Delicious sauerkraut is a godsend for any housewife. The sour vegetable is already a wonderful fresh salad in itself, but if desired, it can be used for cooking various dishes, for example, cabbage soup, vinaigrette, hodgepodge and even cutlets. The taste of all these culinary masterpieces will depend on the correct pickling and, in particular, on the type of cabbage chosen. After all, it often happens that after making a lot of effort and being guided by your favorite, traditional recipe, as a result of the leaven, you get slimy cabbage of an unsightly appearance and obscene taste. And not every housewife in this situation will guess that the whole point is in the wrong choice of vegetable variety. So, let's figure out what are the best varieties of cabbage for pickling and storage, and how to choose the right heads of cabbage.
Which variety of cabbage is better for pickling
If the hostess has her own garden, then surely there will be a place for cabbage on it. Experienced farmers in this case are advised to grow several varieties at once: early varieties quickly form small heads of cabbage and are excellent for preparing the first fresh summer salads. Mid-ripening and late-ripening cabbage ripens for a long time, but at the same time its heads of cabbage ripen large, dense and very juicy. It is this kind of cabbage that should be used for pickling.
When you come to the market, you should also not buy the cheapest or "cutest" cabbage. Be sure to ask the seller what kind of cabbage he offers. Of course, it is not at all easy to navigate the variety of varieties. That is why we will try to bring the TOP-5 of the best mid-early and late varieties of cabbage for pickling. Having heard one of the names given below, you can safely buy a vegetable and harvest it for the winter.
The best mid-season varieties
The varieties proposed below are excellent for long-term storage and salting, fermentation. This list has been compiled on the basis of feedback and comments from experienced chefs and caring housewives. Finding such a cabbage will probably be quite simple, because a conscientious farmer always offers the best product on the market and strives to satisfy the needs of the buyer.
Cabbage with an average ripening period can be grown even in the northern regions of the country. Its growing season averages 120-140 days. This time is enough for a small seed to turn into a full-fledged, ripe head of cabbage.
Glory 1305
This delicious cabbage always occupies a leading position in all castings, demonstrating excellent taste and appearance, and high yield. It is quite easy to find the seeds of this cabbage, and in the fall season it can also be found without any problems at any agricultural fair.
The heads of this cabbage are medium in size. Their weight, depending on growing conditions, varies from 2.5 to 5 kg. The shape of the vegetable is flat-round, which is typical for varieties of late ripening. The top leaves of the head of cabbage are pale green, but in cross-section, you can see the tightly connected leaves of a milky white color. Growing this variety on your land plot, you can get a yield of 10 kg / m2.
The taste of the variety is very high: the vegetables are sweet, juicy and crunchy.They are able to maintain their freshness for a long period of time.
Present
Many agricultural exchanges list this variety in the TOP-5 of the most demanded ones on the market. This is due to the fact that "Gift" is perfectly adapted to domestic conditions, unpretentious and even in the most unfavorable weather it is able to give a crop in the amount of 10 kg / m2.
Heads of cabbage, with an average weight of 4-4.5 kg, are very juicy, but they never crack. Dense vegetables have a rounded shape and milky-white leaves. The product demonstrates excellent keeping quality and is recommended for fermentation. "Gift" can be stored until March without losing freshness and consumer qualities.
Belarusian
“Belorusskaya” is the best variety of cabbage for pickling and long-term storage, according to many experienced experts. So, under certain conditions, heads of cabbage can retain their quality until April. The vegetable is also great for pickling, making fresh and canned salads.
A mid-season variety ripens 135 days from the day of sowing the seed for seedlings. During this time, dense, round heads of cabbage are formed. Their upper leaves are dark green in color. Each vegetable weighs approximately 3.5 kg. Sowing seeds of this variety in April for seedlings, already in September-October it will be possible to harvest juicy and sweet cabbage in the amount of 8-9 kg / m2.
Menza F1
This excellent hybrid has long been famous for its high yield, excellent fruit quality and the possibility of long-term storage. Menza f1 always disfigures juicy, sweet, crunchy and especially large heads of cabbage. This vegetable is used for long-term winter storage and fermentation.
The head of cabbage "Menza f1" is especially dense. Its upper leaves are colored light green. In cross section, the vegetable is white. The variety belongs to the category of medium early: from sowing the seed to the ripening of the head of cabbage, the period is 110-115 days.
Amager 611
White-headed variety cabbage "Amager 611" is unique, since the taste of the vegetable gradually improves during storage. So, it is generally accepted that for 6 months from the day of harvest, cabbage retains its usefulness, freshness and excellent taste.
Heads of cabbage "Amager 611" are not very large, weighing up to 4 kg, dense, flat-round shape. A feature of the variety is the silvery-green, glossy top sheets of the vegetable.
In addition to the listed mid-early varieties, cabbage for pickling "Dobrovodskaya", "Jubilee f1", "F1 Aggressor". The same varieties can be put into bins for long-term storage and fermentation.
The best late-ripening varieties
Late-ripening cabbage varieties are grown in the central and southern regions of the country. Their growing season is about 150-180 days. As a result of such a long cultivation, the owner can get large and very juicy heads of cabbage, suitable for winter storage, salting, and fermentation. You can familiarize yourself with the list of the best varieties of late-ripening cabbage further in the section:
Moscow late
The variety has good marketability and taste. It is grown by many gardeners and farmers in the central and southern regions of the country. In 150 days, cabbage grows from a small seed into a large head of cabbage, weighing up to 8 kg. Sweet and crunchy vegetables do not crack, they are covered with gray-green juicy leaves. High crop yield (up to 12 kg / m2) allows you to prepare fresh, salted, pickled and canned vegetables for the winter. The taste of cabbage preparations of this variety is always wonderful.
Kharkov winter
Late-ripening cabbage "Kharkovskaya Zimnyaya" ripens in 170 days. At the end of the growing season, the farmer receives small heads of cabbage, weighing up to 3.5 kg. The middle of these vegetables is white, and the top sheets are bright green.The crop yield does not exceed 8 kg / m2, but this is enough to stock up on fresh vegetables for the winter and prepare healthy and tasty sauerkraut for the whole family.
Valentine f1
The late-ripening hybrid is excellent for growing in the south of Russia. The growing season of the culture is 180 days. During this time, heads of cabbage, weighing 3-4 kg, ripen. Small but very juicy, sweet and crunchy vegetables are great for pickling and pickling. You can store cabbage without processing for 6 months.
Geneva f1
A heat-resistant, high-yielding hybrid of white cabbage, bears fruit weighing 4-5 kg and a total yield of 9 kg / m2... The juicy leaves of a sweet vegetable are densely spaced together and are excellent for pickling and pickling. The top leaves of this variety have a characteristic lilac hue. Sectional view of white cabbage.
Turkiz
Studying the best varieties of cabbage for pickling, one cannot ignore "Türkiz". This variety was obtained by breeders in Germany, but found application in domestic open spaces. The variety is resistant to cracking, drought, and various diseases.
Rounded heads of cabbage are covered with dark green leaves. The dense flesh of the cabbage is slightly light green in color. Vegetables weighing only 2-3 kg are perfectly stored until the arrival of the new summer season. The wonderful sweet taste and juiciness of the vegetable allows you to prepare a delicious fresh salad, canning, pickling or fermenting cabbage for the winter.
In addition to the proposed varieties for pickling and fermentation, as well as long-term winter storage, the "Stone Head" is suitable. All of the varieties listed above are zoned for different regions of Russia, adapted for the domestic climate and even in the most difficult climatic conditions are able to delight with a good harvest. Finding seeds or already mature heads of such cabbage will not be difficult.
How to choose good heads of cabbage
When choosing cabbage for pickling, you need to pay attention to the variety and characteristics of the head of cabbage itself:
- Only white cabbage of medium early or late ripening is suitable for pickling. This is due to the high sugar content of these vegetables.
- Heads of cabbage should be dense and large.
- The top leaves of the vegetable should be as light as possible. Do not ferment green leaves.
- The sweeter the vegetable, the higher the likelihood of a successful starter culture.
- A good head of cabbage "springs" when compressed, which indicates its high quality.
Watching the video clip, you can also get some tips on which varieties of cabbage to choose for sourdough and storage and how to correctly identify a high-quality vegetable:
With these guidelines in mind, you can always count on sourdough success. Crispy and juicy, moderately sour cabbage will definitely have to the table and will feed all family members. The benefits and amazing taste of properly cooked sauerkraut are always difficult to overestimate.
