Blizzard Cabbage

Blizzard white cabbage is one of the varieties of Soviet selection that has managed to pass the test of time. It is successfully adapted to the climatic conditions of Siberia and other regions with a cold climate, and is popular among farmers and summer residents. The variety is distinguished by excellent taste, as well as resistance to major diseases of the crop.

Blizzard cabbage was bred in 1983 by specialists of the Federal Research Center for Vegetable Growing. After passing the variety trials, it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. It happened in 1989, since then Siberian cabbage has been successfully grown in other regions of the country.

White cabbage, for open ground. After removal, it is stored for up to 8 months, if a stump up to 10 cm long was left during cutting. The variety is resistant to head cracking. Leaves grow without voids.

The variety is highly regarded as commercial and has good potential for farms. It does not deteriorate during transportation, especially if you keep up to 2-3 cover sheets during removal.

Blizzard cabbage is characterized by the formation of a vertical rosette of leaves with an average size of the plates. The inner stump is short. The leaves are obscure-shaped, with a slight waviness and a moderately pronounced waxy bloom. The main color is gray-green.

The heads of cabbage of this variety are round, slightly flattened on the sides, very dense, weighing 1.8-3.3 kg. Outside they are painted gray-green, inside white-yellow. The texture of the head of cabbage is very fine and juicy.

The variety is considered suitable for fresh consumption, for canning and fermentation, and other types of processing. Rich in dietary fiber and vitamins. Taste qualities of cabbage are assessed as good and excellent, there is no bitterness.

This variety of cabbage belongs to medium late, from emergence to reaching the stage of technical maturity, it takes 140-160 days. Harvested in October. Cabbage ripens together, without delay.

Blizzard is a high-yielding cabbage. Fees are on average 508-673 centners / ha.

The variety is initially focused on growing in cold climates. It is most widespread in Western and Eastern Siberia, the Far East, and the northwest. Blizzard cabbage is successfully cultivated in the Volga-Vyatka region and in the central black earth regions.

Sowing for seedlings begins on April 5-15, grown plants are transferred to open ground in the 3rd decade of May. The optimal planting scheme with an interval of 70x50 cm. The seedless cultivation method is used only in the south, where there are no return frosts. At the stage of active recruitment of deciduous mass, cabbage dives in the first 45 days, is regularly fed.

After being transferred to open ground, the Blizzard needs moderate watering at intervals of 2-3 days. During the rainy season, additional humidification is not carried out. With the beginning of the formation of the head of cabbage, the plant is abundantly fed with organic matter, up to 5 times during the season. Cabbage reacts well to irrigation on the leaf, about 10 liters of water is spent per 1 m2.

Weeding and loosening is carried out as needed. The variety does not grow very well if little air gets to the roots, so it is worth neglecting aeration only in rare cases.It is possible to hurry with harvesting at the stage of its ripening only with the onset of frost. Until October, the heads are better preserved in the garden, while gaining additional strength and mass.

This cabbage grows best in a fertile, neutral acidic environment. Black soil or loam, sandy loam, other soil saturated with humus and sand are suitable. Wood ash must be added to its composition.

Blizzard cabbage belongs to cold-resistant varieties; heads of cabbage are removed from the beds after the first frost. The variety tolerates fluctuations in atmospheric temperatures, but loves sunny, well-lit spaces without drafts.

Plants are resistant to vascular bacteriosis. They are intensely affected by insects - slugs, caterpillars, at an early stage of cultivation they can be destroyed by cruciferous flea beetles. The fight against them is carried out both with chemical insecticides and folk remedies. You can use natural protection in the form of tobacco planting, marigolds in the aisles. When the soil is waterlogged, rot may develop on the roots, and mold may appear on the lower leaves.

Summer residents speak very well of this variety of white cabbage. In their opinion, the Blizzard gives a germination rate close to 100%. It grows well with regular shallow loosening of the soil, but while the plants are young, you should carefully treat the root zone in order to prevent it from exposing it. Among the dressings, amateur vegetable growers highly recommend infusion of green grass.

The blizzard is praised for abundant harvests, a record weight of forks - up to 5 kg, good density. When fermented, it is possible to preserve an excellent crunch, as well as an excellent taste of the product. Fresh, the variety is recommended for culinary purposes, for stewing or making soups. Many keep fresh heads of cabbage until summer, without loss of taste and elasticity of the leaves.

According to summer residents, this variety is practically devoid of disadvantages. It takes root well even on relatively poor soils, but it does not tolerate a lack of moisture, shedding the lower leaves. Many people complain about the excessive activity of caterpillars and slugs attacking landings. In addition, after prolonged rains, especially at the beginning of summer, seedlings can rot and die.