Growing Cauliflower

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Cauliflower is a real storehouse of vitamins, nutrients and mineral salts. It is appreciated for its high taste and dietary qualities. Cauliflower boasts a high content of ascorbic acid, proteins, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and PP, as well as macro and microelements (potassium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, etc.). It contains a lot of acids, pectin and fiber

The composition of the cauliflower makes the vegetable one of the most essential foods with medicinal properties. After all, it helps to eliminate cholesterol, strengthen blood vessels, takes an active part in the metabolism of estrogen and serves as a prophylactic agent against cancer. And the list of useful properties of cauliflower does not end there.

It turns out that experienced agronomists of the Mediterranean first began to cultivate the culture in the XII century, and in the 15th century, cauliflower began to be cultivated in Italy, Holland, England and France. In Russia, they learned about the plant only during the reign of Catherine II. Today, cauliflower has not lost its relevance; it is still popular among experienced and novice gardeners.

Growing conditions

In its agricultural technology, cauliflower is very similar to white cabbage, but it is more demanding on growing conditions. It should be remembered that any deviations reduce the yield of the vegetable crop and its quality.

Cauliflower is a light-loving plant, it prefers sunny and protected areas from cold winds. With thickened or heavily shaded plantings, the culture is stretched, and as a result, it is exposed to diseases and pests. The optimum temperature for growing cauliflower is 15-18C. At lower temperatures, small and tasteless heads are formed, and at high temperatures, loose ones.

The culture is good for moist soils with a rich mineral composition, with a slightly acidic or neutral reaction. Cauliflower is demanding for the presence of organic fertilizers, micro and macroelements in the soil, such as molybdenum, copper, boron, etc. The best plant precursors are tomatoes, beets, potatoes, cucumbers, onions and legumes. Avoid planting after cruciferous plants such as rutabagas, radishes, turnips and radishes.

Growing seedlings and planting in open ground

Cauliflower is most often grown through seedlings, although among Russian gardeners living in the southern regions of Russia, sowing seeds in open ground is widespread. In general, growing cauliflower seedlings is not much different from white cabbage. However, cauliflower has a less developed root system and therefore requires a more careful attitude.

Sowing seeds for seedlings for early varieties and hybrids is carried out from March 5 to 30, medium early - from April 10 to May 10, late - from May 25 to June 10. Sowing is carried out in special wooden or plastic boxes filled with a soil mixture consisting of turf, peat and sand (1: 1: 1). Without fail, the soil substrate is treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, this procedure allows you to prevent infection of plants with a black leg.

After sowing, the soil is sprayed with warm water, covered with foil and placed in a warm place. The optimum temperature is 20-25C. With the emergence of seedlings, the temperature is lowered to 10C, and then the seedlings are moved to the windowsills and grown at a temperature of 15-17C. It is impossible to overmoisten the soil substrate, otherwise the seedlings can get sick, and the lack of watering can lead to the formation of small heads, as in the case of shading.

Diving of cauliflower seedlings is carried out 14-15 days after the emergence of shoots. 10-12 days before planting seedlings in open ground, seedlings begin to harden, gradually accustoming them to sunlight and wind. You should not rush to plant seedlings if the temperatures are low on the street, it is better to postpone this procedure to a later date, otherwise in a month the cabbage will give arrows with seeds.

The site for planting crops is prepared in the fall, the soil is dug up, organic and mineral fertilizers, lime or dolomite flour are applied. In early spring, the soil is loosened and fed with wood ash. After planting hardened seedlings in the ground, they cover it with a film for several days, and shade it for better survival. After 1, 5-2 weeks, young plants are spud and then fed with a mullein liquid solution.

Care

Due to the fact that cauliflower has a special root system, it needs regular watering. With insufficient moisture, the plants suffer. To retain moisture in the soil for a longer period, after watering, the ridges are loosened and mulched with peat. At too high daytime temperatures, the plants are shaded, this is necessary so that the culture does not bloom ahead of time.

Fertilization is one of the most important steps in the care of cauliflower. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting the seedlings, the second feeding is carried out after another 2-3 weeks with wood ash and nitrophosphate, the third feeding is carried out during the formation of the head with ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers. Do not forget about the introduction of boron and molybdenum into the soil, because these elements play an important role in the formation of high-quality cauliflower heads.