Each owner of his own site tries to transform his garden and a garden, using various plants and cultures for this. In this case, there are also familiar plants and quite exotic. If you want to make your garden unique and add a highlight to it, be sure to pay attention to the plant.
This culture is a kind of lush flower resembling a rose. To date, there is a huge amount of species and varieties of decorative cabbage, which can be used in landscape design. Decorative cabbage, landing and care for which do not make up much work, a simple and simultaneous elegant plant, able to fall in love with a first look.
In this article, we consider how to grow decorative cabbage on its site, as well as the characteristics of popular varieties of this culture. Note the important moments of planting and care for decorative cabbage.
Features and description of decorative cabbage
Decorative cabbage is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the variety of cabbage garden and cabbage clan. To date, decorative cabbage has become very popular, gardeners and landscape designers use it to decorate flower beds, garden pots and containers. The name of the decorative cabbage combines several of its forms, which can be called brag. Many people call this rude cabbage plant, which is the literal translation of the Latin Culture Name of Brassica Oleracea Acephala. For the first time, decorative cauliflower began to be used as decoration of the site in Japan. Here were the first to notice the unique beauty and decorativeness of the flower of decorative cabbage and began to work on the selection of new species and varieties of culture. However, the first references to wild decorative cabbage include us in ancient Greece, where they did not pay attention to this unique culture.
Looking at the flower cabbage in the fastest of flowering, it is difficult to imagine that in distant times this culture was used as animal feed. As not strange, decorative cabbage is also edible, like other types of this vegetable. You can easily eat leaves of this cabbage, like ordinary broccoli, cauliflower, Beijing and other types.
Description of decorative cabbage:
- Decorative cabbage is perennial, or rather a biennial, herbaceous plant, which is not used as a vegetable, but as a decorative element in landscape design.
- The height decorative cabbage can reach 20-130 cm, which allows it to be used for various garden compositions. In addition, it is quite difficult to imagine such a huge cabbage. Only in order to see these scales, you can plant this plant on your site.
- Impressive and diameter of cabbage - some varieties can reach 1 m.
- Decorative cabbage has a rod root.
- Cabbage itself consists of leaves that have a variety of coloring and sizes. Leaves can be from 10 cm to 60 cm long and up to 30 cm wide.
- The shape of decorative cabbage leaves can be ovoid, inversely, elliptic.
- The edges of the leaves are repeatedly gear, similar to lace, which gives this culture high decorativeness. All leaves of decorative cabbage are collected in a root rosette.
- Depending on the foliage openness, there is a special classification: Fapton-like-coarse, fapture-shaped, festered, moss-shaped curly.
- The main decorativeness of this type of cabbage consists in the colors of foliage. It can most different: green, green with white stripes, green with a bluish tinge, yellow, cream, purple, yellow, with lilac spotty, etc.
- Cabbage flowers for the second year, for the first year after planting the plant forms a root rosette. Blossom begins in July and lasts until October.
- This culture is interesting because decorativeness increases with age, and flowering peak comes in the fall during small decreases of temperature.
Variety of species and varieties of decorative cabbage
Today, the most large-scale work on the selection of various decorative varieties and types of decorative cabbage is being conducted. They all differ in high, structure, shape and color of foliage. In flower stores, you can meet a variety of decorative cabbage of all shades of the rainbow, there are even variety windows, with the cultivation of which can be obtained by a whole flower bed of cabbage. The gardeners are popular with two types: tall and sockets. Consider the most popular varieties of this culture.
- Sort "Naging White". It is a hybrid variety that is a decorative cabbage of incredible beauty. It consists of very spectacular, strongly corrugated leaves collected into the root rosette. The edges of the outlet have a bright green color, and the middle - gentle cream. In height, the plant of this variety reaches 35-45 cm, in diameter can be 60 cm. There are also varieties of Nagoy Rose, which is characterized by a green edge of the rosette and a bright pink shade of the middle.
- Victoria Dove Decorative Cabbage Grade. Also, a hybrid variety, which in height can reach 30-35 cm. This variety is derived in Japan and is a beautiful outlet consisting of dense and slightly wavy leaves.
- Cabbage grade decorative "peacock". In height, the plant of this variety reaches about 30 cm. Kochan is formed by dense leaves with a deep-saw edge, which gives the cabbage a very unusual look. You can meet a variety with a purple-burgundy or cream-white middle outlet.
- Grade "Heron". This variety can be several varieties that differ in coloring leaves: red, white, pink and cream-pink. A fairly high plant, which can be in height to reach 80-90 cm. This allows you to use this decorative cabbage for cutting.
- Grand "Kai and Gerda". The plant of this variety can rise to 50 cm in height. The socket consists of green-purple leaves with a very solid stem. It is considered one of the most cold-resistant varieties.
- Tokyo's decorative cabbage variety. A very popular group of varieties that attracts its appearance. The socket consists of a large number of rather dense leaves. Moreover, the bottom leaves in the outlet are a bit openwork and have a dark green shade, and the middle of the outlet is painted in different colors depending on the variety. Select a pink sink of sockets, white and red, which look especially spectacular during the first frosts.
- Sort "Osaka". Pretty similar grade with a group of Tokyo, only the decorative cabbage of the Osaka grows about 55 cm in height. The socket also consists of a large amount of dense and rounded leaves, the bottom of which have a green shade or green-violet. The middle, meanwhile, can be of different colors: white, pink, red.
- Grand "red high". Pretty high grade, which is distinguished by corrugated and deeply sawn leaves of purple color. In length, leaves can reach a maximum of 60 cm.
- Grade decorative cabbage "Malinovka". Very high cabbage grade, which can grow up to 150 cm, and in diameter is 40 cm. The variety is distinguished by beautiful corrugated, red-purple leaves.
- Grade "Green Curly". Decorative cabbage of this variety can be the most different growth. Different with strong corrugated leaves of green.
- Grade "Paints of the East". Refers to late varieties of decorative cabbage. Proven to be like a frost-resistant variety capable of carrying severe frosts. The plant is distinguished by a strongly unfolded outlet, the leaves of which change the color from the edge to the center from green to violet.
Growing seedlings of decorative cabbage
Decorative cabbage is multiplied by seeds that can be soaked directly into open soil or grow from them seedlings. Seedling decorative cabbage is more enduring and reduces the growth time of the plant. Although grown cabbage in the open soil is more hardened and resistant to low temperatures and diseases. Let us consider in more detail how to propagate this culture with the help of seeds and seedlings.
- Before dealing in matters of growing decorative cabbage, it is necessary to find out how to plant a decorative cabbage through seedlings.
- It is necessary to purchase seeds of this culture. This can be done in special garden centers, where you can find a huge number of varieties of decorative culture. You need to purchase seeds in advance, so you are growing decorative cabbage from seed begins at the end of winter. It is necessary that the seedlings manage to gain strength and release a strong root system.
- Next you need to prepare seeds for sowing. To do this, they are recommended to soak in a solution of organic fertilizers. Moisten a piece of fabric or gauze in solution and wrap in it seeds of decorative cabbage. Leave them in this position for a week in a dark cool place.
- For seven days, seeds must be bled.
- Further work will be to evolve seeds for growing seedlings. With the help of seedlings you will get an adult plant much faster and it will be more enduring.
- First of all, you need to choose suitable containers and containers. It can be conventional wooden or plastic boxes, peat cups, simple plastic jars from under yogurt or sour cream.
- The root seedling system of decorative cabbage is quite gentle, so ideally take peat cups. In other cases, during the transplant, it is necessary to extract seedlings with a lore land.
- In the container you need to float the appropriate soil mixture, which should consist of peat, compost and garden land.
- To prevent plants from infecting plants with parasites or microbes, the prepared soil is previously disinfected with a weak solution of manganese.
- A small stick or just a finger can be done on the surface of the well and put in them one seed. Two seeds can be put in spacious boxes in one well. It is necessary to plunge the seeds about 1 cm, after which the surface is powder with a thin layer of soil.
- Containers can be transferred to a greenhouse or put at home on the windowsill, pre-cover them with glass or film.
- The perfect temperature for germination of seeds decorative cabbage 20 degrees and above.
- Caring for sowing is abundant and rare watering. After irrigation, it is necessary to loosen a little soil.
- The first shoots appear in about 5-7 days, after which the container must be transferred to a cooler place with a temperature of 12 degrees.
- After the emergence of seedlings, 2-3 leaves can be played. For this, seedlings are extracted from the container with a lore land and land in separate glasses or pots. It is recommended to pre-make a small well and gradually fall asleep its soil.
- Plant seedlings in open soil only after the threat of the last frosts is passed.
Preparatory work before planting decorative cabbage in open ground
To obtain healthy and beautiful plants, the cabbage is decorative needed thorough preparation, which is to obtain a healthy seedlings, which can be grown independently from seeds or purchase ready-made in the nursery. It is also important to choose a suitable place for planting culture on flowerbeds or in pots.
Selection of varieties and planting material Decorative cabbage
- The choice of a decorative cabbage variety primarily depends on your preferences and climatic conditions of your region, since some varieties of this culture do not have good resistance to lower temperature. If you are going to plant a decorative cabbage in an area with a temperate climate, choose cold-resistant varieties. This applies to both seeds and finished seedlings.
- If you do not want to independently deal with the cultivation of decorative cabbage seedlings, you can purchase landing material in specialized nurseries or agrofirms, where professionally engaged in breeding plants.
- The seasons of planting this culture in all nurseries are presented a huge range of finished seedlings, from which you can choose the appropriate for you.
- The positive side of the purchase of seedlings in the nursery is grown in your climate and is adapted to them.
- Before buying seedlings in the cups, carefully inspect the seedlings. They should be strong and healthy, without visible damage and signs of diseases and pests. Soil in cups should be clean and wet.
Choosing a place for planting decorative cabbage
- Decorative cabbage is considered a rather unpretentious plant, so it can work perfectly anywhere.
- However, to obtain plants with a bright color, it is important to pick up a sunny and open place on its plot.
- Growing decorative cabbage in the shade may not please you with their bright colors.
- It is also necessary to choose a place that is not blown up by the winds and where there are no drafts that are scary tall decorative cabbage.
- The selection of the place also depends on your preferences. It can be a flower bed or flower bed, garden pots or containers, a plot along burgours and garden tracks.
Choice and preparation of soil for decorative cabbage
- Decorative cabbage can grow on a sugal or loamy soil.
- It is important that the land on the site chosen by you was loose and easy with a large number of nutrient elements.
- This culture prefers to grow on well-drained soil.
- The soil for planting decorative cabbage is preferably prepared in advance. If you plan the cabbage in the spring, then you need to cook in the fall. In the existing soil on the site, you can add some peat and humidia, as well as fertilizers - superphosphate and ammonium sulfate. Everything is well drunk and frozen.
- It is good to use the beds where potatoes, onions, tomatoes, potatoes grew earlier.
- In the spring before planting the soil, it is frozen and frozen.
Landing Technology Decorative Cabbage in Open Soil
Sowing seeds decorative cabbage in open ground
- The decorative cabbage is planted into the open soil in the spring, when completely passes the threat of return freezers.
- You can plant both seeds and seedlings.
- If you sow seeds directly into the ground, it is necessary to strictly observe all the rules, since this is a rather responsible process in comparison with the cultivation of seedlings.
- Prepare a bed and blow up the soil, do small holes with a stick or finger and put in them to a depth of 1 cm seeds of decorative cabbage. It is necessary to observe the distance between the seeds, since this plant grows to quite decent parameters. There should be about 60 cm between seedlings. You can plant more thickness, and later reversal.
- From above, sowing must be sprinkled and pouring well. If you plan the seeds in May, you can cover with a film on top of the landing so that the seeds are not injured.
- Care lies in watering.
- After some time, the first germs appear that it is necessary to break and leave only the most healthy and strong.
- In the future, seedlings of decorative cabbage can be transferred to a permanent place on flower beds and flower beds.
Landing seedlings of decorative cabbage in open ground
- Replant seedlings to open soil or containers follows in May.
- For landing it is better to choose the morning or evening, cloudy weather is also suitable.
- Bare and crumple the seat of seedlings and make the landing wells that should be at a distance from 35 cm and more from each other.
- At the bottom of each well, it is necessary to place a bit of humus and wood ash.
- Next, remove seedlings from the container and place them in the landing wells.
- Predate the soil and carefully press your hands.
- The first days after the landing, the seedlings need to be dialed, as the sun's rays can affect them.
- For shading, you can use plastic bottles or films.
- If you plant decorative cabbage seedlings into containers or pots, it is necessary to take containers with an optimal volume of 10-15 liters and fill them with soil.
Agrotechnics of growing decorative cabbage in open soil
Care for decorative cabbage is minimal and requires special effort. The main thing, on time and abundantly water the plants, loosen the soil and make feeding and decorative cabbage in the fall thank you with gorgeous paints.
- Watering. Planted decorative cabbage on flowerbeds or flower beds requires regular and abundant irrigation, which increases in hot time. However, if you planted a decorative cabbage into containers, watering should be almost daily. Watering and spraying in the arid period is recommended to be carried out in the morning or evening when there is no intense sunlight.
- Swimming. Decorative cabbage prefers to grow on a light soil, which perfectly passes the air to the root system. Therefore, it is quite often necessary to loosen the soil around plants to saturate the soil with oxygen. It is necessary to do it once a week after watering.
- Feeding Feed the decorative cabbage is needed regularly. For this purpose, a cowber and complex mineral fertilizer is used. Decorative cabbage on the flower beds must be picked up once every 10 days. When growing this plant in containers it is worth making fertilizers every week. It is not necessary to make manure into the ground, so you will achieve active foliage growth, but bright paints may not appear.
- Transfer. Decorative cabbage perfectly tolerate transplants. Very often, this culture before the onset of cold weather is digging and placed in pots, which are then linked to the house in cool premises. In the spring of the plant again planted in an open ground. When transplanting, it is necessary to abundantly water the culture and diagnose it for a couple of days.
- Seed blank. If you want to get seeds of decorative cabbage. Autumn dig healthy and strong plant with the root. Wrap root package and hang up the root in a cool dark place. In the spring again fall out the cabbage to the site. From the center of the socket will appear a flowerclosure, which, after a breeze in September, will be filled with chips with seeds. Seeds can be stored up to 5 years.
- Fighting diseases and pests. The most often decorative cabbage damage such pests like butterflies and slugs. In order to start fighting with them in time, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plant, as prevention, we can sprinkle the soil of wood ash. To combat, you can use special insecticides. Sometimes cabbage can be affected by fungal diseases, which is due to incorrect irrigation.
Using decorative cabbage in landscape design
Decorative cabbage is just an ideal plant for decorating the site. There are a lot of options for using this culture that can be implemented in the garden or flower bed. More clearly can be seen in the landscape of decorative cabbage in the photo.
It is originally a decorative cabbage as the framing of garden tracks or borders.
You can land a decorative cabbage on flower beds. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the height of the plant. Higher cabbage can be placed in the center and make it the main element of the composition, and can be planted on the background.
It is interesting to look at the flower beds with a decorative cabbage planted in the form of an ornament.
However, the most interesting and bright fit can be made in containers or suspended caspo, which later decorate the site.
Decorative cabbage is an unpretentious plant that is perfect for decorating your household plot. With it, you can create just incredible garden compositions.