Rules for planting cauliflower in the ground. How to grow strong seedlings

Planting cauliflower in open ground

May is the month of active work in the garden. Therefore, most summer residents have already planted crops in open ground. In addition to other vegetables, cabbage occupies a special place in the garden.

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

Most summer residents prefer to grow ordinary white cabbage, as there is an opinion that other varieties require additional care.

Among the variety of cabbage, it is worth noting cauliflower. She has a large number of useful substances. According to the explanations of gastroenterologists, due to the frequent consumption of cauliflower, a person improves work gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it can be eaten by children and adults.

Cauliflower is grown in containers, and in greenhouses, and in open ground. We'll consider last way- the most common.

Cauliflower refers to early crops, which means that it can be harvested twice a season. The plant is grown for the sake of inflorescences, which are eaten. In fact, a head of cabbage is one large inflorescence, which consists of buds tightly pressed against each other. How to grow cauliflower in your area?

Based on the above, every gardener should think about this and start growing this crop on his site.

Planting cauliflower in open ground seedlings

You can plant cauliflower in several stages: early varieties planted at the end of February, after 2 weeks it is worth planting seeds of medium ripening and after them - late ones.

Before you start planting cauliflower, you need to process the seeds. To do this, they must be placed in a thermos for 15 minutes in water with a temperature of 50 degrees. After you need to immerse in cold water for 1 minute. For the next 12 hours, the seeds should be soaked in a micronutrient solution. The final stage of preparation will be the premises planting material in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for a day. Dried seeds should be planted in separate containers, as the plant does not tolerate picking.

Cauliflower will develop quickly and properly in soil with a neutral reaction. It can be purchased at a trusted store or you can make it yourself. You will need to take 4 parts of lowland peat, 1 part of mullein and 1.5 parts of rotten sawdust. A mixture consisting of humus, sand and low-lying peat is also suitable. To all of the above, it is recommended to add wood ash.

Planting cauliflower will be successful if the seeds are planted no deeper than 5 mm. After that, it is important to maintain a temperature regime favorable for germination - 18-20 degrees Celsius. After the appearance of the first shoots, it should be lowered to 6-8 degrees.

It is important to remember that cauliflower seedlings will not create inflorescences if the room is over 22 degrees Celsius.

Planting cauliflower in open ground: a simple method

On average, cauliflower seedlings become suitable for transplanting into the garden after 45 days. By this time, the seedling should have 4-5 leaves and a well-developed root system. It is also necessary to harden the seedlings so that they are ready for life in the open field. To do this, it should be placed in a cold greenhouse for 3-5 days. You can ventilate it only in the daytime, increasing the time each time.

It is best to plant cauliflower seedlings in the garden on a cloudy but warm day. Choose a well-lit place for this culture. Cauliflower will grow well in a garden where cucumbers, onions or legumes grew before.

Seedling holes should be spaced 25 cm apart. There should be at least 50 cm between rows. A little ash mixed with soil should be added to each hole, after which young cauliflower can be planted. Plants should be buried to the first true leaf. After this, planting should be watered and covered with a film for several days.

Planting cauliflower in open ground in a seedless way

Early cauliflower can be planted outdoors between April 25 and May 15. Mid-season varieties - from May 20 to June 15. Late-ripening varieties should be planted within a month after sowing the seeds.

In order for the plant to develop well, it is important to apply top dressing before planting to increase its cold resistance.

The bed on which cauliflower will grow can be dug up in the fall or in the spring. Previously, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, onions, cucumbers and legumes could grow on it.

The southern regions of the Russian Federation can safely plant cauliflower seeds immediately in open ground. This should be done in early May, after moistening the soil. Seed material is recommended to be immersed in the soil no more than 2 cm. The first heads will appear in July. From this point on, it is important to ensure that they are darkened. You can break the side leaves so that they fit together.

Growing seedlings from seeds

Before planting, the seeds are treated:

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

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

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

To feed 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 to 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 solution of boric acid is used.

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

Soil preparation

The right plot of land is one of the conditions for growing. The soil for planting cauliflower is carefully prepared. You can grow cauliflower outdoors only if there is enough sunlight.

It is best if the following grew on the site last season:

• potato;
• garlic;
• carrot;
• green manure.

It is forbidden to plant cabbage after:

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

The soil is dug in the autumn on a spade bayonet. In 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 apply such a scheme of the plot so that the distance between the holes is 35-40 cm, and between the rows - 50 cm. Planting is carried out so that the real leaves are on the surface. Plants are covered to protect against frost in the early stages. plastic wrap. They also protect cabbage from the cruciferous flea.

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

Outdoor cauliflower care

The plant needs good care

It is quite difficult to grow a crop due to the capriciousness regarding the climate and the sun. To obtain a large number of crops, it is necessary to monitor the condition of the plant. When caring for cauliflower in the open field, the following steps are used:

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

Watered 1-2 times a week. The initial water consumption is 8 liters per 1 sq. m. With the development of the fetus, the consumption is increased. With regular rains, do not be zealous with watering. Too much moisture causes the plant fungal diseases. 3 leaves of the plant are twisted up to retain moisture. It also helps with the appearance of dark spots.

Processing and feeding

You can protect the plant from pests without pesticides. The best way to control insects is to use wood ash. As an alternative, tobacco is used. A solution of onion peel and burdock has a good effect. It is applied to the culture by spraying.

It is almost impossible to overcome diseases without drugs. To prevent their appearance, all the rules of cultivation are observed.

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

The first top dressing is done within 3 weeks after planting. The second is done in 10-12 days. To enhance the effect, a spoonful of crystallin is added to the mullein solution. The third top dressing 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. Spend at least 6 liters per sq. m.

Cleaning

The main signs of fruit ripeness:

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

Early crop varieties reach maturity in 60-90 days, depending on weather conditions. Medium-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. Don't cut everything side shoots: if you leave a few of the largest, new inflorescences will appear from them. Cut heads are immediately removed from the sun. If this is not done, they will become unfit for food.

Storage

The cellar is the best storage place. Plastic boxes also fit. Under the film they can be stored for 2 months.

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

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

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.

Water the cabbage well 2 days before digging. When digging, it is important to keep the root intact and with large quantity land 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 a little over 0 ° C, and 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 care for the plant. For open ground use early maturing varieties. So the fruits will be smaller, but the plant ripens much faster. AT middle lane choose varieties with resistance to changes in temperature and humidity.

Similar content

It was with cauliflower that I started the first complementary foods for my baby. This hypoallergenic vegetable is dearly loved in Russia, therefore it is grown everywhere. Culture was brought to us from Western Europe about 200 years ago. - annual plant, second in popularity only to . The inflorescence in the form of a head can be white, yellow, purple.

Cauliflower can be frozen, pickled,; or . Or just store in the basement so that new year holidays delight yourself and guests with fresh cauliflower.

Cauliflower precursors can be:

• culture.

It is not recommended to use for growing beds after her relatives: You can grow cauliflower seedlings and without seedling way. For residents of the middle lane, growing through seedlings is more suitable, and for the southern regions - sowing directly into the ground.

Sowing in open ground (seedless method)

In early May, seeds should be sown in a moistened ridge, planting them to a depth of about 2 cm. In July, the first heads appear.

Growing seedlings of cauliflower

The stages of caring for cauliflower seedlings are almost the same as, so I will focus only on important features:

• cauliflower has a poorly developed root system, so when growing seedlings in a common box (about 6 days before planting), the earth is cut into squares so that the seedling forms a branched root system;
• optimally - sow cauliflower seeds immediately in separate pots;
• remember: the earlier you plant seedlings in open ground, the older they should be.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Most the best way- calculate the sowing time individually for each variety (hybrid). How to do this can be found in the article. Therefore, I will indicate only indicative dates:

• early - from the beginning to the end of March;
• medium - from the tenth of April to May 12;
• late - from mid-May to June 10.

Age of cauliflower seedlings before planting:

• for early varieties - about 60 days;
• for medium - about 40 days;
• for later - about 35 days;

Terms of planting seedlings in open ground:

• early - from late April to mid-May;
• mid-early - from mid-May to mid-June;
• late - from early to mid-July.

Many summer residents grow seedlings of different times in order to get a kind of young cauliflower conveyor over the summer.

Planting cauliflower seedlings in the ground

1. After planting hardened seedlings in open ground, it can be covered for the first time.
2. For better survival, shade your seedlings for 2-3 days.
3. After two weeks, seedlings are needed.
4. After three weeks, you can start feeding with mullein (liquid).
5. As a top dressing and protection against seedlings, cabbage is sprinkled with wood (1 cup is enough for 1 m²).

Cauliflower Care

For the normal development of cauliflower best temperature from +16...+25°С. At very high temperatures and dryness of the soil, a deterioration in the quality of the crop is observed. To prevent the cauliflower from blooming ahead of time, shade it.

As soon as the heads appear, they will also need to be shaded, for this, break the side leaves a little so that they fit together. In the article you can see how cleverly our reader solved this problem -.

Watering

Due to the specifics of the root system, cauliflower needs regular (with a lack of moisture, the yield decreases). To keep moisture in the soil for more long term, after watering, you need to loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 cm, and even better - it.

Fertilization

Highly important point for good development cauliflower. When I was just starting to grow seedlings, I read the advice that for this crop you need to increase the concentration of fertilizers by 1.5 times. But for some reason, I could not grow the kind of cabbage that I would like to see on my site. Therefore, I simply added one more top dressing, leaving the dose unchanged. That is, the older the seedling, the more more top dressing: for a 60-day seedling, it took 4-5, for a 30-day one - only 2.

First dressing
It is applied even when planting seedlings (after 2 weeks), usually in the form mineral fertilizers and liquid mullein.

Second top dressing
After a couple of weeks, add wood ash (I put about a glass) and (mineral fertilizer).

Third top dressing
When the formation of the cauliflower head begins, add ammonium nitrate (for 10 liters about 30 g), about 80 g and about 20 g (for the same amount of water).

You can choose the necessary fertilizers for feeding cauliflower in our catalog, which combines the offers of large garden online stores. .

Varieties and hybrids of cauliflower

To date, a considerable number of varieties and hybrids of cauliflower have been bred with different (from early to late) ripening periods, with a very exotic head color - yellow, orange, light green, purple.

In early (short-vegetation) cauliflower varieties, the heads are dense, tightly surrounded by leaves (which are somewhat shorter than in varieties with medium and late deadline maturation).

The middle and late varieties differ in that the leaves in the rosette are longer, the formation of the head occurs at a temperature of +20°C.

Early varieties and hybrids

(vegetation period 80-110 days)

"Dachnik"

About 100 days will pass from the moment of emergence of seedlings to harvesting.

Cauliflower variety"Dachnik"

The head is white-cream in color, rounded flattened, weighing about 1 kg. The variety is suitable for freezing and consumption in fresh, rich in sugars and ascorbic acid.

"Amphora F1"

Strictly speaking, this is an early-ripening hybrid of cauliflower and broccoli called Romanesco. Unusual heads of light green color and good density.

Cauliflower "Amphora F1"

The mass of such a head is about 2 kg. Suitable for freezing, fresh consumption. Here is a review from our expert.

"Snowdrift"

From germination to technical maturity of this variety should take about 96 days.

Cauliflower variety"Snowdrift"

Very fruitful. The heads are round, dense, weighing about 1 kg, White color heads do not turn yellow during storage. Recommended for freezing. Excellent taste, high content of sugar and ascorbic acid.

A wide range of varieties and hybrids of cauliflower different term ripening you can find in our catalog, which combines the offers of various garden online stores.

Mid-early (mid-season, mid-late) varieties and hybrids

(vegetation period 120-135 days)

"Purple"

Differs in high dietary properties and tastes.

Cauliflower variety "Purple"

The variety is cold-resistant, resistant to a number of diseases. Dense rounded heads are slightly flattened, saturated purple, weighing up to 1.5 kg. Long shelf life, recommended for freezing.

"Gregor P3 F1"

A very productive hybrid. Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for personal plots.

Cauliflower "Gregor P3 F1"

The mass of a head of cabbage can reach up to 3 kg. heads unusual shape, excellent taste. Suitable for fresh consumption, good for cooking, suitable for freezing.

I have never grown cauliflower with orange heads, but I really want to try. This is my favorite hybrid.

Cheddar F1

Early ripe, characterized by a high content of carotene and excellent taste.

Cauliflower "Cheddar F1". Photo from nibler.ru

Weight of heads from 1 to 2 kg. Suitable for, good for fresh consumption.

Do you grow cauliflower? What hybrids or varieties do you particularly like?

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In terms of its nutritional properties, it surpasses even white cabbage. And how beautiful it looks in a salad bowl! It has a huge amount of useful substances, vitamins C, B1, B2, PP. If you don't tolerate well white cabbage due to high content fiber, then it's time to think about how to garden plot cauliflower settled. It is digested much faster and is considered a dietary vegetable. Boiled white heads, in soups and side dishes, in pickled form will be an excellent vitamin supplement to your table. The topic of our article today is planting cauliflower, so let's go directly to the agrotechnical subtleties.

Site preparation

Planting cauliflower is carried out on pre-prepared beds, while agricultural technology must comply with certain rules. In autumn, after the main crop is harvested, the soil begins to be prepared for spring sowing. To do this, it is loosened, removing weeds and insect larvae. Approximately two weeks later, fertilizers are applied to it - for one square meter leaves 5 kg of organic, 30 g of potassium and After fertilization, the bed is dug up on a spade bayonet and left to rest until spring.

With the onset of heat, the soil is loosened and urea is added - about 20 g per square meter. Do not forget: planting cauliflower is done in dense soil, that is, you do not need to re-dig it up. If you did not have time to dig up the ground in the fall, then you will have to do it in the spring, but then before planting it will have to be compacted, lightly tamped. This affects the quality of the heads: compliance with this rule is necessary for them to be dense and tasty.

Landing methods

Planting cauliflower is most often done in seedlings. However, today gardeners often resort to open sowing seeds in the ground. Do not forget that the maturation of the heads occurs quickly enough, and in order to harvest throughout the summer, the seeds can be sown in 3-4 terms with a break of 20 days. For the earliest planting, seedlings are grown in greenhouses and greenhouses, and summer and autumn crops are made directly into the ground. Do not forget that when the air temperature drops, the seedlings must be protected with a film.

There are a huge number of varieties on the market today. Early maturing plants are perfect for growing in protected ground. Until recently, good cauliflower was grown only in the south, but today it is available everywhere. But even in a greenhouse, if weather too cool, the heads may grow smaller than usual. Best managed mid-season color will let you take off early harvest, and sowing in the garden is also the second and third. Late varieties usually do not have time to ripen in cool climates.

Sowing seeds

The first task is to grow an early harvest for summer salads, in which cauliflower fits perfectly. Planting for seedlings is carried out in compliance with next rule. To get friendly shoots and healthy seedlings, you need to select only large seeds. Before sowing, the following procedure is performed: the seeds are wrapped in a cloth and dipped in hot water. It should not be heated to a boil, best option- 50 degrees. Now the activated seeds are cooled in cold water and soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for 8 hours.

This preparation ensures excellent germination. Seeds ready for planting are sown in special boxes. The soil can be any, but a mixture of peat and humus has proven itself best. In addition, 15 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate must be added to a bucket of soil mixture. In practice, cauliflower seeds are planted in the same way. On slightly moistened and compacted soil, grooves 0.5 mm deep are outlined, into which the seeds are laid out. They are covered with the same mixture and lightly covered with earth.

The optimum temperature for cabbage is +20 degrees. Under these conditions, seedlings will appear in about 4-5 days. The main danger lurks here: cabbage tends to quickly stretch, therefore, immediately after germination, the air temperature is reduced to +6 degrees. After about 5 days, it is raised to 15 degrees - this helps to acclimatize. The easiest way to fulfill this condition is if your seedlings are in pots, but planting cauliflower seeds in open ground leaves room for maneuver. The film covering the greenhouse is removed or slightly opened from one edge. In this way the temperature is regulated.

Growing seedlings

If you are growing seedlings, then you have to pick seedlings when they are 8-10 days old. Before the procedure, the soil should be slightly moistened. Remember that excessive moisture in pots leads to diseases of the seedlings. Immediately after picking, seedlings must be fed. It takes about 45-50 days to prepare seedlings. Bushes ready for planting must have at least 5 true leaves and a well-developed root system. Be sure to harden the seedlings, accustom them to the sun, cold and temperature changes. To do this, before planting, the seedlings begin to take out into the street or leave before open balcony. It is advisable for the last few days to completely identify the plants in the greenhouse. If it is cool outside at night, then the film can not be removed.

Cauliflower Planting Scheme

For planting plants in the ground, choose the evening or morning time. Usually seedlings are well watered the day before. In dry and hot weather, it does not take root well, so consider in advance how you can shade delicate plants. You can refuse artificial shading only three days after landing. Planting cauliflower in open ground is done in a certain order, earlier varieties can be planted closer, and later varieties further apart, since they are more bushy. Optimal location- 70 x 40 cm, thickening should not be done, as this affects the yield, good heads in this case you will not receive.

However, radishes, dill and lettuce can serve as a bed filler. Due to the fact that these plants ripen and harvest quickly, they will not harm the main planting. Seedlings of cauliflower are planted so as not to fill up the apical bud. earth around young plant well compacted, watered and covered with a layer of soil so that a crust does not form.

Seedless growing method: for which regions is it suitable

To begin with, it is worth noting that planting cauliflower in open ground has undeniable advantage. Overgrown seedlings reduce the yield and worsen, but you do not risk anything: the plants will develop as they should, in accordance with their biological clock.

Planting cauliflower seeds is best suited for dry, southern regions. But with the advent early ripe varieties this method is practiced by all gardeners, up to Siberia. in this case, it grows less branched, but penetrates deeper into the soil. Before sowing, markings are made directly on the bed with a distance between rows of 45-60 cm, depending on the characteristics of the variety or hybrid, as well as on the fertility of the soil. When the seedlings produce their first true leaves, thinning is necessary. 15 cm are left between plants in a row. When the seedlings release six true leaves each, thinning is repeated, and again an interval of 15 cm should remain between the plants. to another place.

Cauliflower: planting and care

Like the closest relatives of the culture, cauliflower is very moisture-loving. Optimal Humidity soil should be at least 70 percent, drying out is not allowed. This is especially important during the growing season. Even a slight drying of the soil can lead to the formation of a small head or even loss of the crop, as it quickly begins to bloom. It is very important to comply temperature regime. Gardeners emphasize that cauliflower is much more capricious than other varieties. Landing and care involve constant temperature control. Its prolonged decrease to + 10 degrees and below leads to a rapid transition to the flowering phase without the formation of a dense head.

Nutrition

As already mentioned, cauliflower is more demanding on the nutritional value of the soil than white cabbage. This should be known at the stage of growing seedlings. By the way, if you grow it in pots, then sowing can be done as early as February. Then in June you will already have cauliflower. Planting dates are greatly shifted if you plan to sow seeds directly into the ground. Then you need to wait until the end of April, and then, if you have a greenhouse. It can be sown in unprotected soil only in May, when the seedlings are not threatened by frost. In case of a strong drop in temperature, a covering material should be used. Planting cauliflower seeds implies regular top dressing, only in this case a good harvest can be expected.

First dressing

Ten days after picking, it is necessary to feed. Planting cauliflower in the ground involves the introduction of organic matter after the first thinning. The optimal solution for this is mullein or a mixture of 20 g ammonium nitrate, 20 g superphosphate and 10 g potash fertilizer. Consumption - approximately 10 liters per square meter. The tasks of the first feeding are to optimize the growth and development of the plant.

Second and subsequent top dressing

Feeding should be repeated after about two weeks. Planting cauliflower seedlings in open ground is also accompanied by a second fertilization (the first was already done during picking). The composition of the nutrient mixture may vary depending on the preferences of the gardener. The best is mullein infusion or chicken manure- 0.5 liters per 10 liters of water. In addition, you can purchase any concentrated bovine extract or

Diseases and pests

Pests include aphids and cabbage butterfly. Get rid of them by mechanical assembly or processing chemicals. But remember that cabbage absorbs absolutely everything that gets on it. In early spring you need to treat the planting with antifungal drugs. Phytobacteria and fungi can severely spoil or completely destroy your crop. Due to susceptibility to cauliflower various diseases many fall away from it healthy vegetable, but in vain, because high-quality, modern drugs allow these problems to be solved.

Harvesting cauliflower

It begins in July - early varieties are harvested at this time. The latest, ripen in August - September. When harvesting, one must be guided by the size and density of the head. In addition, if the head turns white, this also indicates its ripeness. Most often, as soon as the fork reaches a diameter of 8 cm, it is time to cut it. Overripe is bad for palatability. If the head begins to crumble, this is also a signal for immediate cutting. Cabbage can be pickled, and it will be stored in the refrigerator for a long time as cooked. It is delicious and healthy dish will provide the body with vitamins and pleasantly diversify the menu.

Many in our time, having a dacha, try to grow as many vegetables as possible in the garden, so as not to buy them in the market or in the supermarket, but to use organic products. In this article, we will look at one of them - cauliflower.

Botanical characteristic

Before we start talking about how to properly grow cauliflower, let's look at its place in the systematics and distinctive features. According to the scientific classification, this vegetable belongs to the Cruciferous (Cabbage) family, which, in turn, is included in the Dicotyledonous class, belonging to the Angiosperms (Flowers) department. All cruciferous plants have a fruit in the form of a pod or pod, the type of their inflorescence is called a brush. However, it is not the fruits of plants of this group that are most often eaten, but their leaves (as is the case with the vegetable in question). Cauliflower, the photo of which is given above, is one of the varieties of the Garden Cabbage species. It also includes many other varieties, such as, for example, "Romanesco".

How to grow cabbage from seeds?

First you need to select them. Before buying cauliflower seeds (in principle, like any other plant), you must Special attention for packaging. First, there should be no damage on it. It cannot be raw, too dented, etc. - this indicates that these seeds were not stored properly, which will significantly reduce the chances of their growth. Next, you need to pay attention to the fact that the place and time of packing must be indicated. Seeds of cauliflower can be stored without losing their qualities for three years. If the date on the package is too old, they are unlikely to germinate. We examined how to choose seeds, now let's talk directly about how to grow cauliflower from them. They are sown in specially prepared containers (pots, boxes or something similar), you can also germinate them in a greenhouse. Outdoors, cauliflower seeds will not sprout well, and the harvest will be late. Planting them in pots must be done in March, if it is planned to use a greenhouse, then this can be done in April. If you need to get a crop in the fall, then you can sow the seeds in open ground. However, it is advisable to do this between the end of May and the beginning of June. Before the procedure for planting seeds, you must first soak them for half an hour in warm water(40-50 degrees), then cool in cold and leave for eight hours in a solution of potassium permanganate. Small pebbles should be placed at the bottom of the prepared container as drainage. The composition of the soil should be as follows: for 3 kg of peat, 1 kg of humus. You can also add sulfate fertilizers to it so that the plants develop faster. Cabbage seedlings grown at home or greenhouse conditions, will be ready in 35-40 days after planting the seeds. To find out if the plants are ready for transplanting into the ground, just look at them - they must have at least four well-developed leaves, even better if there are six.

Next stage

Continuing the topic of how to grow cauliflower, let's talk about planting finished seedlings into the ground. Before this, it is necessary to first prepare the soil - it needs to be dug up, enriched with humus (1 bucket per 1 sq. M) and fertilizers, preferably sulfate. To plant a seedling, you need to dig a shallow hole (about 15 cm deep, 20 wide and 70 cm long). Fall asleep at its bottom a small amount of humus, wood ash, pour a liter of potassium permanganate solution. You need to place the plant in the hole at such a depth that its first leaf is at ground level. This procedure should not be carried out scorching sun- it is better to choose a cloudy day or evening time of the day.

The third stage - further care

To understand how to grow cauliflower, it is not enough to know only about seeds and planting seedlings. It is also necessary to take care of the plants in the future.

Watering

This is perhaps the most important procedure required for the proper development of plants. In sultry summer days they often lack moisture, as it can rain very rarely at this time of the year. Watering should be done when you see that the soil around the plants is very dry. It is also important not to overdo it here - do not do this too often.

top dressing

This is an equally important component of plant care. Speaking about how to grow cauliflower, it is impossible not to mention fertilizers. There are several options for mixtures to add to the soil. It is advisable to alternate mineral and organic fertilizers. As the latter, bird or cow droppings can serve. The first must be diluted in proportions of 1:20, the second - 1:15. Of the mineral fertilizers, as mentioned above, it is more efficient to use sulfate, but phosphorus will also be quite useful. They can be added to the water during watering.

Diseases of cauliflower

This plant, like any other, can be subjected to this or that disease, which must be dealt with as quickly as possible. Powdery mildew is the most common. This disease is caused by a fungus of the genus Erysiphe. Its various species can affect almost all varieties of plants. This disease manifests itself in a white powdery coating on the leaves, mainly on their upper side. As a result, the parts of the plant affected by the fungus acquire Brown color gradually withering and dying. To combat it, special chemicals containing sulfur are best suited - they can be purchased at garden stores. There is also such a disease as downy mildew. To combat it, drugs containing copper are used. Another disease is cabbage mosaic. The main symptoms: lightening of the veins, the appearance of a dark green contour around them, the gradual deformation of the leaves. It is necessary to fight the mosaic first of all by eliminating the carriers of the virus - aphids. In addition, do not forget about pests such as cabbage butterflies, slugs, bears, cabbage moths, etc. Spraying plants with insecticides helps in the fight against them.

The final stage in the development of cabbage

Cauliflower begins to ripen when its head already consists of 15-20 leaves. Then the plant begins to form a head of inflorescences. To prevent premature flowering and shedding, you can break a few leaves, shading the head of the plant with them.

Useful properties of cauliflower

First of all, they are high in fiber, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Cauliflower is easily and quickly absorbed by the body and is almost twice as large as white cabbage in terms of the amount of nutrients. It contains vitamins such as PP, C, B1, B2.

This vegetable has the ability to remove toxins and carcinogens from the body. It is also useful for those who suffer from diabetes, diseases of the cardiovascular system. Cauliflower contains a fairly large amount of folic acid (vitamin B9), which is very important for proper cell division. Sufficient intake of this substance is especially important for pregnant women and children. Cauliflower as a low-calorie and cleansing product can help fight obesity.