkaline environment

In early spring, it is necessary to add ash made from their trees or dolomite flour to the ground, which is carried out at 200-400 g per 1 square meter of land. And just before digging it is recommended to add compost or manure to the ground, scattering 2 buckets on 1 square meter beds.

Landing

The technology of growing Romanesco is practically no different from the care of color variety. The best time for sowing seeds is the end of April.

Before the appearance of the first cotyledon leaves of the seedlings in the room where it is installed, the ambient air temperature should be no higher than + 20 ° C. After 30 days after germination, the temperature drops by 10 ° C, so that at night it does not rise above + 8 ° С.

During the entire growth of its seedlings, it is necessary to water it regularly, as well as to control the lighting so that the seedlings do not have much time to stretch upwards. As a result of proper care, seedlings should be low, on a strong stalk, with a well-developed root system.

Seedlings of cabbage Romanesko

Seedlings can be planted in the ground 45-60 days after sowing seeds. When growing forks, there is not much difference what is used for planting - seeds or seedlings. In both cases, the distance between each landing row should be 50 cm, and inside them - 60 cm.

Care rules

Caring for Romanesco does not pose any particular difficulties. If you follow the basic rules of care, you can get a good harvest without any problems. The main care is as follows:

Watering

Since cabbage is demanding on soil moisture, it needs to be watered regularly, which is a guarantee of a good harvest. Especially important is watering during the formation of inflorescences. However, one should not allow waterlogging of the soil; therefore, after watering, it is worth to gnaw the ground under each plant.

Weed control

The bed with Romanesco cabbage must be weeded, loosening the soil

Timely cleaning of weeds will prevent the occurrence of pests on cabbage, and also warn of various diseases.

Top dressing

During the entire growing season, Romanesco's forks are fed three times.

A week after planting, seedlings can be fed to a permanent place. their manure or bird droppings, diluted in 10 liters of water, in which 20 g of mineral fertilizers are added.

The second feeding is carried out in 2 weeks. To do this, stir in 10 liters of water 2 pinches of superphosphate, 1.5 tablespoons of ammonium nitrate, 2 g of potassium chloride and boric acid.

Pest and disease control

This variety is considered to be pests papustyanka, aphid, cruciferous flea. In order not to cause their appearance, regular treatment of plants with modern insecticides will help.

I carry no less harm and cruciferous diseases, such as black leg, slimy bacteriosis, mosaic, alternarioz. Sometimes it is possible to cope with some of them only by the complete eradication of a plant.

Harvesting

The main criterion for ripeness of cabbage Romanesko - formed large inflorescences-stars

You can start cleaning forks in September. Despite the fact that the plant can grow up to 1 m, it has small inflorescences. It is worth cutting the cabbage heads in the morning, before the sun had time to heat the whole plant.

Also worth knowing that if you store the cabbage after harvesting in the refrigerator, it will quickly lose its nutritional properties and begin to deteriorate. To preserve the useful qualities of cabbage will help her deep freeze. Then, after thawing, cabbage inflorescences will not lose their juiciness and tenderness.

Grow a variety of Romanesco is somewhat more difficult than a different variety of cabbage, because every violation of technology can lead to the fact that it does not tie up inflorescences. But the more attractive it becomes for gardeners who would like to see this fractal miracle on their beds.