Ornamental cabbage in the care is no different from the usual table culture, and can be eaten. Its main feature is bright, unusual color leaves, and rosettes resembling large flowers or decorative trees. You can find out more about the varieties and methods of growing ornamental cabbage from this article.
Ornamental cabbage
Ornamental cabbage - biennial plant
Decorative cabbage blooms to frost
Botanical description
Ornamental cabbage is classified as headless cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Acephala), also called Brassica. Belongs to the crucifer family. Biennial plant. In the first year, leaves develop, forming a non-dense head or rosette, in the second - the plant blooms and bears fruit.
In shape, the leaves of decorative cabbage can be:
- solid and flat;
- pinnate;
- corrugated;
- with a fringed edge;
- with a curly edge.
The plant takes on color:
- green on the lower leaves and white on the central ones;
- green on the bottom and red-purple on the central;
- the bright outer edge of the sheet and green in its central part;
- purple, pink, white center and green leaf edges;
- colorful leaves with contrasting veins.
The plant acquires a bright color when the temperature drops below +10 ° C.
Cabbage can "bloom" in the open field until frost -12 ° C, and after being transferred to an unheated room - until mid-winter.
Historical data
Ancient Greece is considered the historical homeland of this type of cabbage. Here, the plant had a special relationship, since it was believed that the growth of the vegetable was provoked by drops of sweat from the god Jupiter.
The breeders of Japan made a lot of improvements in the variety of appearance of the ornamental plant. Already in the middle of the 18th century more than 200 varieties were bred here. An unusual type of cabbage adorned the gardens of wealthy Japanese. Ornamental cabbage is widespread in Europe. In our country, it is only beginning to win the attention of gardeners.
Where is it used and can it be eaten?
Ornamental cabbage is used in landscaping.
It can be planted:
- as part of compositions with floral plants - form a contrasting spot against the background of other flowers and tall plants;
- as live borders - they are planted along the paths and enclose flower beds;
- in flowerpots and hanging pots - you can grow both individual plants and groups;
- as a single plant - the space is completely planted only with ornamental cabbage;
- as part of compositions from different varieties - creating multi-colored patterns;
- in alpine hills - both high and low grades can be used.
From Brassica you can create original bouquets. To do this, cut it under the root and put in a vase with a small amount of water. To make the bouquet stand longer, add a few crystals of potassium permanganate or 1 tsp to the water. sugar and a pinch of salt in 1 liter of water. The water is changed 2 times a week, and the bouquet will stand for about a month.
In floristry, ornamental cabbage is used to create vegetable bouquets.
Most often, ornamental cabbage was grown as a fodder plant, but it is quite edible, like white or cauliflower. The leaves are rich in vitamins and can be a good source of vitamins during winter.
A feature of ornamental cabbage is the loss of a bitter aftertaste by foliage after the first frost.
Popular varieties
Ornamental cabbage varieties are divided into:
- Tall. There can be 2 types:
- Plants with a stem length of 50-120 cm. Large leaves of the most varied colors with double edges hang on long stems. Plants resemble exotic trees. Terraces, gazebos, mixborders are decorated with these varieties.
- They have a stem up to 70-80 cm long and a loose head of small size. The shape and color of the leaves can be very different. The shape resembles small palm trees.
- Rosette... They have a short stem. The leaves form a loose large rosette (up to 80 cm), shaped like a rose, peony, chrysanthemum. Leaves may have different colors. Can be used in vertical compositions.
Table of the main characteristics of the most common varieties of ornamental cabbage
Variety name | Stem height, cm | Plant diameter, cm | Leaf description |
Kai and Gerda | 50 | 60-70 | A combination of 2 plants with elongated lace leaves of emerald and dark lilac color is for sale. |
Lark tongue | 130 | 100-140 | Mainly in dark shades, curly long leaves with carved edges are attached to the stem with long petioles. |
Red high | 120 | 70-100 | Leaves are located along the entire length of a tall stem, purple or red. |
Red bor | 80 | 60-70 | Bright red leaves, with lace cream, the lower ones with a green border. |
Robin | 150 | 40 | From red to purple leaves with corrugated edges. |
Colors of the East | 25-40 | 40-60 | With a transition from gray-green to purple. The leaves are rounded with slightly wavy edges and contrasting veins. |
Green branchy | 70 | 50-70 | Purple, pink, blue, violet, white color of the leaves with jagged edges, the shape of the rosette is very different from rounded to flattened. |
Tokyo | 20 | 30 | Dark green lower and bright, pink, purple, yellow, red upper leaves are rounded with a wavy edge. |
Osaka | 30 | 30-35 | Green lower leaves, white or pink upper. |
Nagoya | 45 | 60 | Red and white leaves with double lace edges. |
Piglon | 40-50 | 20-30 | The leaves are of a delicate creamy, pink hue, reminiscent of a rose. |
A princess | 40 | 40 | The color is white, pink, yellow, red, purple. All leaves are corrugated and colored green along the edge. |
Prince | 30 | 30 | The serrated leaves are white-green in summer and bright red with the onset of cold weather. |
Pigeon Victoria | 30-35 | 30-40 | Rosette gently creamy with a pink middle, lower leaves dark green with white veins. |
Peacock | 30 | 30 | Leaves are completely lacy, elongated, bright in color. |
Heron | 60-90 | 30-40 | They resemble roses, the middle is light pink, the lower leaves are green. |
Calais Red | 100 | 80-100 | Small leaves in shades of red develop into a lush, palm-shaped rosette. |
Bright autumn | 20 | 30 | Various colors in the middle, bordered with a corrugated green edge. |
Autumn medley | 20 | 20-40 | The rosette is green at the edges, with different shades of red and yellow in the center. Smooth leaves with a wavy edge. |
Lace mosaic | 60 | 50-60 | Curly leaves with corrugated edges, the lower leaves are green, in the middle are red, yellow or blue with contrasting splashes. |
Sunrise | 45-90 | 25-35 | Several stems grow on one stump, on each of them the leaves resemble a rose, two or three colors (green, cream, pink). |
Russian circle | 30 | 40-50 | The leaves are round with smooth edges, green, yellow, red, white with contrasting veins, reminiscent of roses. |
Lace frill | 50 | 60-70 | Tricolor variety, lace leaves resemble a frill collar. |
Kai and Gerda
Lark tongue
Red high
Red bor
Robin
Colors of the East
Green branched
Tokyo
Variety Osaka
Nagoya
Grade Piglon
A princess
Prince
Pigeon Victoria
Peacock
Heron
Calais Red
Bright fall
Autumn medley
Lace mosaic
Sunrise
Russian circle
Lace frill
Landing time, place and conditions
Ornamental cabbage belongs to mid-ripening and late-ripening groups of plants. The growing season takes 140 to 160 days. Rosettes of colored leaves are formed in August and persist until October, in some varieties until November.
The site for planting it must be chosen taking into account the late blooming period. Early and annual flowers should bloom first, and cabbage should not cover them with itself. It can be planted along the fence or left in pots, and then transferred to a flower bed.
Brasseca loves open terrain and half-shaded places. Of soils, he prefers loam and sandy loam soil. Like any cabbage, decorative varieties do not like acidic soil.
When growing in open ground, the site should be prepared in the fall:
- Feeding. 3 kg of compost, 50 g of superphosphate, 20 g of ammonium sulfate and 20 g of potassium chloride. Distribute the mixture over 1 sq. m of land.
- Digging. Dig up the flowerbed.
- Watering. Moisturize well.
- Shelter. Cover the area with polyethylene or other insulating material, so that the fertilizer applied is well readjusted.
In the spring, remove the shelter material and dig well and loosen the ground.
Sowing ornamental cabbage for seedlings
There are 2 ways to grow cabbage for seedlings. Whichever one you choose, you will have to take into account some nuances.
Tips for growing seedlings
Being a cold-resistant plant, cabbage will react negatively to heat rather than cold. Consider this if you want to grow seedlings in a hot apartment. In such conditions, it is better to wait for April or May. During these periods, you can still grow seedlings, although March-April is considered the ideal time.
After the first shoots appear, about 5 days, the container with the seedlings should be moved to a cool place and provide good lighting for 12-15 hours a day. Otherwise, the plants will be strongly stretched in height. To highlight seedlings, phytolamps are used. If it is not possible to provide seedling illumination, it is better to wait until the natural increase in the day.
Seedlings of ornamental cabbage are often affected by fungal diseases, therefore, the seed and soil should be disinfected before planting:
- soil is calcined in the oven;
- after cooling, they are treated with Fitosporin;
- in a wet-wet state, the soil is left for several hours;
- seeds are soaked for 3-4 hours in a solution of Fitosporin or kept for 20 minutes in water at a temperature of 50 ° C, and then in a solution of potassium permanganate.
After these actions, you can start sowing. Granular, purchased seeds can be planted immediately without additional processing.
With pick
Use this method if you need to grow a large amount of seedlings.
Sequence of work:
- Fill containers with soil. Its thickness should be at least 5 cm. Tamp lightly.
- Make grooves 0.5-1 cm deep.There should be a distance of 3 cm between grooves.
- Spread the seeds into grooves 1 cm apart. It is convenient to use a match or a toothpick for this.
- Fill the grooves with soil and slightly compact it so that there are no air pockets inside.
- Moisten the soil. Keep it moist, but without puddles.
- Create a greenhouse. To do this, cover the container with plastic and secure with an elastic band around the perimeter.
- Put the seedlings in a warm place. The temperature should be within + 18- + 24 ° С. Light at this stage does not matter much.
With proper work, there is no need to water the cabbage before a pick. After the first true leaves appear, after about 8-12 days, cabbage is dived:
- Prepare the required number of pots with a volume of 250 ml and fill with a soil mixture treated with Fitosporin.
- Holes are made in the ground with a depth of 2-3 cm.
- Each sprout is dug out with a small spatula, along with a clod of earth, and transferred to pots.
- Deepen plants on cotyledonous leaves. The earth is being compacted around.
- Plants are watered by spraying with warm water.
- Seedlings need to be fed before transplanting into the ground with liquid biohumus or Agricola fertilizer. The procedure is carried out:
- on the 14th day after sowing;
- on day 28;
- before landing in the ground.
- For 10 days before planting in a flower bed, the seedlings are hardened. First, they open the window, and then take it out into the street or balcony. Start from 30 minutes, gradually increasing this time to a whole day.
No pick
It involves sowing seeds directly into separate pots:
- Prepare the required number of pots and fill them with prepared soil.
- Wells up to 1 cm deep are made in the ground (1 pot - 1 hole).
- Put 2-5 seeds in each hole and sprinkle with earth.
- The pots are covered with polyethylene, creating a greenhouse environment.
- After germination, remove weak shoots, cutting them off at the very ground with sharp thin scissors (you can use manicure scissors), leaving one of the healthiest seedlings.
Planting ornamental cabbage in open ground
The optimum temperature for transplanting is + 14- + 18 ° C. The soil should warm up to + 8- + 10 ° С.
Cabbage can withstand night frosts up to -4 ° C without harm.
At the time of transfer to the soil, the plant should develop 2-3 pairs of real leaves. The transplant is carried out together with a lump of land, so the seedling will take root better.
Work procedure:
- Prepare the holes... Planting pattern 25x40 cm. Pour 1 hour of complex fertilizer and ash into each well.
- Transfer. Transfer each seedling to a separate hole. Deepen to cotyledonary leaves and cover it with earth, slightly compacting it.
- Shelter. The seedlings are covered with agrofibre until the plant takes root.
Planting seed cabbage
Ornamental cabbage seeds can be purchased at a specialty store or collected from the garden.
How to collect seeds?
Cabbage releases an arrow in which the seeds ripen in the 2nd year of life. Only the best rosettes are selected for seeds. To collect them:
- in the autumn, dig cabbage with a root from the garden;
- remove the lower leaves;
- bury in a container with wet sand over the leaves;
- store in this state until spring in a well-ventilated cool and dry place;
- in the spring transplant the outlet into the ground;
To improve pollination, plant cabbage close to each other.
- in June cabbage will start to shoot arrows;
- seeds in pods will ripen by November;
- when they dry well, cut them off and thresh.
To prevent the birds from eating the seeds, the arrows are tied with a cloth.
Sowing in greenhouse conditions
Before sowing seedlings in a greenhouse, first prepare the soil:
- mix the soil from the site, peat and sand so that the layer thickness is 10 cm;
- disinfect this substrate.
Then sow the seeds:
- moisten the soil well, but do not fill;
- make small indentations in the ground;
- put 2-3 seeds in each hole;
- sprinkle them with earth;
- You can cover the bed with polyethylene to increase the temperature;
- after emergence, remove the shelter;
- loosen and water.
When the plants have 2-3 true leaves, you can transfer the seedlings to open ground.
Sowing in open ground
Brassica can be sown directly in open ground. It is better to do this in late April and early May. Under adverse weather conditions, temporary shelter should be taken into account.
Work order:
- Training. Plow the earth well.
- Watering. Moisten the soil with hot water with the addition of potassium permanganate, this will also be a disinfection;
- Holes or grooves. Make small holes up to 1.5 cm deep at a distance of 15 cm from each other, you can make grooves of the same depth.
- Sowing. Place seeds in each groove at a distance of 5 cm from each other, or 1-3 seeds in each hole and cover with soil.
- Shelter. Cover each well with a cut bottle. Along the rows, set the arcs on which to pull the film.
In cold weather, seedlings can be expected up to 2-3 weeks.
- Cover removal. When the sprouts hatch, the shelter must be removed.
- Watering. Begin to carry out after the appearance of a real sheet. During watering, alternate a solution of Fitosporin and complex fertilizer.
- Thinning. Thin seedlings as they grow, leaving the strongest.
- Transfer. After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, plants can be transferred to a permanent place.
How to care for decorative cabbage?
Even a novice gardener can handle the care of ornamental cabbage.
Watering
Ornamental cabbage must be watered in a timely manner. To do this, 10 liters of water moisten 1 square. m of soil. In steady hot weather, watering is carried out every day in the morning or evening.
Container-grown cabbage is watered abundantly in the morning or evening, and sprayed to reduce evaporation.
Loosening
After watering, the soil needs to be loosened, thus improving air exchange in the root zone and roots. Perform the procedure once every 7 days.
In addition to loosening, carry out hilling. Shovel dirt under each bush. This can prevent the growing rosette from collapsing, which becomes too heavy to hold onto the stem.
Weeding
Periodically weed flower beds with decorative cabbage. It is best to combine it with watering and loosening - it is easier to remove the weeds together with the root from moist, loose soil.
The flowerbed can be mulched with any suitable material: sawdust, straw, shavings, grass cuttings, dried weeds. Thus reducing the amount of watering, weeding and loosening.
Fertilizer
You need to feed decorative cabbage 3 times per season:
- 2 weeks after planting. A solution of urea (30 g per 1 sq. M) or mullein (diluted in water 1 to 10) is introduced. Nitrogen fertilizers are used with caution, as they contribute to an increase in green mass, but worsen the decorativeness of plants.
- After 3-4 weeks. Nitroammofoska (10 g for each plant) or Azofoska solution (30 g diluted in 0.5 l of water) are embedded in the soil.
- After another 3-4 weeks, repeat the 2nd feeding.
On poor soils, top dressing is applied 4-5 times per season.
Diseases, pests and prevention
"Brassica" can be affected by diseases and pests, as well as table cabbage.
Provoke the most common diseases can:
- Excessive watering. Never over-wet the soil and do not use cold water. Otherwise, there is a danger of the development of powdery mildew and root rot.
- Excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Increases the tendency to disease.
- Acidic soil. Becomes the reason for the development of keels. If necessary, decontaminate the soil with lime or dolomite flour.
If the infection could not be avoided:
- at the initial stage, fungicides Fundazol, Quadris, Tiovit Jet can be applied;
- in case of severe damage, sockets should be removed from the garden.
Of the pests, ornamental cabbage is most often affected:
- butterflies and caterpillars of scoops, whiteworms;
- cruciferous flea;
- aphid;
- slugs.
You can apply tools and methods:
- insecticides Aktara, Bicol, Decis Profi;
- spraying the planting every 10-14 days with infusion of tobacco dust (2 cups per 5 liters of water insist a day) with the addition of several tablespoons of liquid soap;
- pollinate plants with ash with the addition of tobacco dust;
- plant a flower bed with marigolds or other strong-smelling plants;
- mulch with needles;
- Collect slugs and caterpillars manually or set up special traps.
Reproduction
Ornamental cabbage propagates only by seeds, but the plant should not belong to hybrids. Hybrid seeds collected at home do not retain their color and decorative characteristics. The harvested seeds can be stored for 5 years.
High-quality seed of hybrids can be purchased from companies:
- Gavrish;
- Russian vegetable garden;
- Aelita;
- Search;
- SeDec.
Reviews
Svetlana, 35 years old. Every year I sow ornamental cabbage. First, I sow in a greenhouse in late April or early May, depending on the weather, and grow seedlings. After transferring to a flower bed, I must process it with Intavir. Honestly, I don't really like the plant, of course, in the fall - it is gorgeous, but all summer it does not represent any beauty and you cannot cover it with other plants so that it does not stretch out.
Tamara, 43 years old. I periodically land Brassica. For those who want to experiment, I can say that its caterpillars eat with the same appetite as the usual one, so you need to follow this so that the beauty does not appear in the holes. But with the onset of cold weather, she can be forgiven for all additional treatments - the flowers have already faded, the caterpillars are hiding, and the cabbage "blooms" in all shades. This is just the queen of autumn.
Maria, 28 years old. Last year, I sowed ornamental cabbage directly into a flower bed with annual flowers. And it was my mistake - over time, she “strangled” all the flowers, and by the end of summer she was eaten by slugs. I had to clean up without waiting for beauty. This year I immediately bought seedlings - beautiful plants, already bright. Planted at the end of May, and from June, she was overgrown with arrows and strange flowers. Disappointed.
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Growing and caring for ornamental cabbage does not differ from usual. We'll have to grow seedlings, monitor soil moisture, weed, fight pests and diseases. But, having shown a little patience and choosing a suitable place, from the beginning of autumn to the frost you can enjoy a variety of colors of luxurious sockets.