What is cabbage Romanesko and its cultivation

Cabbage Romanesco, the more familiar names of which are 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 considered to be the shape and locationinflorescences Ia. They resemble a pyramid of bright green hue, which are tightly spaced to each other. These inflorescences resemble a fractal spiral consisting of many buds of a similar shape.

Cabbage variety 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.

The inflorescences of the Romanesco variety are surrounded by large leaves of blue-green color. Based on the growing conditions, the forks can reach the height of 1 m, and its fruits - the masses in 0.5 kg. Moreover, the size of the plant does not depend on the time when the seedlings were planted in the ground.

History of the origin of Romanesco cabbage.

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

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

The variety Romanesco belongs to the same group as the 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.

Health Benefits

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

Thanks to the beneficial qualities of the variety, it is possible to improve the human health condition, since Romanesco's cabbage:

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

But, despite all the positive properties of heads, should not be abused by taking .After all, overeating threatens with problems with the normal functioning of the digestive tract, one of which is increased gas formation.

How is cultivated varieties at home

When choosing a site for planting, crop rotation should be taken into account and it is possible to return to the former piece of land only after 4-5 years. The best predecessor for the cruciferous 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 Chernozem

Romanesco does not like sour soil, so the best option for it would be black soil. D In order to reduce the acidity of the soil, it must be treated with lime in autumn. It is also worth adding 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 harvest of Romanesco cabbage can be obtained in soils with an alkaline medium.

In early spring, it is necessary to put ashes made from their trees or dolomite flour into the soil, which is 200-400 g per 1 square meter of land. And before digging up, it is recommended to add compost or manure to the ground, scattering 2 buckets on 1 square meter of bed.

Planting

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 seedbed leaves of the seedlings in the room where it is installed, the ambient air temperature should be no higher than + 20 ° C. 30 days after sprouting, the temperature drops to 10 ° С, 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 Romanesco

In the ground seedlings can be planted later 45-60 days after sowing the seeds. When growing forks, there is not much difference what exactly 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.

Rules of care

The maintenance of 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. Watering is especially important during the formation of inflorescences. However, this should not allow waterlogging of the soil, therefore, after watering, it is necessary to pierce the ground under each plant.

Destroying Weeds

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 prevent various diseases.

Top dressing

During the growing season, the romanesco plugs are fed three times.

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

The second feeding is carried out through 2 week. This requires stirring 2 pinches of superphosphate, 1.5 spoons of ammonium nitrate, 2 g of potassium chloride and boric acid in 10 liters of water.

Pest and Disease Control

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

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

Harvesting

The main criterion for the maturity of Romanesco cabbage is the formed large star-inflorescences

. You can start harvesting forks in September. Despite the fact that the plant can grow to 1 m, it has small inflorescences. It is worth cutting the cabbage heads in the morning, while the sun has not yet managed to heat the whole plant, .

It is also worth knowing that if you store cabbage after harvesting in the refrigerator, it will quickly lose its nutritional properties and start to deteriorate. Deep freeze helps to preserve the beneficial qualities of cabbage. Then, after thawing, cabbage inflorescences will not lose their juiciness and tenderness.

Growing 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 will not start inflorescence. But it becomes even more attractive for gardeners who would like to see this fractal miracle on their beds.