Late varieties of cabbage are grown mainly for long-term storage. When choosing a variety, first of all, pay attention to keeping quality, resistance to diseases and requirements for care. Kharkov winter cabbage satisfies all of the above requirements. It is often paid attention to by professional farmers for commercial cultivation.
Description of the variety
The characteristics of Kharkov cabbage make it possible to classify it as a late-ripening variety. Technical ripeness of the heads occurs 150–160 days after emergence.It was bred in Ukraine by crossing the best varieties Amager 611 and Dauerweiss.
Kharkovskaya tolerates drought and high air temperatures well, which is why it has gained wide popularity throughout Europe and Asia. Heads of cabbage of universal use, flat-round shape, light green color. The cabbage rosette reaches 110 cm in diameter. The weight of the head ranges from 1.9 to 3.5 kg. The yield per square meter is 10–11 kg.
Young plants of Kharkovskaya during the growth period can withstand temperatures dropping to -2 °C and rising to +40 °C. Lack of moisture does not affect taste and product quality. Cabbage heads do not crack even if they remain in the garden in their ripened form longer than expected.
Growing
The description of the variety states that Kharkov cabbage can be grown in two ways: seedlings or non-seedlings. The plant is a sun-loving plant, so it is advisable to have well-lit beds for it. The seedless method involves sowing seeds directly into the ground. This is done at the end of April or at the beginning of May. Sowing is done to a depth of no more than 2 cm. Dry soil is pre-moistened one day before the start of work.
The distance between the rows of Kharkovskaya is about half a meter. As soon as seedlings begin to appear, the crops are thinned out and only the strongest specimens are left.
When growing cabbage seedlings, seedlings are planted in open ground a couple of months after sowing. The distance between the holes is left at 40 cm.
Features of care
Reviews from experienced gardeners indicate that after planting in open ground, Kharkov cabbage should be watered daily for the first week. As soon as the plants take root, irrigate them 1-2 times a week. This variety responds favorably to fertilizing.It is worth applying them 2-3 times per season. The best time for these activities is considered to be the period of active growth and head laying. Mineral fertilizers are mainly used.
With proper care, the Kharkov winter cabbage variety can please the gardener with a truly royal harvest. Its description recommends systematically loosening the soil and removing weeds. The first weeding is carried out after the seedlings take root in the garden bed, and further weeding is carried out as needed. To prevent the growth of weeds and facilitate the maintenance process, they resort to mulching the soil.
Advantages and disadvantages
Kharkov cabbage has a lot of advantages over its competitors, which were appreciated by summer residents and farmers. These include:
- high productivity;
- suitability for long-distance transportation without loss of commercial qualities;
- tolerates lack of moisture in the area;
- crack resistance;
- large head of cabbage;
- increased resistance to pests and diseases;
- tolerates hot weather well;
- the possibility of late harvesting without losing its quality;
- preservation of the crop in storage for up to six months;
- universal use of heads of cabbage.
No significant shortcomings that would be worth focusing on were identified in Kharkov cabbage.
Pests and diseases
Kharkovskaya has demonstrated excellent resistance to major diseases. In particular, it is not afraid of mucous bacteriosis and necrosis. But slugs can significantly ruin the cabbage harvest. To combat them, it is recommended to take a liter jar of wood ash, 2 tbsp. l. table salt, 2 tbsp. l. ground black pepper, 2 tbsp. l. mustard powder.Mix everything thoroughly and scatter over the cabbage beds.
Harvest and storage
The harvest of Kharkov cabbage begins 150 days after emergence. To carry out the work, choose clear and dry weather, preferably before the onset of the first frost.
The harvested crop can be stored for up to six months, that is, almost until the cabbage ripens next season. During storage, it is not exposed to pests and is not affected by diseases. The taste quality is excellent throughout the entire period. The Kharkovskaya storage room should be dark and cool. This will ensure maximum safety.
Reviews from gardeners
Kharkovskaya has been cultivated in garden plots for quite some time. That is why experienced summer residents and farmers are happy to share their reviews about this variety.
Galina Stanislavovna, retired summer resident: “I’ve been growing Kharkov cabbage on my plot for more than 5 years. I bought it for the first time in the form of seedlings on the market and since then I have never changed this variety. Despite the fact that the conditions in my garden are not the best, I managed to harvest a decent harvest and provide the whole family with cabbage for the whole winter. The heads were stored in the basement until the early varieties began to ripen in the beds the following season.”
Inna Valentinovna, resident of the village: “My husband bought Kharkovskaya seeds in a store on the advice of the seller. Since then, of the later varieties, we prefer only this one. The heads can be used for preparing salads and pickling, as well as cabbage rolls and other culinary masterpieces. Cabbage is preserved just fine and is not difficult to care for. We are very pleased with our choice."
Anton Grigorievich, summer resident: “The Kharkovskaya variety is very good, only because of my inexperience I almost ruined the first plantings.I decided that cabbage loved water and tried my best to water it. As a result, the root system almost died, thanks to the neighbors who helped with advice. That year it was not possible to grow a rich harvest, although we were not left without cabbage. Later, I took into account my mistakes, and now Kharkovskaya shows excellent results in our area.”
