One of the most popular and sought-after vegetables is rightfully cabbage. This vegetable plant is grown everywhere, from hot tropical regions to cold northern regions. However, the main disadvantage of the plant is its short stubbornness, in order to preserve the freshness of the fruits throughout the winter, they must be prepared correctly and on time. In this article, you will learn in detail when the optimal time for harvesting the vegetable comes, as well as how to cut it down correctly.

Timing of harvesting cabbage in Siberia

White cabbage and other varieties of cabbage are considered representatives of a narrow group of frost-resistant crops. These cruciferous plants are able to withstand both cooling and a sharp change in temperature, however, this often affects the fruit's keeping quality, so the crop must be harvested on time, otherwise it will begin to deteriorate in a few weeks.

Outward signs of maturity

It is possible to determine when it is best to remove cabbage from the garden by the external signs of the fruit.To do this, you need:

• measure the size of fruit growers - when medium-sized sizes are reached, they are removed for storage;
• feel the heads - they must be dense, with a solid core;
• inspect the foliage of a plant - the yellowness of the lower leaves indicates full ripeness;
• determine the intensity of growth of the head - as soon as it ceases to increase in size, the optimal time for harvesting from the garden comes.

Did you know? Today, cabbage is used not only as a feed, but also as an ornamental plant. Breeders have developed dozens of varieties with variegated foliage (Crane, Prince, Osaka, etc.) that are actively used in the most daring landscaping solutions.

Mathematical method

The mathematical principle of determining when to harvest cabbage is to analyze the metabolic characteristics of each individual variety. As you know, plants need a strictly defined time in order for its fruits to fully ripen. After it expires, they should be immediately removed, since otherwise the natural processes of crop destruction and preparation of the plant organism for the new season are triggered.That is why fruit species, including cabbage, are divided into early, mid-ripening and late varieties. On the basis of this gradation, exact periods are determined, the achievement of which indicates the full ripening of a particular variety. Early varieties are harvested no later than 80–95 days after the appearance of the first seedlings.

A ripe vegetable needs a period of 110–140 days for full ripening; later varieties are harvested 150–180 days after sowing seeds for seedlings. However, the mathematical method does not make it possible to determine precisely the dates of when it is best to chop cabbage for long-term storage. It is used only as an additional measure in combination with the external manifestations of mature heads of cabbage and other signs.

According to the lunar calendar

The moon, of course, has a powerful influence on the Earth, as well as its inhabitants. Using the various effects of the magnetic field of the star, as well as the cyclical nature of its movement, it is possible to determine not only the full maturity of the heads of cabbage, but also to choose the best period for harvesting, ensuring long-term preservation of the crop. According to the lunar calendar, the most favorable time for harvesting the Cruciferous is observed in the waning moon phase, when approaching the new moon.At this time, the luminary must be in unproductive zodiac signs (Aries, Leo, Aquarius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Gemini). In the case of harvesting late-ripening varieties, days are chosen when the Moon enters the last quarter. To collect heads of cabbage for fresh salads, it is best to choose the full moon, at which time all kinds of nutrients, vitamins and minerals are concentrated in it.

Important! When harvesting cabbage for long-term storage in Siberian conditions, only mid-ripening and late varieties are planted. The early ones are not able to be stored for more than 2 months, so soon after collection they begin to deteriorate.

When and how to properly remove cabbage from the beds

The optimal harvest time in both Western Siberia and Eastern Siberia depends on a combination of many factors. This region is characterized by rather severe climatic conditions, therefore, when cultivating cabbage in Siberia, it is necessary to take into account not only the time of the year, but also the ripening dates and the general temperature regime. Since even a short freezing-out leads to almost complete loss of harvest.Harvesting is carried out according to the following requirements:

• head out only on a sunny and dry day;
• the fruits are removed from the garden along with a basal rosette and stem;
• cutting cabbage is not recommended, this not only affects its safety, but also complicates further processing;
• the harvest is laid out on wooden boards in a well-lit place, here it should dry well for several hours after collection.

Mid-season varieties

Mid-season cabbage varieties begin to be harvested in the second half of September. By this time, often the average daily air temperature drops to + 8 ° C, which creates ideal conditions for the safe harvest of fruits. It is forbidden to withstand the vegetable until the beginning of October, otherwise it overrides, which creates ideal conditions for fungal infections.

Important! During harvesting, cabbages are not allowed to be damaged by any sharp objects, in which case they instantly lose their shelf life.

Late ripening varieties

Late cabbage is being harvested from the beginning of October. In case of favorable weather conditions, the harvest can be extended until the middle of the month. In this case, the average daily air temperature should not fall below + 3 ° C, otherwise the heads of cabbage will lose their juiciness and dense structure. In addition, only in this case can a healthy preservation be expected from the vegetable right up to the spring thaw.

Preparing cabbage for storage

After collecting the last fruit from the plot, the cabbage undergoes painstaking preparation, only this will help maintain its freshness for as long as possible. Slightly sun-dried fruits must be carefully examined. Only whole and intact heads of cabbage are suitable for bookmarking. Violation of the integrity of the fruit causes them to rot in the cellar for several weeks. Damaged by rodents and insects, cabbages also need to be discarded.

Did you know? For the first time, cabbage was cultivated in the Mediterranean and North Africa about 4 thousand years ago. In addition to food purposes, the plant was actively used for the preparation of various medicines.

After that, you need to trim the stump on heads of cabbage, do this with extreme caution. The stem is cut at a right angle, leaving a small shoot about 5 cm long. Neglecting this rule provokes the germination of cabbage, and the complete removal of the stump leads to a variety of bacterial and fungal infections of the crop. After that, all dry and yellow outer leaves are removed from the heads, while 2-3 layers of outer dense leaves must remain intact. In the future, they will become a natural barrier of fruits from the effects of various negative factors.The peeled vegetable before laying in the cellar or store must be dried at room temperature for several days. To do this, heads of cabbage are placed in wooden boxes or on a floor made of straw or other natural materials. To avoid the development of all kinds of insects on the fruits, before drying, it is recommended to soak the crop for 15 minutes in saline solution (1 tsp / liter of water), after which the heads are washed well in cold water.

The rules of storage of crops in Siberia

In order for cabbages to be preserved throughout the winter, it is not enough to collect the vegetable on time, and also skillfully prepare it. In most cases, the main factor that affects the yield of the crop is the microclimate in its storage area. Thanks to him, you can both extend the safety of the heads of cabbage and provoke their instant damage.

When laying a vegetable for the winter, you must adhere to the following rules:

• store cabbage at a temperature of about 0 ... + 1 ° C;
• heads of cabbage do not tolerate dry air, which causes them to fade, so the optimal moisture content in the vegetable store should not fall below 85%;
• the room with the vegetable is periodically (1-2 times a month) aired;
• fruits are stored only in well-ventilated containers or in bulk on wooden shelves or pallets in 1 layer;
• as they save, heads of cabbage are cleaned of faded and rotten leaves.

The territory of Siberia is a rather complex climatic region, but cabbage in its conditions is quite simple to grow. The vegetable does not differ in excessive whimsicality, however, such a crop should not only be painstakingly grown, but also collected and prepared in time for long-term storage. Only in this way will it be possible to preserve the aroma and special crispy structure of heads of cabbage for the whole winter until the next season.