SAFFIRE

Saffire is an early-maturing variety of salad turnip kabo, intended for cultivation in both open and protected ground. The plant reaches a height of about 35 cm, forming a vertical rosette of leaves with a diameter of 28-36 cm. The leaves are petioled, medium-sized, oval-round, blue-green in color, slightly wrinkled, hairless and without a waxy coating. The mass of one plant is 16-17 g. The root crops are small, white or pinkish in shade, weighing up to 200 g, which makes the variety universal for consumption of both the leafy part and the root crops.

The variety is distinguished by a high content of ascorbic acid (61.6-95.0 mg%) and carotene (10.9-15.7 mg%), which ensures excellent taste qualities and high nutritional value. Thanks to these properties, Saffire is useful for strengthening the immune system, preventing oncological diseases and improving vision. The plant has high cold hardiness and relative resistance to nitrate accumulation, which makes it suitable for cultivation in various climatic conditions.

For successful cultivation of Saffire, it is recommended to sow seeds in moist soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm, followed by thinning when cotyledon leaves appear. The plant is moisture-loving, requires regular watering and protection from excessive heat, for example, by covering with lutrasil. During the season, two top dressings are needed: liquid cow manure at the phase of two-three true leaves and complex fertilizer without nitrogen two weeks later. Pests may include cruciferous flea, aphids and turnip whitefly, for which tobacco dust, ash or pollination of plants is used. Harvest collection should be timely to preserve the taste and nutritional properties of leaves and root crops.