Planting and caring for cauliflower outdoors

Healthy eating means eating healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals. These include cauliflower, so many gardeners practice growing vegetables in their backyards in the open field. With proper care, this is easy.

Subject to the correct planting scheme, you can plant cauliflower in the country and in the Moscow region. It is necessary to sow seeds for seedlings at home, following the step-by-step instructions for care and feeding to guarantee seedlings.

What is cauliflower

The general understanding of cabbage does not apply to cauliflower varieties, although it also belongs to the cruciferous family. The plant has fibrous roots located close to the soil surface. The heads are formed in round and semicircular shapes. The edible part is represented by dense flowering clusters, the length of which varies. from 2 to 15 cm.

Cauliflower is an annual crop with a growing season 90-120 days after emergence. Plant loves light, therefore, you need to plant seedlings in well-lit areas.

When the beds are located in the shade, young shoots become vulnerable to diseases and pests.

The edible part of the cauliflower is the flower clusters.

To taste, the inflorescence is soft with shades of milk, it is not for nothing that it is called vegetable cottage cheese. When preparing dishes with the help of spices, it is possible to give the vegetable unusual notes that are not characteristic of cabbage.

Origin story

It is generally accepted that cauliflower originated in the Mediterranean. It was previously referred to as Syrian. In those days, the vegetable was late ripening, had a bitter taste and a creamy green inflorescence. The culture was first described by the Arab botanist Ib el-Beitar.

The culture came to Russia only 2 centuries ago, but it was possible to grow a heat-loving plant only in the southern regions. After the famous scientist Bolotov deduced northern version of cabbage, it became possible to cultivate the vegetable in the northern part of the country.

Beneficial features

Cabbage contains many valuable vitamins and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the human body:

• calcium improves the condition of hair, nail plates and teeth;
• vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system;
• potassium has a positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular system;
• magnesium and iron improve blood flow in tissues;
• B vitamins activate brain activity.

Cauliflower is found in many dietary meals.

Many diet tables include cauliflower dishes. This is due to the ability restoration of metabolic processes, setting the work of the digestive system. The active ingredients cleanse the body of toxins and other toxic substances, and the rich vitamin composition (A, D, E, K, H, PP, etc.) strengthens the protective function.

There is an opinion that regular consumption of inflorescences is an effective prevention of cancer.

How to grow cauliflower from seeds on the site

Inflorescences are grown seed and seedling methods... Of course, you can purchase ready-made seedlings and plant them in the garden. However, it is impossible to be sure of the quality of the seed material used and the conditions for the germination of seedlings. Therefore, it is rational to grow seedlings on your own.

Sowing time at home

Seeds are sown in 40-50 days before planting seedlings on an open bed, this period falls on approximately end of February.

The early varieties are sown first, after which, after 2 weeks, mid-season cabbage, and only a month later they move on to planting grains of late varieties.

Cauliflower seeds

Sowing material is first sorted, then prepared before planting. Processing is done using a thermos with water, the temperature of which is 50 degrees. After 15 minutes of steaming, the seeds are immersed in cold water for a minute, after which they spend 12 hours in a solution of microelements that stimulate growth.

The temperature regime before the emergence of shoots should be within 18-20 degrees.

After the shoots appear on the surface of the soil, the temperature drops to 6-8 degrees. Days after 6-7 degrees, you need to increase to a daytime rate of 15-18 and 6-8 at night.

Seedling care

Caring for seedlings does not contain secrets or cardinal features and consists in moderate watering (by spraying), loosening the soil, observing the temperature regime.

After the formation of 2-3 leaves of the plant at the shoot, you need spray with boric acid solution (2 grams per 1 liter of water). After 1-2 weeks, the treatment is repeated, but with a solution ammonium molybdate (5 grams per bucket of water).

Seedlings of cauliflower

Picking

Usually a pick of cauliflower seedlings not carried out due to an underdeveloped root system... But if the seeds were sown in a common box, then when sowing the seeds should be placed at a great distance, and the depth of the soil in the container should be at least 15 cm. Then the seedling can be removed from the box along with the soil.

It is recommended to plant seedlings in separate containers at the age of 2 weeks... Before the seedlings finally take root in a new place, the temperature in the room, at home or where the seedlings are stored should be within 19-21 degrees.

Planting seedlings in open ground - scheme and agricultural technology

Early maturing varieties are planted in open ground late April-mid-May... A week before the start of planting, the seedlings are fed with superphosphate (3 g), potassium chloride (3 g), diluted in a liter of water. This will increase the cold hardiness of the shoots. You also need to harden, accustoming plants to a new habitat.

Early varieties can be planted in the ground in late April-early May

The soil prepared in the fall is dug up before planting.A mixture of compost (humus), wood ash, superphosphate, urea (1 bucket / 2 cups / 2 tbsp. L. / 1 ​​h. L.) Is added to each hole. All components are mixed with fertile soil.

The spacing between plants in a row depends on the selected variety, on average it is 35 cm.Row spacing is at least 50 cm.

The seedlings are buried in the soil to the first sheets, after which it is well compacted with earth. Watering is carried out immediately after planting. Spring weather often surprises with night frosts. To protect the garden from them, you should cover it with agrofibre or film.

Care and Growing Secrets

Cauliflower grows well in warm climates. She tolerates the conditions of the middle lane only thanks to anxious care, therefore the quality and quantity of the crop depends only on the efforts made.

Proper watering

Moisture is necessary for the normal vegetation of the plant, therefore watering is carried out regularly with a frequency 1-2 times a week.

Water consumption rate for 1m2 beds with young shoots is 6-8 l... Over time, the indicator increases to 9-11 liters per 1 m2.

In hot weather, irrigation frequency increases up to 3-4 times a week, but in any case, it is worth focusing on the degree of soil moisture, because waterlogging is just as dangerous for a plant as drying out.

Features of loosening and weeding

From the moment the seedlings are planted and until the heads ripen, at least 4-6 weeding is carried out.

Weed grass thickens the beds, provoking the development of various diseases. In addition, it shades the crop, resulting in dark spots on the inflorescences.

Weeding should be combined with loosening the soil, it is also recommended mulch the bed with peat or dry grass... This will prevent the soil from drying out and the rapid germination of weeds.

It is recommended to mulch the bed with peat or dry grass

Top dressing

During the growing season, cabbage must be fed 3-4 times... The first portion is introduced 3 weeks after transplanting the seedlings. The best food for the culture is a mullein solution (a liter of liquid composition is dissolved in a bucket of water). Under each bush is poured at least 500 ml of fertilizer.

The second feeding is introduced after 10 days. It is recommended to add 1 tablespoon of Kristalin to the mullein solution. Use 1 liter of blank for each plant.

After another 10-14 days, mineral fertilizers are introduced (for 10 liters of water 2 tbsp. L. Nitrofoski, the consumption rate per 1 m2 is 6-8 liters).

Treatment

During the ripening period of the culture, it is important to carry out prevention against diseases and insects.

The advantage of cauliflower agricultural technology is the possibility of using biological agents without the use of pesticides. Dusting from wood ash or tobaccospraying with infusions from onion skins or burdocks.

As a prevention of diseases and pests, dusting with ash can be used

Susceptibility to disease and pests

Cauliflower is susceptible to various diseases and pest attacks, so during the growing period, you need to regularly inspect the plants in order to identify the problem at an early stage.

The development of harmful microorganisms often begins as a result irrigation irregularities or because of the presence of the pathogen in the seed.

The following diseases are considered the most dangerous:

• mucous bacteriosis - the first signs appear on the head in the form of watery spots; for localization, you need to cut off the affected area, capturing a little healthy tissue;
• blackleg - blackening and softening of the root collar and base of the stem, before sowing, the soil and seeds are disinfected, if lesions are detected, the plant is removed from the garden;
• mosaic - spots of different shapes and colors appear on the leaves, diseased bushes cannot be treated, if found, they must be destroyed;
• keel - a fungal disease that affects the root system of a plant, manifests itself in the form of growths on the roots, when detected, the bush is removed, protection is created by preventive measures;
• pernosporosis - the fungus appears on the leaves in the form of yellow spots with a white coating, the treatment consists in spraying the beds with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (1%) or polycarbocin (0.4%).

Harmful insects can also reduce the yield or destroy the garden bed:

• cruciferous fleas;
• cabbage fly;
• aphid;
• stem hidden proboscis;
• butterflies.

If pests or signs of the presence of larvae are found, it is necessary to process the beds using the following means:

• Entobacterin-3;
• Actellik;
• Aktara;
• Iskra M et al.

Iskra M will help with larvae and caterpillars

Chemicals and biologicals are used upon detection of signs of a parasite infestation.

But it is more effective to carry out prophylaxis, which prevents the defeat of the culture by pests.

Activities include:

• thorough cleaning of plant waste in the autumn;
• removal of damaged shoots from the beds to localize the problem;
• disinfection of soil and seeds;
• spraying with biological solutions;
• pollination of beds with wood ash.

Harvesting and storage - step by step instructions

The ripening time of the inflorescences indicated on the seed packaging is approximate, so you need to navigate outwardly... If the crop is harvested earlier or later, then the heads will quickly deteriorate or germinate.

The maturity of a vegetable depends primarily on the growing conditions, in particular on the temperature regime. Collection begins in the second half of July mid-season varieties. Heads are cut from the end of August and throughout September late maturing cabbage, which has a long shelf life (from 5 months and more).

Early varieties ripen by late June - early July

.

The inflorescences are cut with 2-3 leaves at the base of the stem. The vegetable does not lose its properties for 40-50 days. When determining maturity, the following characteristics are taken into account:

• head diameter reaches 10-12 cm;
• the inflorescence is light green or creamy;
• dense structure.

To increase the shelf life, the cauliflower is removed from the garden along with the root system. This method is suitable for slightly unripe vegetables that reach maturity in trays of soil.

Harvest storage rules:

• heads folded into a cardboard or plastic container are installed indoors with a high level of humidity up to 95% and a temperature of 0-2 degrees;
• inflorescences cleared of excess leaves can be stored in the refrigerator, having previously wrapped them with cling film;
• the fragments, washed and separated into inflorescences, remain in the freezer for a long time.

It is also allowed to store cabbage in the basement, hanging it upside down on wooden sticks.

The cultivation technique of cauliflower does not fundamentally differ from the cultivation of other varieties. Therefore, you can safely replenish the range of crops in your own garden. If you take care of it according to the instructions, you can get an excellent harvest of the vegetable.

Cauliflower grows best in the open field: this way it gets maximum sunlight and the necessary nutrition. In closed conditions, such a vegetable can also be grown, but the yield will be lower.

Growing cauliflower outdoors

Vegetable characteristic

Cauliflower is a plant with a cylindrical stem and a root system close to the surface of the earth. The vegetable is characterized by a horizontal arrangement of leaves. The main fruit is the polyspermous pod. Peduncles and heads are used for food.

Useful properties of the plant

The vegetable contains many useful substances. The peculiarity is that the leaves contain more iron than marrow or bell pepper. The presence of vitamins and minerals in the composition helps to strengthen the immune system and provide the body with antioxidant protection.Enzymes help eliminate toxins.

The vegetable is easy to digest and assimilate. Doctors recommend it for gastritis and liver problems. Cabbage is also useful for diabetics. It restores the necessary cholesterol levels.

Growing features

Caring for cauliflower outdoors requires special rules. The culture is sensitive to temperature and humidity and also requires a lot of sun color. The slightest lack of one of the factors leads to the disintegration of the peduncle head. A sufficiently long growing period forces gardeners to be as careful as possible when planting cauliflower in open ground or caring for it.

There are 3 main varieties of cauliflower:

• Early. Planting seedlings begins from mid-April to early May. Plant the plant in the ground - in the middle or end of March. Such varieties are Snowdrift, Snowball, Maliba, Amethyst.
• Medium late. It is planted throughout May and early June. Planting seedlings begins from mid-April to early May. These varieties include Lilac ball, Yako, Otechestvennaya, Flora Blanca
• Late. It is planted in early July. They begin to grow from the beginning of June. This includes the varieties of Cortes, Amerigo, Consitu, etc.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Before planting, the seeds are processed:

• placed in warm water for 12-13 minutes, and then cooled;
• clean the surface of the seeds;
• put in the refrigerator for 1 day.

After processing, the seeds are planted two at a time in separate containers. Drainage is placed at the bottom, only then the soil is laid. It includes:

• 4-5 parts of low-lying peat;
• 1 part mullein;
• 1.5 parts of sawdust.

To nourish the seeds, a substrate of humus, sand and peat is introduced into the soil; you can use a little wood ash. Landing is carried out at a depth of 5 mm.

There is one secret to increasing the cold resistance of the fetus. A few days before planting, the soil is fed with a solution of phosphate and potassium chloride with water.

Conditions for planting cauliflower in open ground

Plants need sunlight

Seedlings must be grown at 17-22 ° C. The soil is constantly loosened and watered. For prevention, plants are treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. When the first true leaves are formed, a boric acid solution is used.

A pick is carried out. When the seedlings are 2 weeks old, they are seated in separate boxes. Further cultivation is carried out at a temperature of 20 ° C.

Soil preparation

A correctly chosen piece of land is one of the growing conditions. The cauliflower planting soil is carefully prepared. Growing cauliflower outdoors is only possible with sufficient sunlight.

Best of all, if last season they grew on the site:

• potato;
• onion;
• garlic;
• carrot;
• siderates.

It is forbidden to plant cabbage after:

• tomatoes;
• radish;
• beets;
• cabbage.

The soil is dug up in the fall onto the bayonet of a shovel. In the spring, the soil is enriched with useful substances using humus or compost. A little ash and urea are placed in each hole.

Cabbage planting technology

Landing technology also has features and requires compliance with the rules. For successful cultivation, a plot scheme is used so that the distance between the holes is 35-40 cm, and between the rows - 50 cm. Planting is performed so that the real leaves are on the surface. To protect against frost, in the first stages, the plants are covered with plastic wrap. They also protect cabbage from cruciferous fleas.

Planting of cauliflower seeds in open ground begins in mid-April. If the climate is cold, it is better to grow by seedling method.

Outdoor Cauliflower Care

The plant needs good care

It is difficult to grow a culture because of the capriciousness in relation to the climate and the sun. To obtain a large amount of harvest, you need to monitor the condition of the plant. When caring for cauliflower in the open field, the following steps are used:

• loosening the soil;
• regular watering;
• hilling;
• weeding the site;
• treatment for diseases and pests;
• top dressing.

Water it 1-2 times a week. The initial water consumption is 8 liters per 1 sq. m. With the development of the fetus, the flow rate increases. With regular rains, you should not be zealous with watering. Too much moisture causes fungal diseases in the plant. 3 leaves of the plant are broken up to retain moisture. It also helps with the appearance of dark spots.

Processing and feeding

It is possible to protect a plant from pests without pesticides. The best way to control insects is to use wood ash. Tobacco is used as an alternative. A solution of onion husks and burdocks has a good effect. It is applied to the crop by spraying.

It is almost impossible to fight diseases without drugs. To prevent their appearance, all growing rules are observed.

Top dressing is carried out 3-4 times. The best remedy is mullein. 0.5. l of liquid is diluted in 10 l of water. One plant is about 0.5 liters of solution.

The first feeding is done 3 weeks after planting. The second is done in 10-12 days. To enhance the effect, add a spoonful of crystalline to the mullein solution. The third feeding is done with mineral fertilizers. The most popular remedy is Nitrofoska. To prepare the solution, you need 10 liters of water and 2 tbsp. l. fertilizers. They spend at least 6 liters per square meter. m.

Cleaning

The main signs of fruit ripeness:

• Head size. Ripe fruit reaches 9-12 cm in diameter.
• Fruit weight. A ripe head weighs more than 300 g.

Early crop varieties reach maturity in 60-90 days, depending on weather conditions. Mid-late varieties are grown for at least 100 days. Late varieties ripen for about 5 months. The vegetable should not be allowed to overripe: it will lose both taste and useful qualities.

Cutting is carried out carefully, leaving 3-4 leaves on the head. Do not cut off all the side shoots: if you leave a few of the largest ones, new inflorescences will appear. The cut heads are immediately removed from the sun. If this is not done, they will become unusable.

Storage

The best storage place is the cellar. Plastic crates are also suitable. They can be stored under the film for 2 months.

An alternative to the cellar is freezing. The fruits are washed with water and dried. Before freezing, the plant can be boiled slightly. Cabbage is stored in this form for a year.

The plant can be stored hanging, but in this case, you do not need to cut off the inflorescences. You only need to remove the roots and upper leaves. The fruit is tied by a stump and suspended. Plants should not touch each other. In this form, the vegetable is stored for a month.

GROWING CAULIFLOWER FROM SEED TO HARVEST

CAULIFLOWER !!! THE SECRET OF A GOOD HARVEST !!!

Cauliflower. Fixing mistakes for beginner gardeners, part 3

Growing

If the cabbage has not reached maturity in the garden, it is grown at home. For convenience, this is done in the cellar. After reaching ripeness, it is stored there.

2 days before digging, the cabbage is well watered. When digging, it is important to keep the root intact and with plenty of soil on it. Several boxes of soil from the garden are brought into the cellar and the culture is transplanted there.

Provide good ventilation in the room. The temperature should be slightly over 0 ° C, and the humidity should be around 95%.

Conclusion

Planting cauliflower in open ground in the country is carried out only if it is possible to provide normal plant care. For open ground, early ripening varieties are used. So the fruits will be smaller, but the plant ripens much faster. In the middle lane, varieties are chosen that are resistant to changes in temperature and humidity.

The amazing medicinal properties of cabbage were known for 5000 years BC. In ancient Rome, magical properties were attributed to her and used in rituals and the treatment of diseases. At the beginning of our era, cabbage came to Russia through the Germans and Celts.The famous vegetable has become popular due to its availability and pronounced medicinal properties.

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var.botrytis)

Useful properties of cabbage

Cabbage, along with potatoes, occupy the first place in the diet of the vast majority of families. It has a high fiber content. Cabbage and its varieties are a source of the main vitamins of the group "B", "C", which are very rare for vegetable crops "K" and "U". Cabbage is famous for its high content of tocopherol, niacin, rutin, biotin, elements: potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and others. Thanks to fiber, cabbage absorbs alcoholic beverages and purifies the blood, while anthocyanins and phytoncides remove the effects of radiation.

The culture is especially distinguished for its useful medicinal, dietary and taste properties. The most valuable amino acids, pectins, malic and citric acids, vitamins and other substances included in this group of vegetables make it an irreplaceable food product. Cabbage, in all its forms, is a good prophylactic agent for oncology of various origins. Sulfur and chlorine, present in cabbage in the form of compounds, cleanse the walls of the digestive tract.

Cauliflower, affects carbohydrate and fat metabolism, is involved in hematopoiesis and bone formation. Undercooked cabbage is a good laxative, overcooked is a fixative. It can be used as an antihelminthic if the seeds are infused in boiling water and taken on an empty stomach. The culture is used in dietetics, cooking, cosmetology. The main property that makes it indispensable for a significant part of the population is its hypoallergenicity. For food allergy sufferers, it is the only source of vitamins and other substances necessary for the body.

Let's return cauliflower to the garden

According to scientifically grounded nutritional standards, 1/4 of the daily diet consists of cabbage. For the year, the norm of vegetable production is on average 122 kg, in which the share of cabbage is 34 kg per person, of which 29 kg of white cabbage and only 2 kg of colored cabbage are consumed, and then mainly by residents of large cities. At the same time, it is the species and varieties of this vegetable crop that supply the earliest open field products.

Terms of development and ripening of the crop of varieties and hybrids of cauliflower

According to the ripening period, the culture is divided into groups:

1. Early varieties and hybrids. The group includes early maturing varieties with a period from germination to maturation of heads of 90-100 days.
2. Medium varieties and hybrids combine mid-early, mid-season and mid-late.
   1. Mid-early ones form a biological harvest in 105-126-135 days.
   2. Mid-ripening, harvest in 110-136-145 days.
   3. Medium late - 146-159 days.
3. Late varieties and hybrids of cauliflower form a harvest in 160-170 days. There are some varieties with a growing season of 170-230 days.

Cauliflower in the garden

Cauliflower varieties

Early (early maturing)

The early ripening varieties of cauliflower most common in private vegetable growing include Rannyaya Gribovskaya 1355, Movir 74, Fruernite, Moskovskaya Skorospelka, Snezhinka.

Of the listed varieties, Fruernite forms the largest heads weighing up to 5 kg. Movir 74 and early Gribovskaya require regular watering. Movir 74 is distinguished by its heat resistance and cold resistance.

Snowflake and Snow Globe are early maturing cauliflower varieties (90-120 days).

The earliest production is formed by Early Snowball (Denmark), in 55-60 days.

Of the varieties of later selection, the Amphora hybrid is suitable for home cultivation in Russia.

The Garantia variety is usually grown in a warm season in the open field, and closer to the middle regions under film shelters.

Pay attention to the Dachnitsa cauliflower variety. It is characterized by a very extended period of formation of a technical crop, which is very convenient for personal consumption. The period for obtaining a biological crop ranges from 80-100 days.

Coleman is a variety for hot climates. Forms a harvest for 90-105 days.

Montano is suitable for lovers of Dutch varieties. Recommended for growing under cover (film, spandbody and other materials).

Medium (mid-early, mid-season, mid-late)

Of the varieties of this selection, the most common varieties are Guarantee, Otechestvennaya, White ball, White beauty, Moscow cannery, Goodman, Lateman.

The white beauty is distinguished by high yields, excellent delicate taste. The variety of cauliflower Domestic lovers distinguish it for its resistance to temperature extremes. Moscow Cannery is intended for open and closed ground in Russia in the European part and Siberia.

Relatively young varieties of cauliflower Goodman and Lateman have been zoned since 2000 for household plots of the North-West, Central, Central Black Earth and for some areas of the West Siberian regions. The growing season is only 105 days. The Lateman variety is also valued for its resistance to negative weather conditions, low infection with bacteriosis, keel, fusarium.

Late (mid-late and late-ripening)

Varieties of this selection require a long warm period. They are grown mainly in the south of the Russian Federation. Of the most common summer residents, the late-ripening varieties of cauliflower Adler winter 679, Adler spring, Sochinskaya are used.

Adler winter 679 is intended for the Krasnodar Territory.

Varieties Andes - of the Netherlands selection and Magellan of the Dutch selection (medium late and late) are suitable for growing in greenhouse or other covering conditions.

Skywalker is a late-ripening Dutch cauliflower hybrid specifically for temperate climates.

Basic rules for obtaining high yields of cauliflower

Many gardeners complain that at home they cannot get a high-quality harvest of cauliflower: the heads are small, the bush is elongated, the taste is bitter, etc.

To avoid troubles you must:

• sow cauliflower only of zoned varieties,
• before buying, familiarize yourself with the climatic features of the area (length of daylight hours, rainy and dry periods, frosts) and select zoned varieties for them.
• study the biological characteristics of the crop and the requirements of the variety or hybrid for cultivation, including the type of soil, the intensity and frequency of irrigation, the supply of nutrients),
• plant in open ground only with healthy seedlings.

Brief biological characteristics

Cauliflower is a subspecies of garden cabbage (head cabbage). The biological feature is the one-year development cycle. The crop during the growing season (in contrast to garden cabbage) forms a crop in technical and biological ripeness. The root system is fibrous. Requires constant moisture content in the root layer. The stem is cylindrical up to 70 cm in height; some varieties form lateral shoots. With a high stalk, supports are needed. The grocery organ is laid in the form of dense brushes 3-15 cm in length. In technical ripeness, it is represented by a head made of shortened shoots with buds of inflorescences. With a delay in harvesting, elongated seed shoots are formed - pods with seeds. Harvesting in technical ripeness lasts up to 18-35 days.

Basic requirements for growing cauliflower

Lighting

Cauliflower is light-requiring, especially after germination and during the initial period of growth in the open field. In shaded areas, the stem is stretched, the heads are formed loose, rough, prone to frequent diseases. With a long daylight hours, they quickly pass to the formation of seeds.

Thermal conditions

To get a high-quality harvest of cauliflower, it is necessary to observe thermal and irrigation regimes. The culture cannot stand a prolonged cold snap, below + 10 ° C. The optimum air temperature, from the germination phase to the formation of heads, is +15 .. + 18 ° C.A higher one delays the development of inflorescences. The combination of low humidity with high temperature and their sharp fluctuations are especially negative.

Soil conditions

Cauliflower requires a high agronomic background. To avoid the formation of deformed heads, the acidity of the soil should be neutral with a high supply of nutrients. Given the high need for nutrients, during the growing season, the culture needs several additional fertilizing, including microelements. Boron, copper, molybdenum, magnesium are especially important. Be careful! Do not use potassium chloride with cauliflower.

Seedlings of cauliflower

Agrotechnology for growing cauliflower

If the requirements of agricultural technology are met, the cauliflower yields will always be of high quality. In order to have fresh produce for a long period, a seedling cultivation method is used, carrying out sowing at several times, as well as with rearing when unfavorable autumn conditions and late sowing in open ground occur.

Sowing dates for seedlings

For seedling growing of cauliflower, sowing seeds in greenhouses is carried out in mid-March and seedlings in open ground are planted in early May after spring frosts have passed.

Provided that cold greenhouses are used, seeds are sown on May 15-25 and planted permanently in June.

For seedless growing of cauliflower in open ground under cover, sowing is carried out in late April - early May, and without shelter - at the end of June. Sowing is successful in early July.

The given sowing dates are approximate. In each region and even individual districts of the regions, depending on the climatic conditions of the year, the sowing dates may differ from those given by 8-15 days.

Growing seedlings

It is better to grow seedlings in peat-baked pots and plant them permanently without picking. In cold regions, gardeners sow cauliflower on a prepared bed in a heated greenhouse. The soil, if necessary, is disinfected by one of the recommended methods, filled with fertilizers. Contribute to sq. m 0.5 buckets of humus, compost or ready-made humus (300-400 g). 70 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate are added. It is possible to replace the mixture of mineral fertilizers by introducing 50-60 g / sq. m nitrophoska or nitroammofoska.

Sowing an ordinary one with row spacing of 15-20 cm to a depth of 0.5 cm. Seeds are sown at the bottom of the groove and sprinkled with fine mulch or sand. Water gently so as not to wash out the crop. Before germination, the temperature is maintained at +18 .. + 20 ° C. Seedlings appear on 4-5 days. During this period, the temperature is lowered to +5 .. + 6 ° C. Lowering the temperature is extremely important. In the hot climate of the greenhouse, as in the apartment, it is impossible to get seedlings. She needs a temperate or even cold climate. 5-6 days after cold adaptation, the temperature is increased to + 15 * C. Such a change in temperature will allow to lay large, normally developed heads of cauliflower.

After 1-2 weeks, a pick is carried out. Seedlings are fed 3-4 times during the growing period. The main dressing is carried out with solutions of mineral fertilizers at the root or in the aisles.

Cauliflower seeds

The first feeding of cauliflower is carried out 2 weeks after the pick. Some gardeners advise feeding immediately after the pick. But this technique is acceptable if the seedlings are grown on marginal soil with deviations in acidity. For feeding, dissolve 50 g of nitrophoska per 10 liters of water at room temperature. Plants are gently washed from the nutrient solution that has fallen on the leaves of the seedlings.

At the onset of the phase of 2-3 true leaves, foliar feeding is carried out with a mixture of microelements boron and molybdenum (1 g / 10 l of water). This procedure accelerates the development of seedlings, promotes the establishment of a full-fledged inflorescence.

The next feeding of cauliflower is carried out at the onset of the 4-leaf phase.Nitrophoska is diluted at a concentration of 20 g / 10 l of warm water and introduced (like the first one) under the root, followed by watering.

After 10 days, a complex composition is prepared for the last feeding. Dilute 50-60 g of nitrophoska, 2 g of boric acid, manganese sulfate and copper sulfate in a 10 liter container. The mixture is mixed well and applied at the root, followed by watering.

The soil is constantly kept in a moist state (overdrying, as well as too abundant watering, leads to a disease of the root system of seedlings, metabolic disorders).

30-35 day old cauliflower seedlings are planted permanently. The seedling has a well-developed fibrous root, 5 normally developed leaves, and a straight stem.

Before planting in other conditions for further cultivation, hardening is necessary with a gradual decrease in temperature and a change in lighting conditions.

Planting and caring for cauliflower outdoors

Predecessors

The best predecessors are cucumbers, carrots, peas, beans, onions, and potatoes. You can not plant cauliflower on the site where in the previous 3-4 years any types of cabbage, tomatoes, beets, turnips were grown.

Seedlings of cauliflower planted in open ground

Soil preparation

For autumn preparation for 1 sq. m bring in a bucket of humus or compost. You can use peat fertilizer. Mineral fertilizers are added: nitrophosphate (60 g / sq. M) or superphosphate (50 g) and potassium sulfate (30 g) per 1 sq. M. m area. Digging up the site. In the spring, they are leveled and slightly compacted. Sowing on compacted soil promotes the formation of larger heads.

Planting cauliflower seedlings in open ground

Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out in an ordinary way with a distance of 40-50 x 70 or 50 x 50 cm. A little humus is added to the bottom of the hole, 5-7 g of nitrophoska, mixed. The cabbage root is powdered with root and planted so as not to cover the apical bud. Cover with a layer of soil and watered. Then the hole is finally filled up, the soil is compacted and watered with about 1 liter of warm water (not from the well). Be sure to mulch to prevent the formation of a soil crust.

Sowing with seeds in open ground

Seeds are sown in a row method in furrows to a depth of 1 cm. The row spacing is left 40-50-70 cm. In the phase of the first leaf, plants in a row are thinned by 15-20 cm. In the phase of 5-6 leaves, the second thinning is performed. The distance between the overgrown plants is left again by 15-20 cm.

Plant care

Watering

Cauliflower - refers to water lovers. In the first week after disembarkation, it is necessary to carefully monitor the state of humidity. Watering is carried out 2 times a week. But there is a peculiarity! Watering should be sufficient, but not flood the plantings. In wet soil, there is a lack of oxygen, which disrupts the functioning of the root system. With the age of the plants, you can switch to more rare watering after 7-10 days, but do not allow the soil to dry out. After watering, the soil is hoed or covered with mulch until the bushes close. From the sun, the heads are covered with side leaves, holding them together like a roof.

Tying cauliflower

Top dressing

The first feeding of plants in the field is carried out after 17-20 days, preferably with an organic solution. Thoroughly stir 0.5 liters of mullein in 10 liters of water. Introduce under the root, followed by mulching.

The second feeding of cauliflower is performed after 10-12 days with a solution of nitrophoska, kemira or crystallin. Dissolve 20-25 g of fertilizer in 10 liters of water. Per sq. m solution consumption is 5-6 liters.

The third feeding is also carried out with nitrophosphate. Dissolve 30-40 g with a flow rate of 8-10 liters per 1 sq. m.

After applying fertilizer solutions, the plants must be washed with clean water. If there are open spaces, the soil is mulched or hoe, breaking the crust.

Protection against diseases and pests

The protection of cauliflower from diseases and pests by chemical preparations is excluded.When using decoctions and herbal infusions, only non-poisonous plants can be used.

Of the diseases, cauliflower is affected by mucous bacteriosis, black leg, altenariosis, viral mosaic. Biofungicides effectively protect against fungal diseases, which do not harm the health of the family, animals, birds. However, their effect is manifested in the processing system. Therefore, processing begins in spring and is carried out after 10-12 days until harvesting. The culture can be treated with the following biofungicides: gaupsin, phytosporin, alirin-B, gamair, planriz, trichodermin, hypocladin, binoram, trichopol.

Of the pests, slugs and snails heavily eat cauliflower. The caterpillars of the whites, moths, cabbage flies, aphids and other gnawing and sucking pests inflict significant damage. The following bioinsecticides, with systematic application, provide good protection: bitoxibacillin, bicol, boverin, verticillin and others. It should be noted that biological products mix well in tank mixtures and work effectively when plants are simultaneously processed. Plants are pollinated with ash against snails and slugs. Dry ash is poured into cheesecloth and the plants are pollinated by shaking. It is also scattered between rows and under bushes.

Harvesting and storage of crops

Harvesting of products in technical ripeness is carried out selectively. Ripe heads are cut with 3-4 rosette leaves. Leaves protect inflorescences from mechanical shock and dirt. Cutting is carried out carefully, avoiding the collapse of the outlet. The cut heads are placed in a prepared container.

Sometimes the heads of cauliflower crumble without forming the product's marketable form in technical ripeness. This happens because overgrown seedlings were planted, or the irrigation regime was violated (overdrying of the soil). Too dense, heavy soil and insufficient nutrition also negatively affect the presentation of the product.

The cut heads can be stored for 4-6 weeks. Leaves are not torn off from products intended for storage. Optimum storage temperature is 0 .. + 1 ° C with air humidity not lower than 90-95%. Store cauliflower separately from other types of cabbage.

Growing cauliflower

Growing can be done in a variety of ways. If it is inclement weather and the heads have not had time to fully form, then they can be pulled out by the roots and transferred to the basement or cellar. There, the plants are hung on trellises with their roots up. Growing is carried out at a temperature of +1 .. + 3 ° C without access to light and humidity within 80-90%.

Plants of late sowing dates, which did not have time to form a developed head before the cold weather, are grown in greenhouses or greenhouses without access to light. For growing, plants with developed leaves and a head diameter of at least 5 cm are selected. The plants are dug up with roots and, without shaking off the soil, are densely laid in rows in previously watered 15 cm furrows. Head growth lasts up to 30 days at an air temperature of about + 10 ° C and an air humidity of 85-90%. With a decrease in temperature to +4 .. + 5 ° C, the process is extended to 40-50 days. During this period, the heads can gain weight up to 0.5 kg. If growing takes place in greenhouses, they are insulated as the air temperature decreases.

It is not difficult to master the cultivation of cauliflower in the open field, but your family will be provided with a tasty and healthy product. The main problem that many gardeners face is that a dense large inflorescence does not work out. Each culture needs to be approached individually, proper planting and good care will help the Mediterranean guest to get comfortable in unusual conditions.

Features of cultivation of cauliflower

Although cauliflower came to our summer cottages from the warm Mediterranean, it perfectly adapted to the cold climate of the Urals, Siberia, and the Leningrad region. Some gardeners complain that the culture is very capricious and gives poor yields.This happens if you do not know what conditions are necessary for plants, how to properly care for plantings, how to grow seedlings from seeds. Consider some growing secrets and you won't have any problems.

Cauliflower is not adapted to live in conditions of white nights; for development, it requires a sufficient duration of both light and dark times of the day. In conditions of constant illumination, a dense head is not obtained, the peduncles are stretched and lose their taste. In the northern regions, it is necessary to calculate the sowing time so that the ripening of the forks does not fall in June and the first half of July. It is impossible to wait for a tasty harvest even with poor watering, when the plants are thirsty.

Cauliflower does not require a lot of heat, but it does not like summer too cold. If the temperature does not rise above + 15⁰, the forks will be shallow, poorly developed. The most suitable thermal regime is from + 15⁰ to + 20⁰. In extreme heat, shade the plants, spray them with water. When growing in a greenhouse, remember to ventilate the plantings.

In warm regions, proper care will help you get 2 or even 3 crops per season from seeds. To achieve this result, you need to choose early ripening varieties, for example, "Goat Dereza". The last plantings, most likely, will not have time to mature in the open field. Many forks will need to be grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse with secure cover.

The following varieties give good yields:

• "Early mushroom";
• Movir;
• "Alpha";
• "Skorospelka".

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To get strong plants, you need to provide the seedlings with proper care from the first days. Time your sowing exactly. The seedlings should be replanted after about a month and a half. Check the weather forecast when the temperature is right in your greenhouse or outdoors and start sowing your seeds. Pour the grains into a cloth bag and keep them in a container of room temperature water for 12 hours.

Pour expanded clay at the bottom of the container for drainage, then fill it with an earthen mixture. You can buy soil for sowing seeds at the store or make your own. One of the good lineups:

• garden land - 35%;
• peat - 30%;
• black soil - 30%;
• sand - 5%.

Young seedlings often suffer from black leg. To protect seedlings, cover the seed to a depth of 1 cm, and then cover the entire surface of the soil with a thin layer of sand. This material will draw excess moisture from the soil, and pathogens of fungal diseases will not affect the plantings. Cover the container with a special lid or plastic wrap and place in a warm place.

First of all, a powerful root system must develop. Immediately after the emergence of seedlings from seeds, keep the planting at a temperature not higher than + 10⁰. The growth of the aerial part will slow down, and the roots will develop well. After about a week, move the containers to a room with a temperature of about + 15⁰. Now you need the sprouts to become strong, not to stretch out. In early spring, plantings may lack light, especially if the windows face north. Turn on a fluorescent lamp above the container and surround it with reflective screens.

How to grow strong seedlings

So the planting of the cauliflower was successful. 10 days after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings must be dived into separate cups. Take deep containers so that both the root and the stem will fit into the ground until the leaves. After the appearance of the third leaf, the seedlings need to be fed with a special fertilizer or dissolved in a bucket of water 15 g of potash and 5 g of ammonium nitrate and water the earth.

The second feeding will be needed after the next leaf appears. From time to time, planting should be sprayed from a spray bottle with a weak solution of boric acid. When the fifth leaf is formed on the seedlings, it is ready to move to the garden bed. Do not overexpose the seedlings indoors, overgrown plants do not tolerate transplanting well, they cannot take root for a long time, they get sick.One can only dream of a good harvest, no care will help the seedling to recover.

It will be a great stress for the plants if they are immediately transferred from a warm room to open ground. Start taking the containers out into the fresh air a week to a week and a half before transplanting. For the first time, keep them outside for several hours in the warmest time, gradually increase the time of "walks". Before planting, do not water the plants for several days, moisten the soil abundantly only on the day of moving to the garden.

Landing in open ground

A rich harvest cannot be obtained without good lighting. Set aside a sunny spot for your cabbage plantation. The weak point of cauliflower is a superficial and poorly developed root system. The most fertile composition should be in the upper layer, no deeper than 40 cm. In the fall, when digging, add organic and mineral fertilizers to the soil, and in case of an acidic reaction, add lime.

The distance in the garden bed and between the rows and between medium-sized plants, for example, the Goat Dereza variety, should be 0.5 m. Cabbage will take up a lot of space, but you can grow lettuce, dill or radishes next to it. The depth of the hole should be such that the seedling is buried in the ground until the first leaves. Pour nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers into each hole, add trace elements, especially boron and magnesium, lightly dust the chemicals with earth and spill well with water. In the first days, shade the planting from the scorching sun.

Planting cauliflower outdoors will immediately grab the insects' attention. Succulent bushes are a tasty dish for cabbage flies and cruciferous fleas. You can pollinate plantings with ash or tobacco dust to discourage pests. To prevent insects from eating your crop, plant basil, rosemary, or garlic next to the cabbage.

Advice

For the prevention of cabbage diseases during spring digging, add 5 g of colloidal sulfur to each m2 of land.

Growing cabbage in the garden

Plants need proper care to form dense heads. Moisture is very important, but you cannot overfill the soil: the roots do not tolerate stagnant water. It is better to water the garden through a sprayer, the aerial part is very fond of fine spray. Be sure to loosen the soil under the plants so that it is saturated with air and excess moisture can evaporate.

Half a month after planting, the plants need to be fed with organic matter. Do not pour fresh manure on the ground, soak it in water for 3 days, and then dilute each liter of infusion in 5 liters of water. After feeding, spud the bushes so that the stem does not stick out of the ground. When the forks begin to tie, feed again with a complex fertilizer with microelements.

Advice

If the heads are not tied in any way, chop off the lower leaves, then the plant will use all the forces to form the inflorescence.

If pests have attacked the cabbage, insecticides can be used. Chemicals can be used before the heads begin to tie. For prevention, spray the garden bed with tincture of wormwood, tobacco or burdock every week, such treatment will not bring harm. To keep the heads white and tasty, you can hide them from the light. Cut off the lower leaves and cover the inflorescence with them. In the shade, bitterness leaves the forks, and they acquire a beautiful white color.

Cauliflower in the greenhouse

To get an early harvest, you can plant seedlings in a greenhouse in early spring. The conditions should be the same as for growing in the open field: temperature about + 15⁰, proper watering, feeding. If the daylight hours are still short, you need to highlight the planting with lamps. In a greenhouse and a greenhouse, the air humidity is usually too high. Ventilate the plants daily to avoid attack by rot or fungal infection.

In the greenhouse, you can also grow seedlings for the second harvest. Germination of seeds is carried out in a container, and when picking, the seedlings are placed in the ground. Before planting in the garden, the seedlings need to be hardened. Open doors and vents for several hours during the day.If thermophilic crops are grown in the same room, they can be protected with covering material or foil during airing.

In the fall, the greenhouse will also need a place for cabbage. Dig up unripe plants by the roots and plant them for growing. Make sure that the temperature does not drop below + 5⁰. In case of severe frosts, the plants can be covered with non-woven material, foil or mats.

Harvesting and storage of crops

When harvesting, cut the head with a small piece of stem and 4 leaves. The crop can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 50 days. In the cellar, cauliflower will not wilt until 4 months. To provide yourself with fresh heads until next season, divide the forks into small inflorescences. Rinse and dry the shoots, remove any rotten areas and store them in a bag in the freezer.

The heads that do not have time to mature can be grown. Dig up the bush by the root and plant it in a greenhouse or greenhouse. If this is not possible, you can put the plants in the cellar and sprinkle the roots with soil. From time to time, the land needs to be watered. The second option: hang the heads of cabbage upside down. With this method, they can increase the weight of the head by 0.5 kg.

The harvest is ripe, and the bushes are still full of strength, the leaves are juicy and healthy. Leave one good shoot on the stem; new forks may start on it. Do not forget that in this case, too, the plant needs feeding, care and watering. If the head does not have time to ripen before frost, dig up a bush and plant it in a greenhouse, where it will reach the desired size.

Conclusion

Cauliflower has undeservedly gained fame as a capricious and fastidious plant. Growing problems arise for those gardeners who do not know and do not take into account the biological characteristics of the species, do not provide the necessary care. The secrets of good harvests are easy to remember and apply. The culture is especially demanding for lighting: in the spring, seedlings need to be additionally illuminated with lamps, and when heads appear, they need darkness at night.

Plants develop in about 60 days. The yield depends on the variety. For example, "Goat Dereza", if it is well cared for, can give up to 10 kg per 1 m2 .. You cannot plant the plants too closely, but to save space, you can plant herbs, spices, salads between the bushes. Such a scheme is convenient for protecting cabbage from pests: many insects cannot tolerate garlic or rosemary. If the heads are not ripe before frost, the bushes can be grown in a greenhouse.

Cauliflower is used to prepare familiar vegetable dishes - soups, stews. You can boil the shoots and bake with cheese or fry with an egg. This low-calorie, but nutritious product is included in many diets and is used to prepare children's meals. Grow and preserve the harvest correctly, and then use your imagination and surprise your guests with an unusually tasty dish.