Why does broccoli fade in color? Sad personal experience. How to grow and cook healthy broccoli for a beginner gardener and "lazy summer resident"

Broccoli differs from other species in color, structure, degree of density and taste. Special difficulties cultivation of cabbage does not cause, however, one should adhere to certain rules. It is important to harvest on time, otherwise, if the deadlines are not met, the broccoli may become overripe or underripe, which will negatively affect the taste.

Harvesting cabbage depends on the variety. There are early-ripening varieties - harvest 60-65 days after germination, and late-ripening - 85-95 days. Among the early varieties, Vitaminnaya, Vyarus, Comanche, Linda, Tonus, Laser are popular. The later ones are less common. Of these, Marathon and Lucky are the most popular.

Most often, varieties are chosen that yield a crop in 60-65 days. Ripening time also depends on the region. Broccoli picking often continues until mid-September. The most important thing is to have time to collect it before the onset of the first frost.

Harvesting

Harvest - over difficult process than growing cabbage itself, since it can be difficult to know when the heads are already ripe. It is especially difficult for those who grow broccoli in the country, and because of this they cannot constantly monitor the growth of the vegetable.

Signs that determine the readiness of cabbage for cutting:

head size. At a ripe head, the diameter should not be less than 10 cm. If the cabbage has not reached such sizes, then it is too early to collect it;
the color should be intense green and the buds should be closed. If you see that they are blooming, and all the more turning yellow, then the cabbage is already overripe and it is high time to collect it. An overripe vegetable becomes unfit for human consumption due to its taste;
head structure. They should be dense, but not very hard.

Important!

Full maturity of broccoli comes at least 60 days after the first shoots. Harvesting should not start earlier.

Be sure to monitor the temperature and do not wait for the first frost: cabbage can only remain in the garden until the temperature drops below 0 degrees. Broccoli is sensitive to low temperatures, and even one night of frost can ruin an entire crop.

Cutting is advised to start early in the morning. During the day, when the sun becomes intense, the crop can quickly wither. It is important to remember that the fruits cannot be torn off, sawed off the stem, pulled out, as this can damage the bush with the root, and in fact it can re-harvest.

The main thing is to carefully cut the cabbage, its safety depends on it. garden secateurs(you can also use the usual sharp knife) make an oblique cut and separate the heads. It is important not to damage the leaves that are located below the stem.

After cutting the main head (if it is cut neatly and the bush is not damaged), the active growth side shoots. New heads will be tied, and it is important not to miss the moment of their maturity so that they retain their taste qualities. New heads of cabbage will be smaller than the main ones, but no less tasty.

How to store the harvest

Storage largely depends on the variety. Broccoli is considered a fickle cabbage and is difficult to keep fresh. long time, but this is due to a mistake that is often made: trying to save early varieties. The fact is that early ripe broccoli is not suitable for long-term storage, nor for freezing, so it must be eaten immediately. Later varieties can be stored and frozen.

The difficulty with storing broccoli is that when ripe, it can stand for 5 to 15 days, so it is best to freeze it to prolong storage. If you want to save fresh cabbage, then it must be placed in the refrigerator. It is imperative that the heads are healthy and undamaged.

Storage conditions:

humidity should not exceed 90%;
the temperature should not be more than +10 degrees.
Store broccoli in a separate box that won't contain other fruits and vegetables.

You can extend the shelf life of fresh cabbage if you follow the rules:

only heads of cabbage without dark spots and insect damage should be selected for storage - such fruits will quickly begin to rot;
do not put wet vegetables in the refrigerator, so wash them only before cooking;
do not put vegetables in closed plastic bag otherwise it may cause mold.

Attention!

Long-term storage of cabbage does not always have a positive effect on its taste. The longer broccoli sits, the less juicy and tasty it will be. Therefore, if you do not plan to cook it soon after harvesting from the garden, then it is better to freeze it to preserve the taste.

The shelf life of broccoli, when properly frozen, is up to six months. Freeze peeled and thoroughly washed cabbage. Before being placed in freezer bags, the vegetable is soaked in salt water to rid it of insects. After, the cabbage is divided into inflorescences, blanched, and then placed in ice water. This processing allows you to save all the vitamins and other vitamins in broccoli. useful material. excess water drained, then the inflorescences are frozen.

Conclusion

The most important thing in growing broccoli is to determine when the cabbage is ripe. Do not leave it in the beds until frost, as this can ruin the entire crop. Heads of cabbage must be carefully cut without damaging the bush, as it will give a subsequent harvest. Broccoli is best not stored for a long time in fresh: it is advisable to use it immediately or freeze it in the freezer.

Why is broccoli valued? Boiled, it is very nutritious and tasty - it resembles green asparagus, for which it is called asparagus cabbage. But most importantly - broccoli is extremely healthy!

It prevents the accumulation of cholesterol in the body, helps to prevent and treat atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, nervous disorders, various problems stomach and liver, protects against premature aging. Abroad, broccoli is used to treat radiation sickness. And based on recent research, it is good for the prevention of malignant tumors.

Broccoli rival colored?

Broccoli - annual vegetable plant Cabbage family, a subspecies of cauliflower (its "great-grandmother"). They are very similar in appearance. On the stalk of broccoli, inflorescences are formed, collected in a head, like a cauliflower, but they are less dense and more divided.

Cauliflower forms only one large head. Broccoli plants remaining in the soil after cutting the central head are able to produce a crop again in one and a half to two weeks. From the axils of the leaves grow numerous side shoots, each of which is crowned with a small inflorescence. Thus, the harvest is larger, and it can be harvested longer.

There are varieties of broccoli that develop both the central head and side shoots at the same time.

Features of growing broccoli

Compared to cauliflower, broccoli is less demanding on growing conditions, more resistant to diseases and pests. It tolerates frost well and forms larger and stronger heads during the cold period. However high yields gives only with careful and deep tillage. Moreover, sour - does not tolerate, responds well to the introduction of lime, as well as manure in the fall.

Growing broccoli seedling and seedless way. For getting early harvest(in the end May - early June) cabbage is sown in greenhouses at the end February - early Martha. Then the seedlings are planted in greenhouses. 70-110 days after sowing (depending on the variety), the central heads are ready for harvest.

To enjoy them until the end of September, broccoli is sown in April-May in a nursery at several times, after 15-20 days.

Information for those who like to use mineral fertilizers

Seedlings are fed for the first time in the phase of two true leaves: for 10 liters of water -20-40 g ammonium nitrate, 20-25 g of double superphosphate and 8-20 g of potassium chloride (consumption - per 2-3 sq.m.) Re-feeding - after 7-10 days. In addition, in the phase of the 2-3rd and 5-6th sheet, foliar top dressing trace elements: solution boric acid(2g/10l) and ammonium molybdate (5g/10l).

At the end of April, hardened plants are planted in open ground to a permanent place.

When grown in a seedless way, broccoli is sown in open ground from late April to early July.

Soil and moisture for broccoli

Cultivated areas are most suitable for this plant - sandy loam and light loam with a high organic content. On nitrogen-rich lowland peatlands, broccoli develops excess vegetative mass, poorly ties the head, suffering from molybdenum starvation. Cabbage is affected by clubroot, so it is advisable to grow it on neutral soils. Lime should be embedded in the soil under the predecessors or in the fall - direct application of large doses under cabbage can cause a decrease in yield.

For planting, choose areas where cabbage crops have not been grown before, and since autumn they are filled with manure or humus (3-4 kg / sq.m) and mineral fertilizers.

The best predecessors- carrots, radishes, beets, legumes and potatoes. With a lack of molybdenum, appropriate fertilizers must be applied, otherwise the broccoli will not form inflorescences or they will quickly crumble. On high fertile soils you can do without top dressing. On average fertile per 1 sq.m - 12-15 g of nitrogen, 9-10 g of phosphorus, 12-15 g of potassium. on less fertile soils in the phase of 2-3 true leaves, they are fed with a solution of nitrogen and potassium - 30 g per 10 sq.m.

In general, during the growing season, broccoli needs to be fed three times and watered abundantly 4-5 times, because it is very demanding on moisture.

When landing in open ground seedlings are placed according to the scheme 60x40 or 50x50 cm. It would be useful to protect the plants with caps or covering material.

After 5-6 days, the planted seedlings are inspected. Dead and sluggish plants are replaced with healthy ones. Shelter is removed in the third decade of May.

March seedlings are planted in May, without waiting for it to grow.

Don't let the soil dry out. It is especially useful to refresh plants with a hose. Broccoli does not tolerate crusted soil, so the aisle must be loosened, but finely, as root system is relatively shallow. Very suitable for this EM-Cultivator, which copes very well with such a task. It is useful to mulch the soil.

The subtleties of harvesting broccoli

Harvest in several stages. First of all, the central head is cut off (with a part of the fleshy stem 15-20 cm long) when the buds are fully formed, but closed. In this case, the head must be tightly closed.

In summer, broccoli sockets do not shade. However, the heat creates other problems: the buds imperceptibly increase and open very quickly. Therefore, it is especially important not to miss the moment of collection: in the heat - every two to three days, in cloudy and wet weather - once every 7-10 days.

After cutting the main inflorescence, the lateral inflorescences develop faster. If you continue to care for the plants, the side inflorescences will be large, although smaller than the central one. They are cut off as they grow.

The average weight of a head of broccoli is 200-300g. in a place with side shoots, one plant can produce 1-1.5 kg of products.

Increasingly, next to all the well-known vegetables (potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, etc.), you can see broccoli, artichoke and leek in the beds. They are very useful and rich in nutrients, so their popularity among gardeners is growing every year. Before you start growing them, you should familiarize yourself with how to properly care for them and when it is already possible to harvest.

Broccoli is a type of cauliflower, but they ripen in different time, and the process of cutting finished heads is different.

When to harvest broccoli?

In order for this vegetable to be eaten, it is very important to cut it in time. It is necessary to harvest broccoli until the moment when yellow buds bloom from the green buds collected in the inflorescence small flowers. If this has already happened, then given plant should be left for breeding seeds.

Most often, broccoli begins to ripen in mid-August. Due to the fact that the cutting of cabbage occurs gradually, this process can be delayed until October. It is very important to have time to finish collecting it before frost, otherwise the vegetable will turn out not so tasty and healthy.

Do not be afraid to harvest unripe broccoli and wait for the inflorescence to become very large. It is better to cut it small, but dense and dark green in color, than to wait until it becomes loose and turns yellow.

How is the broccoli harvest going?

When you saw that the broccoli is ready, you should cut off the central part, that is, the main inflorescence. In this case, the cut must be made at a distance of 10-12 cm from it, capturing part of the stem. This procedure should be carried out only early in the morning and using a sharp clean knife for this.

After the central head has been removed, the lateral ones, located in the axils of the leaves, begin to develop. They ripen quickly enough, as they grow smaller than the main one, so they should be constantly monitored so as not to miss the necessary moment. If the weather is sunny, then it is necessary to cut the broccoli approximately every 3 days, and if it is cloudy, once a week.

Knowing when to harvest broccoli correctly can be very helpful. diet vegetable which will be kept by you for a long time. It should be borne in mind that early-ripening broccoli should be eaten immediately, and harvested in the fall can be left for later.

Cabbage is one of the most favorite vegetables of Russians, because it is unpretentious in care and can be stored for a long time in winter. In order for the cabbage crop to be preserved until spring, you need to know about a number of features and harvesting rules.

Factors affecting the timing of the assembly of cabbage

When harvesting cabbage from the garden, it is important to meet the deadlines, because if you collect it ahead of time maturation, it will be stored for a very short time. If, on the contrary, tighten with harvesting, then the heads of cabbage will begin to harden and crack, as they will begin to come out nutrients for seed formation.

The ripening time of a vegetable depends on the following factors:

varieties;
local climate;
landing time.

Since the climate of Russia is very variable, it must be remembered that the ripening time for vegetables varies from late August to mid-October, and in some areas even November. When harvesting, it is necessary to take into account the time of planting cabbage, which, in turn, depends on the time of snow melting and the readiness of the soil in spring.

So when to remove cabbage from the garden?

The dependence of harvesting time on the variety is shown in the table below.

Of course, all the data given in the table are approximate. When harvesting vegetables from the garden for the winter, factors such as weather, which differ from year to year, and also determine the degree of maturity of the vegetable.

Signs of ripe cabbage

Exists simple ways definitions of the maturity of cabbage, developed over the centuries by our ancestors. To determine exactly when to remove cabbage from the garden, you need:

Feel the head. A firm, dense core testifies to its maturity.
Estimate the size of the head. If it has reached the average size of its variety, it can be removed.
Monitor growth. The cessation of head growth signals the need to start picking.
Look at the bottom leaves. Their yellowness says it's time to shoot the vegetable.

Important! The optimal time for harvesting cabbage is at the first frost. However, if it is overfrozen, it will lose all the nutrients.

Those forks that were collected before the first frosts are recommended to be put into salting, sourdough and other types of canned food. If this vegetable is harvested before frost, then during storage it will be susceptible to rotting and mold. Only those forks that were slightly touched by frost are sent for storage.

Harvest calendar dates

Because different types cabbages have different calendar ripening periods, it is necessary to clearly remember on which garden bed which variety grows. Since the seed packet always lists approximate planting and harvesting times and instructions, it is best to keep the seed packet until the end of the ripening period.

Since the growth rate of a vegetable depends on a number of factors, namely:

rainfall or dryness of summer;
climatic conditions of the area;
solar activity and other indicators.

The collection of cabbage must be carried out taking into account all the above conditions.

Collection of cabbage of various varieties

The vegetable is distinguished by a huge variety of varieties and varieties, which also affects the conditions for its collection. The most popular varieties of this culture are the following:

white-headed;
colored;
redhead;
broccoli;
Brussels;
kohlrabi;
Beijing;
savoy;
sheet.

All varieties of this culture have their own collection time. Approximate times for each of these types are shown below:

white cabbage must be harvested from July to mid-October.

The cauliflower is harvested mid-July - mid-September.

Video: when and how to clean cauliflower

Red-headed harvested in late September - mid-October.

Broccoli collected in late August - mid-September.

Video: when to harvest broccoli, harvesting features

Brussels cabbage is harvested in the second half of September - early October.

Video: when to harvest Brussels sprouts

Kohlrabi harvested in late September - early October.

Video: when to harvest kohlrabi cabbage

Beijing must be removed by mid-October.

Video: how to carry out continuous cleaning of Chinese cabbage

Savoy cabbage is harvested until mid-October.

sheet: as it matures.

Important! It must be remembered that delicate types of crops, such as leafy, kohlrabi, Beijing and broccoli, are afraid of frost, so they should be harvested without waiting for the cold.

Such types of cabbage as leafy and Beijing are very difficult to store. These species are salad species and are intended for direct consumption rather than winter storage.

Terms of collection in Russia depending on the region

Since the territory of Russia is located in several climatic zones, the territorial factor cannot but affect the timing of the cabbage harvest.

In the Middle lane and Moscow region

AT middle lane Russia, as a rule, has a temperate continental climate, characterized by warm summer and moderately cold winter. The summer is quite humid, the first frosts come relatively late. In this region, cabbage is cut in the second week of October.

The suburbs are characterized by humidity. It belongs to the temperate continental type. Summers are relatively cool, with large quantity precipitation. Frosts occur relatively rarely, so the time for harvesting the crop can last even until the second half of October, depending on the weather.

In the Volga region

The Volga region belongs to regions with a temperate continental climate. This region is experiencing a dry summer, during which solar activity is elevated. Moisture evaporates from the soil surface very quickly. For this region, late-ripening varieties are most acceptable, since frosts often do not occur until November itself. Cabbage in this region is harvested at the end of October, focusing on the onset of the first frosts.

In the Urals

The climate of the Urals varies from temperate continental to continental. Winters in this area are very cold and summers are hot. Solar Activity high. The region is characterized by a sharp transition from warm to cold in autumn. The first frosts can occur in mid-September. It is best to start cutting heads in the Urals at the end of September, subject to a warm autumn - early October.

Video: harvesting cabbage in the Urals

In Siberia

Siberia is characterized by a sharply continental climate with a large amplitude of temperature fluctuations. Summers in this area can be quite hot and winters can be very cold. Precipitation during the warm period is relatively small. For this region, it is most preferable to grow a vegetable of frost-resistant late varieties, since the first frosts may begin early autumn. Harvest dates can range from the second half of October to mid-November.

Impact Data climate zone for the timing of cabbage harvesting are conjectural, since the regions represented have a large territory, during which weather conditions can vary significantly. The information can only be a rough guide for those involved in the cultivation of the vegetable in question.

Video: harvesting cabbage in Siberia

Harvest time in Belarus

Belarus has a continental climate, which is characterized by a short hot summer and a fairly rapid onset of cold weather. Autumn is characterized by high precipitation and early, up to October, snowfall. The most optimal for Belarus are mid-ripening varieties of cabbage, which manage to form heads by the middle of summer, and closer to October they can be cut.

Video: harvesting cabbage in Belarus

Cabbage Harvest Rules

Harvesting cabbage for the winter has a number of rules and subtleties, the observance of which will allow you to save heads of cabbage for almost the entire winter.

To harvest, you must select dry sunny day. Picking a vegetable in rain and slush is not recommended, as this can lead to rotting of the forks. If you still had to harvest in the rain, before sending the heads of cabbage for storage, they must be dried in the open air under a canopy.

Important! When harvesting, it is fundamentally important to leave as many green leaves on the head as possible. They are needed for longer storage of vegetables.

Tools for cleaning - a knife and a shovel. The knife must be very sharp and clean, as infection of the cut of the stalk will greatly reduce the shelf life of the cabbage.

Step-by-step instruction for picking cabbage

Cut each head of cabbage obliquely with a knife, leaving a stalk, if possible, up to ten centimeters long.
Put the cabbage in pre-prepared dry and clean boxes or on a bed of dry polyethylene. You can not put a cut vegetable on the ground.
Keep the cabbage outdoors for several hours. This is necessary so that the leaves around the forks graft, which will reduce the possibility of rotting.
Dig up the roots carefully. This is important to do in order not to breed pests in the soil and protect it from excessive alkalization and disease.
If the cabbage is intended for long-term storage, after a few days it is necessary to remove all dried leaves adjacent to the head of cabbage and cut off the stump by a few centimeters. These procedures will keep vegetables from rotting and mold.

Important! When roots are removed from the soil, they must be checked for a disease called keel. This disease is characterized by some uneven formations on the rhizome, in the form of warts. These roots must be destroyed, it is best to burn them.

Harvest errors

There are a number common mistakes, which nullify all the efforts of a gardener who has grown a rich harvest, which subsequently cannot be saved.

Collection of cracked heads of cabbage along with whole ones. Beds with this culture must be carefully examined. Cracked heads must be plucked immediately. Unfortunately, they are no longer suitable for storage. They can be fermented or eaten immediately.
Harvest vegetables before frost. Due to this oversight, cabbage will quickly wrinkle and fade during storage.
Contamination of heads during harvest. In order to preserve this vegetable, it must be collected dry and clean.
Tapping the roots on the ground (provided that the vegetable was dug out of the ground with roots). This action can cause soil to get on the leaves.
Cutting the stalk with an unclean knife. If it is supposed long storage vegetable, then everything matters - up to the sterility of the blade with which it is cut. It can be scorched at the stake or washed with any disinfectant.
Laying cut forks directly on the ground. This can lead to soil and pests getting on the leaves.
Use of dirty or damp containers. Cabbage harvesting boxes should be kept clean and dry and should be fumigated with fume to disinfect immediately before harvest.

Cabbage is a very useful and at the same time very unpretentious vegetable for growing and caring for. However, if you collect it in violation of the deadlines and technologies, you should not count on the fact that it will be stored all winter.

Note! About, how to store cabbage at home (in an apartment, basement) you can read

In contact with

Dense green heads of broccoli, the closest relative of cauliflower, have appeared on the northeast coast. mediterranean sea more than two thousand years ago. Its homeland is the Apennine Peninsula, beyond which asparagus, as broccoli is often called, penetrated only in the 16th century, instantly conquering most European countries. However, these bright green inflorescences received real world popularity only in the 20th century, when they learned to grow them on the American continent and in Asia.

Broccoli - the pearl of therapeutic and dietary nutrition

Among the huge variety of representatives of the cabbage family, broccoli occupies a special place. Everyone knows its high nutritional value, which is achieved through a unique combination of many vitamins, amino acids, micro and macro elements. Asparagus cabbage even contains substances unusual for most of its relatives - protein compounds and carotene.

It successfully prevents the occurrence of cancer, fights atherosclerosis, regulates the endocrine system, and helps to rejuvenate the body as a whole. This amazing cabbage is an almost equivalent replacement for beef and chicken eggs. At the same time, it is hypoallergenic and therefore is always present in the children's and diet menu.

"Garden" advantages of broccoli

Grow this valuable vegetable on your own personal plot very simple even for a beginner grower. Broccoli, except for the undoubted nutritional value, has several very useful qualities for a gardener:

it perfectly adapts to any type of soil;
culture preferences are quite standard - sufficient lighting, regular watering and fertilizing, slightly alkaline soil environment;
well resists the vagaries of the weather and pest attacks;
ripens much earlier than other varieties of cabbage.

The main task when planting broccoli is to choose the right varieties that are right for your plants. climatic conditions. But there are no problems with this either, since at present more than 200 varieties of this popular vegetable have been obtained by breeding science. Those who wish can provide their family with fresh broccoli for the whole season if they select several options at once with different terms maturation. Early varieties reach technical maturity already after 60 days, and the later ones begin to bear fruit after 4 months.

When is the time to collect useful inflorescences?

One of the most important points in the process of growing broccoli - this is its timely collection. If you miss right time, inflorescences will very quickly lose their presentation and, most importantly, their beneficial features. To prevent this from happening, follow a few simple tips when cleaning:

Be sure to remove the heads before the flowers begin to bloom. In order not to miss the moment, check the landings every 2-3 days.
You can determine the readiness for harvesting by the size of the inflorescences. They should grow to a diameter of 10–15 cm.
In addition to size, you can focus on the color of the heads. In most varieties, they acquire a malachite hue, but some varieties surprise with snow-white, lemon, gray and even purple color. The main thing is that the color is fully consistent with the varietal characteristics.
For cutting, choose the morning hours, until the heads wilted under hot sunbeams. Do not allow the inflorescences to freeze, which can happen with late varieties that ripen in early autumn.

Broccoli harvesting technology

Correctly determining the moment of cleaning is not enough. It is also necessary to correctly cut the heads:

The crop begins to be harvested from the largest central inflorescences, which are separated along with a part of the stem about 10 cm long.
The central head is separated in such a way as not to damage the leaves located below the stem. In their axils, new lateral inflorescences will subsequently be able to start, which are collected as they grow.
For cutting, use a sharp enough tool, as the stem of the plant is very dense. Usually choose a knife or garden pruner.

How to store the harvested crop?

Most varieties of broccoli differ from their other relatives in their short shelf life.

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