Peking cabbage: description, photo, main characteristics of varieties and hybrids

Peking cabbage looks organic on supermarket shelves, but it is still rare in the garden beds. And in vain, because this vegetable is a source of valuable vitamins and trace elements, and growing it is no more difficult than ordinary cauliflower or white cabbage. The main thing is to choose the right variety.

General Description of Peking Kale

Chinese cabbage is a salad vegetable... The crop is considered biennial, although in most cases it is grown as an annual.

It is characterized by such features:

1. The lower leaves are solid, collected in a tight rosette and can reach 15-30 cm in length.
2. The leaf plates are slightly wrinkled, with a wavy edge with a slight waxy coating.
3. The color of the leaves depends on the variety, but ranges from light to rich green.
4. The leaves contain a lot of protein, vitamins A, C and group B.

Beijing is very demanding on soil fertility... At the same time, it is capable of accumulating nitrates, so it is better not to buy a vegetable in the supermarket if it is possible to grow it yourself in the garden.

The best varieties and varieties of Chinese cabbage

Like other types of cabbage, Peking cabbage can be of early, mid-season and late varieties.... Among them there are also varieties and hybrids that are resistant to flowering and shooting. They are grown in less than 12 hours of daylight or in regions with rainy climates.

Reference. For fresh consumption, the early varieties of Peking are most suitable. They reach technical maturity 36-41 days after germination, and their leaves are tender and crunchy.

Medium and late varieties of the crop have a dense head of cabbage and thick leaves... These vegetables are suitable for long-term storage and heat treatment. Each variety and hybrid has its own characteristics.

The early group is the largest:

1. Manoko F1 (pictured on the right) is a Dutch hybrid intended for cultivation in almost all climatic regions. The vertical rosette of leaves is medium in size, with wide green leaves. The leaf vein is white, wide and flat. The weight of one head of Manoko cabbage reaches 1.5 kg.
2. Champion - early ripening variety of high yield. Heads of cabbage of moderate density. Leaves are light green. The maximum weight of heads of cabbage is 2.5 kg. It is resistant to diseases and unfavorable climatic conditions.
3. Khibinskaya: heads of cabbage reach technical maturity 50 days after germination. In shape, the cabbage resembles an elongated barrel. The leaf surface is highly bubbly. The variety is resistant to flowering and fusarium. The heads of cabbage are not very large - from 0.8 to 1.5 kg.
4. Yuki F1 - a hybrid with an early ripening period. The weight of a head of cabbage reaches 2 kg. It is immune to most cruciferous diseases. Suitable for greenhouse and outdoor cultivation.
5. TLCA 2 - a hybrid with high resistance to shooting. At the same time, the heads of cabbage are loose, and the leaves are loosely attached to each other. The mass of heads of cabbage is small - no more than 0.5 kg, but they ripen in 35-50 days from the moment of emergence.

Take a note:

Recipes for preparing Peking cabbage for the winter in jars

Is it possible to freeze Beijing cabbage for the winter

There are fewer mid-season varieties and hybrids, but some of them are worthy for growing in the garden:

1. Bilko F1 (photo below) - a hybrid, the heads of which ripen 60-70 days after transplanting. The leaves are wide, colored deep green, and have pronounced blistering.In section, the head of cabbage is yellow, and its weight does not exceed 1.8 kg.
2. Miraco F1 - an unpretentious hybrid, resistant to drought and flowering. Leaves are medium-sized, yellow-green in color. Heads weight - 1 kg. The vegetable is not intended for long-term storage, but the leaves retain their taste and beneficial properties during heat treatment.

Early and mid-season cabbage is not stored for a long time... If a vegetable is needed specifically for long storage, it is better to give preference to late varieties and hybrids.

Read also:

Ornamental cabbage: features and description of varieties

Features of growing Japanese cabbage (mizuna)

Romanesco cabbage: benefits and features

Best proven:

1. Nika F1 - a hybrid of Russian selection, adapted to growing in temperate climates. Heads of cabbage ripen 75-80 days after germination. Vertical rosette, medium height. The leaves are wrinkled, dark green, waxy bloom. The mass reaches 3 kg. The vegetable is designed to be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
2. Autumn Jade F1 (pictured) - a hybrid intended for cultivation in the second half of summer. As a result, heads of cabbage are harvested from the garden in mid-September, and in the south - in early October. Cabbage of medium density, has an elongated shape and a yellow core. The average weight is about 2 kg.

Red, or purple

In the shape of the head of cabbage, red Peking cabbage practically does not differ from the usual green, but its leaves are painted in a rich purple color (see photo). This culture appeared as a result of breeding work and is gradually becoming popular among vegetable growers.

Reference. Purple Peking is considered healthier, as its leaves contain 2 times more vitamin C than traditional green heads of cabbage.

At the moment, only the Japanese company Kitano Seeds produces red Peking seeds.... The hybrid is called the KS 888 F1.

It has such features:

1. Heads of cabbage reach technical maturity 60-65 days after transplanting.
2. The leaves contain more nutrients than traditional green varieties and have a distinct flavor.
3. The culture is resistant to temperature extremes and easily adapts to any soil growing conditions.
4. The weight of a head of cabbage reaches 1.5 kg. The leaves are juicy, corrugated.

In the refrigerator, the vegetable will remain fresh for 4-5 months without loss of useful properties and taste.

Varieties and hybrids resistant to flowering

Insofar as Peking is a biennial crop, in the second year of cultivation it throws out an arrow with seeds... Such a vegetable is no longer fit for human consumption. And if it is a hybrid, the seedlings grown from its seeds will not retain the characteristics of the parent plant.

Reference. Given this feature, most summer residents prefer to choose hybrids and varieties that are resistant to the formation of flower arrows.

The best hybrids resistant to flowering are considered:

1. Cha-cha F1 - Russian Peking, adapted to growing in the climate of the Middle zone. Suitable for greenhouses and open ground. Heads of cabbage are dense, have the shape of an elongated barrel, weighing up to 2.5 kg. From emergence to technical maturity, 55-60 days pass. The culture is unpretentious, resistant to diseases, but the heads of cabbage are unsuitable for long-term storage.
2. Richie F1 - Japanese hybrid with excellent taste. It is considered medium early, since the technical maturity of the heads is reached 75 days after germination. Heads' weight is no more than 1 kg. The crop is resistant to diseases and flowering, but has a low yield even when grown on fertile soil.
3. Brocken F1 - a hybrid that is specially bred in such a way that the rosette does not prematurely eject the flower arrow. The heads of cabbage are dense and juicy, and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 months.

Dutch varieties

Despite the fact that Chinese cabbage is considered a traditional vegetable for Asian countries, it was Dutch breeders who created unique high-yielding hybrids.

The brand new Dutch hybrid Custar F1 has recently hit the market... It was specially created for growing in temperate and northern climates. You can plant seedlings both in open ground and in a greenhouse.

From the moment of sowing to the formation of heads of cabbage 65-70 days pass... The rosette is large, the leaves are light green, moderately wavy along the edge. The crop has a high yield, excellent taste and resistance to flowering, but its seeds are difficult to find in retail sale.

Conclusion

For a long time, summer residents were afraid to plant Peking cabbage in their gardens. Many people still mistakenly believe that this is a very capricious culture that requires a lot of attention. In fact, it is enough to competently choose a variety and choose a sunny area with fertile soil for cabbage.

Experienced gardeners recommend choosing cabbage that is resistant to flowering. In addition, it is advisable to plant early, medium and late-ripening Peking varieties in the garden so that there is always access to fresh vegetables during the season.