Seasonal open ground vegetables are distinguished by their delicate taste and extraordinary aroma, and in terms of the content of proteins, vitamins, and other useful compounds are able to give odds to most greenhouse relatives. How to grow cauliflower in the garden so that you can pamper your family with delicious inflorescences all summer? The agricultural technology of the crop is similar to other types of cabbage, but in order to get a good harvest, you need to know many subtleties and secrets of cultivation.

Colored beauty

Biological features of culture

Of all the types of garden cabbage, cauliflower is the most delicious, nutritious, healthy, dietary, and nature is not deprived of beauty. Why not the queen! Cultivation of cauliflower began in Russia in the times of Catherine and just from aristocratic gardens. And the plant itself has a capricious character; not everyone can cultivate it.

To understand how to grow high-quality cauliflower, we suggest understanding some biological features cultures and the subtleties of agricultural technology arising from them.

1. The plant has a one-year growing season. The product head, which is a crowded flowering shoot, if not cut off on time, will bloom and produce seeds in the same season.
2. Unlike the white cabbage variety, it has a weak root system fibrous type. This determines increased requirements for the structure and mechanical composition of the soil and affects the type of moisture – mainly surface.
3. Thermophilia is another characteristic. Seedlings grown in the cold are likely to shoot and not set a food head.
4. This type of cabbage has a very narrow range of temperatures at which normal development of a head of cabbage is possible - not lower than 10⁰ C and not higher than 25⁰ C. With prolonged cold weather, the heads grow small, coarse-fiber, and in hot weather - loose.
5. In relation to light, the plant is quite contradictory. In long day conditions, the head ties faster; in shorter daylight hours, it grows larger and denser. Therefore, the crop likes to grow in a well-lit garden bed, but to plant and grow the bud in the shade. Most often it has to be created artificially.
6. The production organs of most types of cabbage are overgrown leaves, so they need nitrogen to grow biomass. The head of cauliflower is a modified flower shoot and for development it requires phosphorus and potassium, as well as trace elements - boron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum. In agricultural technology, this was reflected in the composition and regime of fertilizing.

This is interesting! Truly “colored” varieties are no less useful. The orange hybrid Chedar F1 has 25 times more vitamin A than its white relative. Violet Rosalind, Lilac Ball contains anthocyanins. Green Universal and Shannon are leaders in antioxidant content.

Subtleties of growing seedlings

Growing cauliflower for seedlings from seeds is an essential element of agricultural technology.

Having determined the need for the number of seedlings, prepare the appropriate number of individual planting containers. Due to the characteristics of the root system, cauliflower does not like diving and takes a long time to take root after transplantation. It is better if you sow it in peat pots, disposable plastic cups, cassettes. The planting mixture is prepared from humus and peat in equal proportions; you can add rotted sawdust, river sand or perlite.

Untreated seeds must be prepared for sowing. To protect seedlings from root rot and fungal infections, thermal treatment is carried out seed material. For 20 minutes the seeds are immersed in weak solution manganese, heated to 50–55⁰ C, then washed cold water, dried.

Deadlines

When to sow cauliflower seedlings depends on the climatic characteristics of the region and your desire to have a valuable product throughout the summer (autumn). The head of the inflorescence grows quite quickly and if it is not cut off in time, it becomes overripe, disintegrates, and loses its taste. Therefore, it is practiced to sow seeds for seedlings in small portions with an interval of 2–3 weeks.

• March 15–20 – seedlings are planted in early May; the harvest will be ready in June.
• From April 1 to April 10 – open ground– after May 20, the heads will ripen by mid-summer.
• April 25 – May 10 – on permanent place We plant from June 10, the cabbage will be ready for August harvesting for the winter.
• The first ten days of June are for the autumn harvest.

For this type of planting mode, they are best suited early ripening varieties. The second option is to cultivate 2-3 varieties with different ripening periods.

Sowing and care

Unlike white cabbage, cauliflower seedlings are kept at higher temperatures; at home, this can be not only a greenhouse, but also any heated room.

Before planting, the soil is moistened, 1–3 seeds are placed in each container to a depth of 1.5 cm, covered with a dry substrate, and a greenhouse effect is created using polyethylene. The seeds will remain in this form until they hatch. The optimal temperature range from sowing to germination is 20–22⁰, after germination – 17–18⁰ heat.

Before reaching the age of 45–55 days, the seedlings are watered, loosened, and the strongest seedlings are selected. Planted when the plant has formed 4-5 true leaves. Early seedlings Before planting in a permanent place, it must be hardened for 3–4 days. To do this, they take it outside, gradually lowering the temperature - first at noon, then in the morning, and finally leaving it overnight.

Cultivation in the garden

Preparation for growing cauliflower in open ground begins long before planting the seedlings. The stages and techniques of agricultural technology are traditional for vegetable growing - watering, loosening, fertilizing. A special story is caring for the maturing head.

Soil preparation

To form a harvest, all cabbage plants prefer loamy and chernozem soils, require a lot of nutrition, primarily nitrogen. It is better to add it in organic form - in the form of manure, humus. For autumn cultivation of the land, organic matter is added at least 5 kg/m².

In the spring, for each square meter of area allocated for cauliflower, add 25–30 g of superphosphate and 20–30 g of potassium salt. Instead, you can take complete fertilizers such as nitrophoska, ammophoska at the rate of 100 g/m².

When planting cauliflower in open ground, add a handful of humus and wood ash to the hole.

Note! Although cauliflower is not as demanding on nitrogen compared to white cabbage, initial stage it is necessary for the growing season. To produce a high-quality head, the plant must form up to 20 fairly large leaves.

Transplanting

Before planting cauliflower, holes are made in the garden bed at intervals of 35–40 cm in rows and 50–60 cm between rows. The soil is watered generously until it becomes muddy. A seedling with a lump of seedling substrate is buried down to the cotyledon leaves, but care is taken not to cover the heart (growth point). The hole around the plant is mulched with dry soil or a nutrient mixture based on peat and humus.

It is better to plant seedlings on a cloudy day. If the weather is sunny, shade the bed for several days with any covering material or cover each plant with a cap made of paper or plastic. Water every evening until rooting.

Important! It’s hard to say what causes this, but white cabbage and cauliflower like to have the soil around the root pressed down well when planting. This makes the head larger and denser.

Watering

Vegetable crops have special requirements for moisture and nutrition, but do not tolerate waterlogging. Cauliflower, immediately after planting in the garden, likes the seedlings to receive daily portions of water; after rooting, watering is gradually reduced to 1-2 times a week.

From the moment the ovary appears, make sure that the soil does not dry out. In dry weather, they again switch to frequent, sometimes daily watering. But it is not recommended to flood the bed, just wet it upper layer land. To reduce the temperature during hot hours, spraying the leaf area with water is practiced. Good way retain moisture - mulch the rows with mown grass, rotted sawdust, and other organic matter.

In order for the plant to form additional roots and be more stable, the cabbage needs to be hilled.

Important! When growing cauliflower seedlings, the plant must not be allowed to stop growing, otherwise the ovary grows slowly and becomes coarser. And this is achieved precisely by timely watering and fertilizing.

Feeding

An effective means of increasing the yield and quality of inflorescences is fertilizing. You need at least 3 of them per season.

• 10–12 days after rooting of seedlings. Emphasis on nitrogen to increase leaf mass. You can pour mullein solution in a ratio of 1:10 or use complex mineral fertilizers of about 100 g per bucket of water or according to the instructions.
• After two weeks, a second portion of food is given. Add 30–40 g of ash to the above dosage. Additional potassium promotes the formation of flower shoots and is an immunomodulator.
• At the beginning of the formation of the head, a third feeding is carried out. At this time, it is desirable to enrich the soil not only with macro-, but also with microelements. The best option is garden mixtures such as Agricola, Clean Leaf, Fertika Universal-2, Tseovit Multi Cabbage.

Caring for unblown inflorescences

When planting cauliflower, be prepared for the fact that at the time the ovary forms, the plant needs special attention to the nuances of cultivation and care.

The heads are afraid of direct contact with irrigation or rain water, open sunlight, so do not miss the moment when their diameter reaches 5–7 cm. The flowering shoot must be covered by breaking two or three nearest leaves. The lacy shadow creates the appearance of a shortened daylight hours, and the ikochan grows larger, more elastic, and snow-white.

On a note! A good article about cauliflower - “Guarantee of a good cauliflower harvest” (personal experience of our reader)

Features of harvesting

Cauliflower is cut when the head reaches a weight of 1.5–2 kg, while remaining gathered into a tight ball. If you miss the moment, the inflorescence will disintegrate and proceed to flowering and fruiting.

Late varieties that have formed a bud, but did not have time to produce a harvest before the onset of frost, can be grown. The plant, dug up by the roots, is lowered into the basement, and the root is dug in. Due to the outflow of nutrients from the stem and leaves, the food organ noticeably increases in size.

Cauliflower requires sunlight

Temperature. To ripen and achieve technical ripeness of the cauliflower crop, at least 120-160 warm days are needed, depending on the variety. It would seem summer period middle zone for this it is quite enough. But the difficulty of growing this type of cabbage is that it reacts very sensitively to temperature fluctuations, so a lot of effort is required to protect the plantings during cold spells and shade the beds from the scorching sun.

Landing place. Cauliflower is demanding of sunlight. Good, dense heads are tied only when grown in open, maximally illuminated areas. Even close proximity to tall garden crops may negatively affect the quality of the crop.

Advice! Towards the middle of summer, when the inflorescences begin to form and ripen, break the top leaves of the head of cabbage and “shade” the head with them - this way it will remain white, will not turn yellow and will not crumble.

The best predecessors of cauliflower: potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, as well as peas and other legumes. Do not plant it after “related” crops, such as radishes, turnips, radishes and other types of cabbage, after which pathogenic bacteria and fungal spores may remain in the soil.

The soil. Heavy, clayey or poor soils are not suitable for growing cauliflower. These plantings produce crops on sandy loam garden soil, sufficiently drained with good circulation of moisture and air. To improve the nutritional value of cabbage beds, it is better to use organic fertilizers: rotted manure or mullein, humus, compost mass, non-acidic peat.

Video tips for growing

Humidity. Regular watering of cauliflower plantings is necessary, especially in the first stages of cultivation. But at the same time, stagnation of water in the soil is often the main cause of the development of fungal diseases, so the frequency and volume of watering are set depending on weather conditions and the amount of precipitation. As a rule, in the second half of summer, when the crop is ripening, cabbage is no longer watered.

Cauliflower plantings require regular fertilizing for full development and high-quality ripening of the crop. A fairly long growing season gradually depletes the soil, and the crop at different stages requires additional micro-macroelements.

If you doubt the nutritional value of the soil, then it would not be a bad idea to feed the cauliflower a third time.

The first feeding is carried out approximately ten days after planting the seedlings or by the time the rosettes have 5-6 true leaves. To do this, use liquid organic matter - an infusion of mullein, bird droppings or herbal infusion added to the water for irrigation in appropriate dosages.

Two weeks later, a second feeding is carried out, with the addition of mineral fertilizers: infusion of wood ash, bone meal or a ready-made complex preparation - nitroammophoska.

If you doubt the nutritional value of the soil, then it would not be amiss to feed the cauliflower a third time, at the beginning of the formation of the head.

Video about planting cabbage and care

Growing most varieties of cauliflower is often complicated by the fact that the quality of the future harvest is negatively affected by temperature fluctuations. Possible cold snaps below 10°C and hot weather when the air warms up above 26-28°C are both bad for it. During such periods, the growth and development of plantings is inhibited, and the density and taste of the emerging heads deteriorate.

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out approximately a month before the expected planting date.

Based on this, and also taking into account the weather characteristics of a particular region, various methods growing cauliflower - through seedlings, sowing in open ground or planting under temporary shelter. Let's look at the advantages and difficulties of each of them.

• Seedling method

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out approximately a month before the expected planting date, usually from the end of March to mid-April. Seeds are sown in loose, moist and nutritious soil in separate cups or in a common container, deepening them to about 1-1.5 cm. The crops are covered with a piece of glass or film and placed in a warm place for germination. After the seedlings emerge, the shelter is removed and the container is transferred to the windowsill, providing the rosettes with maximum illumination. Caring for growing seedlings consists of timely watering and spraying, and a week before planting they begin to harden off.

When the rosettes form 4-6 true leaves and the positive average daily temperature is not lower than 12°C, the cabbage is planted in open ground according to a pattern of 70 cm between rows and about 30 cm between holes.

This method of growing cauliflower, although quite troublesome, is very effective. There is no other way to grow cauliflower and get a good harvest in temperate weather conditions. But in the southern regions, where summer warmth comes already at the beginning of May, there is no need for seedlings and cabbage is sown immediately in the beds.

Video about planting and growing

• Sowing seeds in open ground

The advantages of this method, compared to seedlings, are obvious:

• it is less labor intensive;
• plants immediately receive enough sunlight and do not stretch;
• rosettes do not require replanting, which inhibits their growth and development for some period.

As soon as the weather settles and the threat of return frosts has passed, begin sowing cauliflower. The most rational placement scheme is double rows of plantings with wide row spacing for ease of care. Leave 25 cm between plants for early and early ripening varieties and 40 cm for heads of cabbage late date maturation. Usually 2-3 seeds are sown in each hole, and after germination one of the strongest and most promising plants is left. Further care for planting the same - watering, fertilizing and timely removal of weeds.

Cauliflower, like white cabbage, plant seedlings. Before planting, it is useful for beginners in this matter to familiarize themselves with the nuances of its cultivation. One of the issues of the “Encyclopedia of Country Life” talks in detail about how to grow cauliflower seedlings at home. Let's take notes on this information. I'm sure it will be useful not only for us

In boxes and greenhouses for growing seedlings, the soil is prepared in the same way as for white cabbage. The beds on the site are prepared in the fall (dig up, fertilize, lime).

Seeds must be prepared for planting: disinfected and pickled. The reference book provides the following method for preparing seeds:

• Take dry seeds from the bag and immerse them in hot water at a temperature of approximately 50 degrees for 15 minutes.
• After 15 minutes, remove and place in cold water for 1 minute.
• Another option: keep the seeds in potassium permanganate. But many believe that this is already the last century.
• After treatment in hot and cold water, the planting material is immersed in a solution of microelements for half a day.
• The seeds are then washed in clean water and put it in the refrigerator for another day.
• All that remains is to dry the seeds so that they do not stick to your fingers.
• Now you can sow.

Sow seeds for seedlings in rows. It is recommended to maintain a distance between rows of 3 cm. Sowing depth is 1 cm. The distance between plants is approximately 1 cm.

When to plant cauliflower seedlings?

Many summer residents in matters of planting are accustomed to relying on the data of the lunar or sowing calendar. They can be found in reference books or on the Internet.

It is also logical to use the information indicated on the packaging of the seeds. Depending on the variety, recommendations, when to plant cauliflower seedlings, may differ.

As a rule, seeds for seedlings early varieties It is recommended to sow cauliflower from March 5 to March 10. Late - from March 10 to 20 or in April directly into the ground, but under the film. At temperatures already +2, +5 degrees, seeds can germinate.

Once the seedlings appear, special attention is paid to the air temperature: if it exceeds 20 degrees, there is a risk that the plant will form a dwarf head. A dwarf head will also appear ahead of time if the seedlings lack moisture and light.

In the magazine “Country Club” we came across the following table for the timing of sowing cauliflower seeds for seedlings, depending on the variety:

Picking

Seedlings are picked as needed, already on the 9th day after emergence. Before picking, the plants are watered with a solution of potassium permanganate. The picked seedlings are buried in the soil up to the cotyledon leaves in cubes of 6x6 or 8x8 cm.

Caring for seedlings: fertilizing, watering, hardening

For the first time, foliar feeding of cauliflower seedlings is carried out in the phase of 2 true leaves. Prepare the solution as follows:

• Dissolve half a tablet of microelements or half a teaspoon of complex fertilizers with microelements in a liter of water.

The prepared solution is sprayed onto the seedlings.

Water the sprouts with water at room temperature regularly as the soil dries. Once every 2-3 days is enough. Watering is stopped completely 1 week before planting seedlings in open ground. But immediately before planting (2 hours), cauliflower seedlings are watered abundantly.

Important! Excessive watering of seedlings can cause blackleg disease in young plants.

Before planting seedlings in open ground, they are hardened off and fed a second time. For hardening, the seedlings are taken out to the balcony or the greenhouse is ventilated if they are growing there.

The second foliar feeding is carried out as follows: urea (1 tbsp) and potassium sulfate (also 1 tbsp) are dissolved in 10 liters of water. The resulting solution is sprayed onto the plants. Solution consumption: 1 glass per plant.

Planting in open ground

Early varieties of cauliflower begin to be planted in open ground in early May (before the 15th), late varieties - from May 10 to 20.

Important! In central Russia, as a rule, only early varieties ripen well. Weather conditions can have an unfavorable effect on young seedlings planted in open ground. If there is little sun and it is cool, the cabbage may go into decline (after a month).

Planting pattern: 50X25 cm.

After planting, the plants are covered with film.

Cauliflower, like its white cabbage sister, loves water, especially in the first period after planting in the ground. Without moisture, plants develop poorly and do not grow. The reference book recommends paying special attention to watering. There are no sharp differences in growing white cabbage and cauliflower. They are very similar.

Sowing cauliflower for seedlings: video

In one of the videos on Youtube, the author explains and shows in detail about sowing cauliflower seedlings at home. We are also talking about tomatoes and eggplants. Specifically about cauliflower, you need to watch from the 2nd minute (or rather, 2 minutes 14 seconds).

Video: planting seedlings in open ground

Another helpful video is about growing cauliflower. This time we are talking about planting seedlings that were grown at home in open ground.

Cauliflower: our photos

And this is the cauliflower that grew in our dacha last summer:

Grandma Lucy's favorite vegetable. The rest of the household, by the way, doesn’t really like the taste of cauliflower. Apparently not for everyone

Have you already tried to grow cauliflower in your summer cottage? We will be glad to share your experience in the comments!

How to grow cauliflower: secrets of a good harvest

Best way to grow cauliflower seedling method because of her fastidiousness: she is much more thermophilic than her white-headed sister. Harvesting a good harvest of cauliflower is not difficult if you follow a certain growing technology.

Cauliflower sowing periods

For good growth, cauliflower requires an air temperature of +18°C. It is not easy to maintain a constantly specified temperature in the room, so it is recommended to sow cabbage seeds in greenhouses 45–55 days before transplanting the seedlings into the soil. The growing season is approximately 100 days.

• Early - want to eat early cauliflower at the beginning of the second summer month, then plant your favorite vegetable in early March.
• Mid-season - sown in late April-early May in a greenhouse. The growing season is 120 days.

If you don't have a greenhouse, use following method: Place wet soil on the edge of the polyethylene (20x12 cm), roll it into a tube and put an elastic band on it so that it does not unwind. The seeds are sown directly into the prepared soil. The resulting structure is placed in a well-lit place. After two or three leaves appear, the sprouts are planted in the ground and covered with film.

It is better not to sow early cabbage at once, but rather sow the seeds every 10-15 days. This way you will receive fresh vegetables regularly. Try to sow cabbage with different ripening periods at the same time, or sow only part of the cabbage seeds, and sow the second part directly into the black soil in May.

There are many ways to sow cauliflower for seedlings, but all methods have one requirement - excess water must be removed to prevent root rotting.

Sowing cauliflower seedlings

Before sowing, cauliflower seeds are disinfected. Immerse them in water heated to 52-53 for 15-20 minutes.

Grown cabbage seedlings are planted in a greenhouse. It does not tolerate frost and even an air temperature of -1 degree will destroy tender sprouts. If you do not have a greenhouse or greenhouse, then either wait until the frost has passed or cover the cabbage seedlings immediately after planting.

Seedlings that have reached a height of 12-15 cm (4-6 true leaves) are planted. Throw away diseased seedlings. You should be wary of long seedlings, a plant with a dried out or blackened stem. This indicates blackleg disease.

To avoid such situations, seedlings must be planted on time and not watered too much. Excess moisture- the main cause of root rot. It is better to throw away seedlings with thickened roots. This is a manifestation of clubroot.

Planting cauliflower seedlings

You can grow healthy cauliflower if you follow a certain procedure:

• Planting is done in pre-prepared holes filled with water with the addition of calcium nitrate (1 dessert spoon);
• The plant should be planted so that lower leaves were immersed in the ground, and the first two leaves of cabbage lay on the soil, partially covered with earth. After a few days it must be removed. If this is not done, the seedlings may lose leaves when transplanted. When planting an overgrown plant, tear off a few of the lower leaves;
• Seedlings are planted in the late afternoon, when there is no bright sun, but to be on the safe side, it is better to shade the sprouts with caps made of newspapers;
• Careful watering and fertilization is mandatory to obtain a good harvest.

Fertilizing cauliflower seedlings

Before planting seedlings, the black soil is well fertilized. Feeding cauliflower with fresh manure is prohibited. Don't overdo it with nitrogen-containing fertilizers either. You need to start fertilizing immediately after the first leaf appears. This fact will indicate complete survival of the plant.

Fertilizers should be applied according to the following scheme:

• Apply complementary foods every two weeks, alternating organic (tincture of manure, chicken manure, weeds, humate) and mineral fertilizers. Any mineral subcortex is suitable mineral mixture containing nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium. Pour half a liter of the prepared fertilizer solution under the very root of the seedling;
• Before setting the head, cauliflower must be fed with microelements with the addition of boron and molybdenum (2 g per 10 liters of ready solution). You can also use fertilizers such as Uniflor-micro (Uniflor-bud) 2 teaspoons per bucket of fertilizer. They include a complete complex of all microelements and are perfectly absorbed thanks to their natural shell;
• Chernozem should always be alkaline (pH 6.5–7.5). Therefore, once every two to three weeks, half a liter of calcium nitrate solution is poured into the hole (3 tablespoons per 10 liters of water). It can be replaced with one glass of lime per 10 liters of water. If this is not done, the plant will be susceptible to a disease called clubroot. It is better to burn the infected plant and not plant cabbage in this place for 4 years.

Caring for cauliflower seedlings

How to effectively grow cauliflower seedlings at home, because they are so capricious? Let's look at the basic care requirements:

• Do not allow the seedlings to become overcooled (the temperature should not drop to +4-5°C), otherwise mature age her head will crumble early;
• You will get the same result when affecting seedlings elevated temperature air (+ 20°C);
• Do not allow the soil of the seedlings to dry out, as you will get small heads and even further application of fertilizers will not help them;
• In its adult state, cauliflower is resistant to temperatures dropping to –3–4°C, but still play it safe and cover it;
• The plant has a large number of leaves, but the head did not set before frost - grow it in a greenhouse (basement). Dig up the cabbage along with the soil. The heads that have begun to knot will grow to the right size thanks to the accumulated nutritional components in the leaves;
• Do not allow the head to outgrow. When it outgrows, it will break up into branches with flowers;
• To avoid blackening of the head, cover it with cabbage leaves. If you still haven’t had time to protect it from the sun’s rays, then you can refresh the head with regular water, to which you add citric acid(1 teaspoon per 1 liter of water);
• The reason for a bad head of cabbage is overgrown seedlings, insufficient watering, temperature changes, poor lighting;
• Cauliflower does not grow well in shade or partial shade. This plant loves the sun and grows well in a well-lit area of ​​land;
• Don’t make the mistake of not picking off the cabbage leaves for better ripening of the head. The result will be the opposite;
• Regularly control pests using the same means as cabbage.

As you can see, growing cauliflower is not that difficult, you just need to follow certain rules and put in a little effort. But as a result, you will get not only a tasty, but healthy vegetable.

How to grow cauliflower in open ground, seedlings, picking, care

How to grow cauliflower in open ground? This will not seem difficult to you if you know some of the nuances. Despite its somewhat exotic appearance, cauliflower is still cabbage, a relative of cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kohlrabi. It belongs to the cruciferous family. Cauliflower comes to our table all summer, starting in June. This is a very tasty dietary dish. Its use is especially important for stomach diseases, for baby food. Many gardeners complain that cauliflower does not grow. Yes, there are some peculiarities in growing cauliflower.

Cauliflower, photo

For a long time it was called Syrian because it originates from the Middle East. From there she went to Spain, then to Cyprus. For many centuries, Cyprus was the only source of cauliflower seeds. Thanks to this, he flourished, since seeds were very expensive then. It did not grow well in the climate of northern countries. It came to Russia only under Catherine II. Back then it was known as a vegetable for the rich and was rare.

Growing cauliflower, features

Compared to cabbage, cauliflower is more demanding of heat, moisture and soil fertility conditions, pH - no higher than 6.0. On light soils, organic matter must be added.

Where does cauliflower grow? A good harvest can be obtained on fertile, loose soil with a high humus content. You need to choose a well-lit area and monitor the soil reaction.

It tolerates fluctuations in temperature and humidity worse than cabbage cabbage. At temperatures above 25°C and poor watering, loose or small heads form. She is light-loving, prefers not shaded sunny areas. Even with partial shade (less than 6 hours of sun), the heads will form small or may not even set at all.

The rudiments of inflorescences are formed already when growing seedlings. The temperature regime is very important. If you keep the seedlings at temperatures above 20°C, the heads begin to form too early and they will be looser. If the temperature is about 10-12°C, then the growth of the heads is delayed, but they will be denser.

Cauliflower does not tolerate frost. This must be taken into account when choosing planting dates. In open ground it is grown both by seedlings and without seedlings. But still, growing through seedlings is preferable.

Typically, seeds are sown for seedlings in mid-February (in Kuban) or mid-March (middle zone). In open ground, seeds are sown in last days March – early April (in Kuban). Gardeners in central Russia grow it only through seedlings.

Planting cauliflower seeds for seedlings and care

Want to get early cauliflower? Seedlings should be planted in January to produce cabbage in June. When seeds are sown in January, the plants are ready to be planted in the ground in March.

To grow late cabbage, seeds for seedlings begin to be sown in April-May, and planted in a permanent place at the end of June. With such growing times, the harvest is harvested in September, but this depends on local conditions. Just take into account that the feeding area needs to be increased to 70×70 cm, since late varieties large and powerful plants are formed.

The basic technology for growing colored seedlings is the same as for white cabbage seedlings. But here we must take into account that when growing it, hardening of plants is used, because it is more delicate and by the time of planting it must be prepared for lower night temperatures.

How to do this at home? I will say right away that this is very difficult, if not impossible, to do. Still, I am against growing any cabbage seedlings at home. Increased (for cabbage) room temperature, flaw solar lighting promotes stretching and weakening of plants. If you can't keep it cool temperature regime- you will lose plants and be left without seedlings.

My hotbed

Don’t be afraid to sow cabbage seeds for seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse. If, nevertheless, the temperature in the greenhouse is below 10°C, then I advise you to pour nutrient soil V wooden box, sow the seeds, cover it with a double layer of film or spunbond until shoots appear.

How long does it take for cauliflower shoots to appear? The seeds should germinate in 7-10 days. After the emergence of seedlings, a kind of microgreenhouse should be built over the box, raising the film to a height of 30-35 cm with arcs or sticks. In this case, the seedlings should not touch the film. That is, in the greenhouse you will have a microgreenhouse with seedlings. In sunny weather, you can leave one layer of film over the box with seedlings or even remove it and ventilate it more often.

If the temperature in the greenhouse during the day is higher or equal to 13-14°C, and at night not lower than 10-12°C, then the box with seedlings can be left without additional covering.

Thus, cabbage seedlings should be grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse, but in warmer conditions than cabbage seedlings.

Picking cauliflower seedlings

Is it possible to pick cauliflower and when should it be done? Of course, just like any other seedling, it picks up.

When determining the timing of picking, I usually focus on the leaves. After the first two true leaves have appeared, and the 3rd or 4th are about to appear, it’s time to pick. I transplant the seedlings into cups. If you count the days, then usually 30 days after germination, the seedlings from the cups are planted in a permanent place and grow there until maturity.

Plant seedlings in open ground at a distance of 60-90 cm from each other. All brassica crops grow well in fairly fertile, well-drained, moist soils with plenty of added organic matter. Mulch will help keep the soil cool and moist.

If you do not have the opportunity to provide the necessary conditions for growing seedlings, then you will have to buy ready-made ones, better grown in greenhouses.

Feeding cauliflower

Cauliflower reacts poorly to a lack of boron and molybdenum. I save myself with Fertika Lux fertilizer (formerly Kemira Lux). I feed the seedlings twice and once or twice more in the open ground. The empty core of the stalk will tell you about a boron deficiency, and narrow leaves will tell you about a lack of molybdenum - there will be no lush plant. The head, naturally, will not grow the same way.

Features of watering

Like any cabbage, cauliflower really needs watering. But slugs love it, so excessive watering, especially at the end of the growing season, is not recommended.

After tying the head, it should not be watered by sprinkling or using a hose from above. Only at the root. When moisture gets on the inflorescences, it immediately causes a disease - mucous bacteriosis, which affects the junction of the petioles with the stalk. It is impossible to get rid of this disease. The harvest will be lost.

Harvest

After cutting off the heads, do not rush to pull the remains of the plant out of the ground. In about two weeks, side shoots will appear from the axils near the root collar. Leave the strongest shoot, break out the rest. In two months, a new head will grow, although smaller in size than the first. This will be the second harvest of cabbage from one plant. Don’t forget to water and hill it on time.

There are some methods for preserving the cauliflower harvest. There is a way to grow cabbage. You can dig it up by the roots and plant it in a box in a dark basement. You can dig up cabbage with an already formed head or one that has just begun to grow. Its quality only improves from this method of growing. She will gain weight, will be snow-white, and tasty.

Varieties to grow in the country

Now it's very big choice varieties and hybrids. For example, the hybrids Malimba F1 and Boldo F1 have proven themselves well for several years. These are very early hybrids. From planting seedlings to harvesting – 55-65 days. Head weight – from 1 to 2 kg.

One of the new varieties of cauliflower of domestic selection - Polar Star - is recommended for private farms. The variety is early ripening. Head weighing up to 1 kg. The taste is excellent.

Useful properties of cauliflower

Now this type of cabbage is not uncommon, but, nevertheless, we do not grow enough of it to satisfy the demand. Perhaps ignorance of other forms of cabbage, besides white cabbage, has led to the fact that cauliflower is not so popular in our country. But its beneficial qualities far exceed those of white cabbage.

It is one of the few plant foods that contains a lot of iron. Of course, there is less of it than in meat, but it is iron plant origin- it is better absorbed by our body. Vitamin PP protects our blood vessels from loss of elasticity. Vitamin K affects the clotting of our blood. And most importantly, it contains a complex substance called diindolylmethane, which suppresses the growth of prostate cancer cells in men.

Cauliflower is considered the healthiest of all cabbage varieties. In value it is close to chicken meat, not as rough as cabbage, easier to digest, less irritating to the mucous membrane, better absorbed by the body due to its cellular structure.

The head is used for food - these are shortened inflorescences located close to each other. Cauliflower is grown as annual plant. The stem height is 15-20 cm. It grows best where the climate is moderately warm and humid.

Thus, the peculiarity of growing cauliflower is more warm conditions for seedlings compared to white cabbage. They create the groundwork for the development of a large, dense head. Of course, the size, density of the head, and its whiteness also depend on the choice of variety or hybrid.

I hope we have answered the question of how to grow cauliflower in open ground.

Cauliflower seedlings: sowing and care

The general principle of preparing seeds, soil and growing cauliflower seedlings is the same as for white cabbage (see Sowing white cabbage and caring for seedlings). Only the following will be discussed in detail. individual characteristics agricultural technology of cauliflower.

Approximate age of cauliflower seedlings for central Russia:

• for early varieties and hybrids - 25-60 days,
• for mid-early - 35-40 days,
• for later ones - 30-35 days.

Sowing of seeds is carried out:

• early varieties and hybrids - from March 5 to March 30,
• mid-early - from April 10 to May 10,
• later - from May 25 to June 10.

Timing for planting seedlings in open ground:

• early varieties and hybrids - from April 25 to May 15,
• mid-early - from May 20 to June 15,
• late - from July 1 to July 10.

This age “dispersion” when growing seedlings of early varieties and hybrids is not accidental. To obtain the earliest finished product from the end of June or the first days of July in open ground, the maximum possible age of seedlings is required - 50-60 days. It is planted at the end of April, early May, often under temporary cover with film. For better survival, these seedlings are grown only in pots. Then comes the time for 40-45 day old cabbage seedlings, which take root more easily and can potentially produce more high yield. But to achieve maximum yield early ripening varieties and hybrids are possible only when planting 20-25 day old seedlings; here the largest high-quality heads are obtained.

Unlike white cabbage, cauliflower has a less developed root system. This cabbage is even more moisture-loving and demanding of soil fertility. The bulk of the roots are located in a soil layer of 25-40 cm. To grow seedlings, it is better to use the potting method without picking. However, it has been noticed that during early spring and spring planting, seedlings grown with and without picking subsequently produce almost the same yield. But when planting seedlings in the summer, the pot method without picking has a significant advantage, especially during dry periods. Plants take root better and develop a more powerful root that goes deep into the soil.

For spring-summer and summer-autumn crops with growing for winter, you can use the potless method of growing seedlings. For the Moscow region, the optimal sowing time is from the end of April to June. To grow for winter, crops are carried out in 2-3 stages from mid-June to July 10. For better survival, seedlings are planted at a younger age with 3-4 true leaves.

In the northern regions, due to the shorter warm period, it is more advisable to grow cauliflower seedlings that are older, 50-60 days old. In this case, the feeding area of ​​one plant should be slightly increased to 7x7 or 8x8 cm.

When growing seedlings, there should be no stoppages in growth, otherwise there is a danger of bolting. This is especially common in early cabbage when planting adult seedlings.

A seedless growing method for the south

For arid regions, the less common seedless growing method can be used. In this case, the root system is not so branched, but penetrates more deeply into the soil. Seeds are sown directly into the ground with a distance between rows of 45-60 cm, depending on the characteristics of the variety or hybrid and soil fertility. When the first two true leaves appear, thinning is carried out, leaving 10-15 cm between plants in a row. Final thinning is done in the phase of 5-6 leaves, leaving 15-20 cm between plants on highly fertile soils, 20-25 cm on less fertile soils. Thinning should be carried out with well-watered soil. If this activity is carried out carefully, the root system of the pulled out plants is quite well preserved and the best of them can be planted in the place of dead plants or in another plot.

Care during the growing period

Since cauliflower is a very moisture-loving plant, optimal humidity soil content throughout the entire growing period should be in the range of 70-85%. It is very important not to allow the soil to dry out during the seedling period, as this leads to the formation of a small head or even a complete loss of yield due to the rapid transition of plants to the flowering phase.

An equally important factor is compliance with temperature conditions. During the period of growing seedlings, the temperature should not be allowed to drop below +8 O C by long term, 10 or more days. Otherwise, a rapid transition of the plant to the flowering phase may occur, without the formation of a dense marketable head. Temperatures above +20 O C for 10 or more days, especially at night, provoke the elongation of seedlings and the formation of small, loose, quickly disintegrating heads.

The optimal temperature before emergence is +21. +23 o C, then +10 for 5 days. +12 o C. After the seedlings get stronger and become stocky, the temperature is gradually increased to +16. +18 о С in sunny weather and +13. +15 o C - on cloudy days. At night the temperature is maintained within +10. +12 o C.

As already mentioned, cauliflower is more demanding in terms of nutrition than white cabbage. This must be taken into account from the very beginning, i.e. at the stage of growing seedlings. If there is a lack of microelements during the seedling period (especially when grown in pots without picking), regardless of further growing conditions, cabbage forms ugly heads or does not form them at all. It is especially sensitive to the lack of boron and molybdenum.

With a lack of molybdenum, cabbage grows deformed leaves and does not proceed to the formation of a head.

With a lack of boron, glassy spots form on the heads, which become brown in color. Under these spots, voids soon form up to the stump, covered from the inside with a black crust.

To avoid such troubles, when the first true leaf appears on the seedlings, it is watered directly over the leaves with a complex fertilizer containing microelements.

Some literary sources say that when feeding cauliflower seedlings, the doses of mineral fertilizers per feeding are increased by 1.5 times compared to the doses for white cabbage seedlings. During the growing period (depending on age ready seedlings) she is given 2-3 feedings. Here I will take the liberty to disagree. To obtain more uniformly developed seedlings and plant tissues, it is still better to carry out 1-2 additional fertilizing with a solution of normal concentration, simply shortening the period of time between fertilizing slightly. For 30-day-old seedlings, 2 feedings are enough, for 35-40-day-old seedlings - 3, 45-50-day-old - 4, for 55-60-day-old - 5.

The first feeding is given 10 days after picking, or in the phase of the first two true leaves with a potless method of growing seedlings. The second and subsequent feedings are given at intervals of 10 days. Regardless of the age of the seedlings, final fertilizing is given 3-4 days before planting in open ground. It is best to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers with each other.

In addition to the main feedings, cabbage is given 3 foliar feedings with microelements. The first - in the phase of 1-2 true leaves, the second - in the phase of 5-6 true leaves and the third - when the cabbage forms a head the size of a walnut. Dilute 0.5 tablets of microelements or 0.5 tsp/l of complete fertilizer with microelements into 1 liter of water and spray the plants leaf by leaf. Depending on the age of the plants, the consumption of the working solution is 30-60 ml/m2 (3-6 l/area). You can use liquid microfertilizers for these purposes, for example, “Uniflor micro”, “MicroFe” or others. If during basic fertilizing you use complex fertilizers with microelements, then additional feeding with microelements need not be given.

First feeding.

For 10 liters of water: 10 g ammonium nitrate, 20 g superphosphate, 10 g potassium fertilizer. Consumption: 150-200 ml per pot, or 8-10 l/m2 with a potless growing method.

Second and subsequent feedings any of the following solutions:

• For 10 liters of water: 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 50 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium fertilizer.
• For 10 liters of water: 0.5 liters of mullein or chicken droppings.

Consumption: 150-200 ml per pot, or 8-10 l/m2 with a potless growing method.

In the absence of mullein and chicken droppings, you can buy dry granulated chicken droppings, liquid extract of cow manure “Biud”, or liquid extract in stores. horse manure“Biud”, “Bucephalus”, “Kaury”.

Feeding before planting seedlings: for 10 liters of water: 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 80 g of superphosphate, 20 g of potassium fertilizer.

If the seedlings are well developed, then you can give the following solution: 40 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium fertilizer per 10 liters of water.

Consumption: 150-200 ml per pot or 8-10 l/m2 with a potless growing method.

When growing seedlings using a potless method (for example, in seedling boxes without internal partitions between plants), the soil between plants is cut along and across the rows 3-5 days before planting. This technique, in combination with the above “feeding before planting seedlings,” promotes the formation of a branched root system.

1. Cabbage. // Book series"Homestead farming." M. "Rural Nov", 1998.

2. Matveev V.P., Rubtsov M.I. Vegetable growing. M.: Agropromizdat, 1985. 431 p.

3. Andreev Yu.M., Golik S.V. Growing cauliflower using growth regulators // Vegetable Grower Bulletin. 2011. No. 4. pp. 13-20.

www.greeninfo.ru

How to Grow Cauliflower in Containers, Pots (and Bags)

Cauliflower can be grown in containers from seeds. Like most cruciferous vegetables, cabbage likes cool weather and can be started 10 weeks before the expected first frost. Potted cauliflower will be the icing on the cake for your home garden by the end of the season. You can’t feed your family with cabbage from your balcony, but that’s not our goal, right? Let's enjoy gardening on the windowsill to the fullest!

Cauliflower in containers

We start by starting the seeds:

• The ideal temperature for the germination of healthy cauliflower seedlings is from 15 to 20°C.
• Seedlings are unpretentious to the soil; at this stage, only acidity (6.5-7) is important.
  Fill the seedling pots with soil and bury 4 seeds per centimeter. Can be covered with a cap if the temperature is below 15°C.
• The soil should always be moist, but not soggy. Moisten the surface with a spray bottle, this makes it easier to control soil moisture.
• Cabbage should germinate up to the first 4-5 leaves in a sunny place. Having reached 5 centimeters, seedlings can move to permanent containers.

Growing Cauliflower:

• The diameter of the pot should be from 30 cm per plant, the depth - from 20 cm. Drainage holes are required. You can also grow vegetables in garbage bags; the roots also breathe in them, you just have to be more careful with watering.
• The soil should be loose, well-drained, enriched with perlite and vermiculite, and slightly clayey. garden soil not the best option, but it can be mixed with peat and coconut coir and always with perlite. Simple land quickly sags in pots, the roots begin to rot.
• Cabbage needs up to 6 hours of sun per day. It does not tolerate drought - irrigate and keep the soil constantly lightly moist. The formation of pumpkins requires a lot of moisture.

Caring for cauliflower

• When the fork (head) grows to 5-8 cm in diameter, the leaves around the head need to be lifted and fastened above it so that the head does not dry out in the sun and remains white and fragrant.
• Loves cabbage very much compost fertilizers, humus, rotted manure.
• You can mulch the plant to retain moisture near the surface. Mulching at home can be done while asleep coffee grounds, straw. Mulching on open balconies will help preserve the roots during the first frost.

Harvesting cauliflower

Cabbage bears fruit constantly; within 3 months after planting you will collect the first harvest - heads from 15 cm in diameter. You need to cut the forks higher, leaving, if possible, leaves on the bush.

Cauliflower, care and cultivation

Cauliflower: care and cultivation in a greenhouse

Today, summer residents plant almost all vegetables in their gardens to please the family with variety and to collect fruits for canning. Growing cauliflower in open ground is becoming more popular than planting regular white cabbage. This is due to the amazing properties of this type of cabbage and the variety of beneficial substances contained in it. If you know how to properly care for seedlings in a greenhouse or at home, then you will be able to grow cabbage in the country with your own hands.

Rules for growing cauliflower in open ground

There are two main methods of growing cabbage: from seeds or seedlings. In this case, planting can be carried out in open ground or in a greenhouse. Before planting, make sure that there are suitable temperature conditions in the greenhouse or outside, within +15-+18 degrees, otherwise the cabbage heads will turn out small and lose their taste. Seedlings require careful care, as they do not tolerate frost well. Also dangerous for her heat air.

Cauliflower loves the sun, so you should choose sunny areas for planting it. Remember to protect the seedlings from the wind by shading them lightly with other plants. At the same time, make sure that the seedlings do not grow close to each other, otherwise the cabbage will grow in height, weaken and become less resistant to various diseases.

The ripening and formation of the cauliflower head directly depends on the length of daylight hours. With short daylight hours, the head will be denser, although the ripening of the cabbage will be slightly delayed. If you are growing cauliflower in a greenhouse, you can adjust the lighting time.

Planting cabbage seedlings

Unlike white cabbage, cauliflower is demanding on the soil, which must be non-acidic and at the same time fertile. To neutralize the acidity of the soil, it is first limed.

Before planting seedlings, add humus to the soil at the rate of up to 2 buckets per 1 sq.m of soil. According to reviews from gardeners, it is necessary to recharge and mineral fertilizers, for example, 2 tbsp nitrophoska per 1 sq. m plot. Particular attention should be paid to the soil when growing cauliflower from seeds.

Growing cauliflower on an industrial level

When to plant cauliflower seeds

At the beginning of March, gardeners recommend planting early varieties of cauliflower, and by the end of March you can start sowing later ones. This should be done at home to maintain a suitable temperature for the entrances. Already in April, you can sow seeds in the Moscow region directly into open ground, however, be sure to cover them with film to create a greenhouse effect. Remember that germination of cauliflower seeds occurs at a temperature of no less than +2 degrees.

Cauliflower planting technology

After germination, it is important to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse at about 10 degrees, otherwise poor care The head will begin to form immediately. Two weeks after germination, you can pick, then raise the temperature to +21 degrees for a couple of days and lower it again to +10-+17.

Do you want to harvest cauliflower for a long time? Then use proven technology: plant seedlings every few days. This will allow you to achieve different terms maturation of the heads.

How to plant cauliflower

Cauliflower seedlings are planted in open ground in early May, when weather conditions have stabilized. At the same time, make sure that it is more than +15 degrees outside, otherwise you will never achieve the appearance of cabbage heads, but will get an arrow with seeds.

Growing cauliflower for seeds

Now you know technology for growing cauliflower in open ground, as well as how to prepare the soil and care for seedlings in a greenhouse. Experiment with planting different varieties cauliflower and collect the ripened heads.

Modern gardeners are not afraid of experiments and take on growing a wide variety of crops. Thanks to this experience, many types of cabbage appeared on our plots, including cauliflower - the most beautiful and tasty of them.

It is rare that someone can get strong and dense white heads of cauliflower in the first experimental year. But you should not despair, because the first thing that affects future productivity is the quality of the seedlings. Buying it at finished form it is impossible to say with certainty from what seeds and in what conditions it was grown, what its varietal characteristics, and when to expect harvests. Therefore, only self-sowing and growing seedlings in compliance with all the rules and providing favorable conditions can predict the success of plantings.

Cauliflower prefers lungs fertile soils with good moisture and breathability

Depending on the timing of ripening, cauliflower varieties are divided into:

• Early - Movir 74, early Gribovskaya, Snowball, Express and hybrids Malimba F1 and Boldo F1. The first harvest from such plantings can be obtained already 55-65 days after planting.
• Medium - Pioneer, Bravo, Mid-season Fargot, White beauty, Flora Blanca, the first heads of which can be cut already three months after sowing the seeds.
• Late-ripening - hybrids Cortez F1 and Amerigo F1, reaching ripeness by 75-80 days from the time of planting in the beds.

In our latitudes, growing early varieties is considered the most successful, since one of the main conditions for the successful formation and density of inflorescences is warm, but not hot, weather and sufficient humidity during the growth period. After the seeds are selected, we move on to the next important issue - we determine the timing and prepare sowing.

Video about caring for cauliflower

For work we will need:

• soil mixture;
• peat pots, seedling trays or other shallow container;
• wooden stick;
• sprayer and watering can for watering and moistening;
• fungicides;
• complex fertilizers.

First of all, let's deal with the soil. If you do not have the opportunity to prepare the mixture yourself, purchased substrates for seedlings will do. But it’s still better to prepare the soil yourself - it’s more economical, and you’ll be confident in its quality. Cauliflower prefers light, fertile soils with good moisture and breathability. If your garden soil meets these requirements, then it can only be slightly drained by adding coarse sand and fertilized with nitroammophos (1 tbsp per bucket of soil). Also good option there will be a mixture of humus and non-acidic peat. It is very useful to add wood ash, which is not only an excellent fertilizer, but also stops the development of fungal infections.

Before sowing, it is recommended to disinfect the soil to remove fungal spores, pathogenic bacteria and possible pest larvae. The easiest way to do this is by heating the soil in the oven or by spilling it hot water with the addition of potassium permanganate. You can prepare the soil in this way in advance, but you need to calculate the sowing more precisely, so that by the time of planting the seedlings have gained enough strength, but in no case outgrow it.

Taking into account the climatic characteristics of each specific region, we calculate the optimal period.

And to get the harvest all season long experienced gardeners Seedlings are sown in several stages, using varieties of different ripening periods.

Preliminary preparation of seeds consists of stimulating their vital activity and disinfecting them. The seed placed in a linen napkin is kept for about half an hour in hot water(not higher than 50), after which they are quickly cooled under a cold stream. And for disinfection you can use the same potassium permanganate or a solution of fungicides. Before sowing, the seeds are slightly dried on paper so that they do not stick to the fingers.

While the seeds are preparing, let's take care of the containers. After checking for drainage holes, fill the boxes or pots with soil, leaving 1-1.5 cm to the edge. Lightly compact the soil and mark out the planting pattern. To do this, it is best to use a wooden stick, making grooves 0.5-0.7 cm deep and a distance between them of 3 cm. Seeds are sown at intervals of at least 1.5 cm, as denser sowing will make picking difficult.

After sowing, the soil in the pots is slightly moistened with a spray bottle, everything is covered with plastic film or a piece of glass to create “greenhouse” conditions, and placed in a warm place until shoots appear. Cauliflower germinates quite quickly and the first green sprouts will appear within 3-5 days. Now it’s time to remove the film and move the boxes to a cool place (no higher than 10°C) and closer to the light - to the windowsill. Such changes will stop growth and the seedlings will not stretch. After 4-5 days, the temperature should be increased to 13-15°C.

Future inflorescences are formed by seedlings - if they are kept at temperatures above 20°C, then the heads will be too early and loose, but growing in cooler conditions ensures better density and quality of inflorescences.

If it is not possible to provide the required temperature conditions in living rooms, then it is better to take the seedlings out onto the balcony, veranda, or transfer them to a greenhouse or greenhouse.

As the seedlings grow, they will need watering

Seedling care and picking time

As the seedlings grow, they will need watering. At first, it is better to move them with a sprayer so that the ground does not wash away and the tender seedlings do not die. Growing young seedlings may encounter main danger– Blackleg disease. Therefore, it is better to carry out preventive measures in a timely manner so as not to lose plants. The most effective method of combating this nuisance is the use of fungicides, which are added to water for irrigation. The most popular drugs are Fitosporin, Fundazol, Baktofit and others. Due to the fear of developing fungal diseases, waterlogging of the soil should be avoided, especially at low temperatures. If you nevertheless notice the first drooping shoots, immediately remove them along with the earthen ball, treat the remaining seedlings with preparations and reduce the number of waterings for a while. Also, dusting the seedlings and soil with wood ash will have a positive effect in such cases.

Growing cauliflower is quick and within ten days the seedlings will be ready for picking. To do this, take a container of larger volume and depth, and it is even better to sow each plant in a separate cup, so that later planting in open ground will be more painless. Before picking, as well as after it, the soil around the plants needs to be thoroughly watered. At first, the transplanted cauliflower should be protected from direct sunlight by shading it on a windowsill or by covering it with agrofibre in a greenhouse.

Video about growing cauliflower

Further cultivation and care of seedlings consists of watering and regular spraying. As for fertilizers, they are applied in several stages:

1. The first feeding is carried out when the plants have two true leaves. It is carried out by spraying with the addition of ready-made complex fertilizer concentrates.
2. For the second time, another 0.2 g of boric acid and 1.15 g are diluted in a liter of water for foliar feeding. copper sulfate for the prevention of diseases.
3. The third time the cauliflower is sprayed before hardening - 1 tbsp. potassium sulfate and 1 tablespoon of urea per 10 liters of water at the rate of 20 ml of the finished solution per 1 plant.

When the time comes to plant, the seedlings should be full of strength and hardened. It makes no sense to drop off before the blowjob threat of return spring frosts, since cauliflower, unlike white cabbage, is a more heat-loving plant, it may suffer from frost, which will certainly affect the yield. But it is also harmful to overexpose young bushes, because usually in the seventh or eighth leaf phase the plant already begins to form a head, and if it is replanted at this time, the growing season will be disrupted.

Due to the fear of developing fungal diseases, waterlogging of the soil should be avoided.

You can plant cauliflower in beds in rows or in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 60-70cm from each other. To protect the roots from overheating and drying out, it is recommended to cover the soil around each bush with a layer of mulch of 1-1.5 cm.

That's all about growing seedlings. Having mastered its wisdom, you will receive a generous, tasty and useful harvest cauliflower.

Seedlings of early or cauliflower at home on the windowsill - not easy, but very simple!

Choosing a location for cabbage seedlings in the house

It is better to grow cabbage seedlings at home on a windowsill. To do this, narrow window sills are widened. Two boards about 30 centimeters wide are attached along the length of the window sill. Windows on the southeast and southwest sides receive the most light.

Lighting early and cauliflower seedlings

If double frames are installed at home, then the illumination is reduced by 2 times. To increase daylight hours to 14 hours in February-March, additional lighting is carried out.
When growing cauliflower and early cabbage seedlings, it is best to hang daylight and fluorescent lamps as a complementary light source. white light(per 1 square meter one hundred twenty - three hundred W). Lamps can be placed near growing cabbage seedlings.

Photo of lighting cabbage seedlings at home with fluorescent lamps

They emit little heat, but give off enough light. It is advisable not to use conventional incandescent lamps for illuminating seedlings, because they damage the seedlings of early cabbage and cauliflower grown by strongly heating the air. If you use incandescent lamps in a “home greenhouse,” then hang them at a height of 60 centimeters above the leaves of cultivated cabbage seedlings.

The photo shows white cabbage seedlings

Uniform lighting can be achieved by rearranging early or cauliflower seedlings and turning them in different directions. Clean window glass also affects good lighting.

Creating a favorable environment for cabbage seedlings at home

When grown in winter and spring, cabbage seedlings are removed from the window (where the temperature becomes lower than home) and transferred to the interior of the house. It is recommended to cover the window glass with a curtain. When ventilating, cabbage seedlings grown at home should be covered with paper, otherwise the seedlings will suffer from hypothermia. Or, while airing, move the cabbage seedlings to another room. It should be taken into account that cabbage seedlings cultivated indoors may suffer from overheating from the steam heating of the radiators, so you need to install protective screens or brushes at home. Protective screens will remove hot air from cabbage seedlings.
At home, seedlings of early cabbage, Beijing, Chinese, etc. are grown.

Sowing cabbage seeds

Sowing cabbage seeds for a school is done in a small container, so that the boxes with seedlings can be easily transferred to a brighter, warmer place in the room, and taken out to the balcony for hardening.
Sow cabbage in rows with a distance of 2-3 centimeters or scattered in a moist soil mixture, after which they are carefully sprinkled with sifted soil mixture or peat and covered with film material on top, and immediately placed in a warm place.

Photo of sowing cabbage seeds in a box

Caring for cabbage seedlings and picking them

They germinate in 2 days at 20 °C. Then the film is removed from the cabbage crops for seedlings, and the box is placed in a lighted, cool place (about 10 ° C). In the room where cabbage seedlings are grown, the temperature is usually regulated using a window and a light cloth (or plastic film), which, on the one hand, would delay cold air, and on the other hand, it restrained the air flow, ensuring its smooth, uniform distribution.

The photo shows white cabbage seedlings prepared for picking

The period of stay of seedlings in the school is up to 10 days. The sooner cabbage seedlings are subjected to moderate low temperatures, the more they will become stockier and stronger and will not outgrow. In the phase of expanded cotyledon leaves, seedlings begin to dive into pots and boxes. In pots (boxes), the thickness of the soil mixture is no more than 6 cm.

Photo of picking cabbage seedlings “under the finger”

When growing cabbage seedlings in pots (cups), one seedling is planted per container, which is buried down to the cotyledon leaves; the roots of the cabbage seedlings should be pressed tightly with soil. After picking, seedlings of cauliflower or early white cabbage are placed in a dark place for 2 days, watered warm water. If there is a loggia or glazed veranda at home and at favorable temperatures, cabbage seedlings are kept there.

Hardening and feeding cabbage seedlings during cultivation

Hardening of cabbage seedlings begins 5-7 days after picking the seedlings, when the roots are developing. The more light cabbage seedlings receive at home under conditions of moderate temperature (from eight to twenty °C), the more resistant they will become to low temperatures in open ground.
Cabbage seedlings (both white cabbage for early sowing and cauliflower) are fed twice during the period of growing in the house. Feeding is given at the stage of the 2nd or 3rd leaf, subsequent ones - on the sixth day. Ten to twenty grams of ammonium nitrate, ten to twenty grams of superphosphate and five to ten grams of potassium chloride are dissolved in 5 liters of water. Microfertilizers will only be useful: boric acid, manganese sulphate and copper sulphate - all of this should be added about one gram each.
It is necessary to harden the grown cabbage seedlings at a temperature in the house of about 11 degrees.

The photo shows planting white cabbage seedlings in open ground