Cauliflower is not only very tasty, but also a useful garden crop, so many farmers in their summer cottages are engaged in its cultivation. By cultivating the vegetable in seedling, you can harvest an early crop. At the same time, growing cauliflower at home does not cause any difficulties, however, in order for it to be of high quality, certain recommendations must be adhered to. Read about them later in this article.
general information
Cauliflower is one of the most valuable types of vegetables. It contains a huge amount of vitamins, minerals and macronutrients that our body needs for normal life. In addition, this culture has healing properties that were discovered by people more than seven thousand years ago. Cauliflower was first cultivated in Eastern Europe, presumably in France, and later, through the Celts and Gauls living in the territory of modern Germany, garden culture came to Russia. Due to the large number of healing properties and incredible taste, the vegetable quickly gained popularity, it began to be grown on almost the entire territory of our country.
Cauliflower, the cultivation of which is very painstaking, can be consumed even by people with a pronounced allergy to various foods. It will be for them an excellent source of vitamins such as B, C, E, as well as very rare for vegetables K and U and nutrients.
Cabbage contains a large number of the following elements:
- cellulose;
- biotin;
- tocopherol;
- rutoside;
- niacin;
- calcium;
- zinc;
- magnesium;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- iron;
- pectin;
- sulfur;
- chlorine;
- amino acids;
- malic and citric acid;
- and many others.
Thanks to fiber, cauliflower helps cleanse the blood and the whole body from toxins and other harmful substances, and it also reduces the harmful effects of radiation on humans. According to scientists, the regular use of cauliflower significantly reduces the risk of developing cancer of various etiologies. In addition, cauliflower (cultivation and care will be discussed later) normalizes metabolic processes in the body, improves hematopoietic function and contributes to the normal formation of bone tissue.
The main methods of cultivation
This process must be approached very seriously. Growing cauliflower seedlings can be carried out by two methods - classic and in pots. The first method involves planting seeds in boxes or a greenhouse, and for the second - you need to make a special peat substrate. The root system of culture does not develop very well and is too demanding of many environmental factors, however, with proper cultivation, it very quickly takes root in the garden and starts growing. Some growers use mixed technology. They first plant the seeds in a greenhouse, and when they germinate, they transplant them into peat pots.
The timing
In order for the planting material to be ready for transplantation into the open ground, it takes 45 days. Sowing seeds is most often carried out in early or mid-spring. This is the optimal time, which is enough to ensure that the seedlings are well strengthened, and you can get an early harvest. However, it is important to consider the climatic features of the region in which you reside. For example, in the south of Russia it is possible to transplant seedlings from pots to a bed much earlier than, for example, in the central or northern regions.
When choosing a time for sowing seeds, consider that for their germination and the formation of a strong root system, 45 days are needed. Thus, you can calculate the exact landing date for your region. As mentioned earlier, growing cauliflower in the open ground can be done in seedlings. The greenhouse will be the best option, since it is the least trouble. As for specific varieties, it is best to give preference to early hybrids. They grow faster than others, so you can harvest in the middle of summer.
Soil preparation
So what does this process provide? Cauliflower seedlings, cultivation at home and the care of which must be carried out in accordance with a certain technology, will not be able to take root and grow normally on depleted soils that do not contain a sufficient amount of minerals and macrocells. Therefore, deciding to engage in the cultivation of a vegetable, take care first of all about the soil. In a greenhouse, it is better to fill in a mixture consisting of equal parts of soddy soil, peat and humus. It is also recommended to fertilize the substrate in advance with universal preparations, which contain phosphorus.
In addition, it is advisable to perform soil disinfection. To do this, use a not too strong solution of potassium permanganate. And to protect seedlings from various diseases, use calcined sand, which is sprinkled with earth after planting.
Preparing planting material
So, you want cauliflower to grow in your garden. Growing this vegetable does not require much effort, if you properly prepare the planting material. Before sowing seeds, they must be sorted out, warmed up and treated with pesticides. This will significantly accelerate the process of germination and prevent the development of various diseases. At the same time, try to select only large seeds, as small seeds rarely germinate, and also give low productivity.
Warming up implies placing seeds wrapped in gauze for 20 minutes in water heated to 50 degrees Celsius. Further, planting material is well dried and etched for an hour with garlic juice or a weak formaldehyde solution.
Landing
The ground in the boxes must be well leveled, after which seeds are sown and sprinkled with soil on top, the layer should be 0.5-0.7 cm thick. According to many vegetable growers, they germinate very quickly. When the planting material is planted, the substrate is sprinkled on top with a layer of calcined sand or wood ash, after which they are thoroughly sprayed from the spray gun.
Cauliflower, the growing conditions of which can be very different, does not need special care. From time to time you only need to moisten the soil and remove weeds. The same applies to planting seeds in a greenhouse. When growing in boxes, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature in the room at +19 ° C, while avoiding drafts.
Planting seedlings in open ground
When the seeds germinate and the seedlings are strong enough (on average, it takes 45 days, as mentioned at the beginning of the article), seedlings can be transplanted to the garden. However, shortly before this, approximately in 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to lower the temperature in the room or in the greenhouse to approximately +15 ° . This is necessary so that the vegetable is a little stronger and faster adapted in the open ground. Adhering to these recommendations, you can get high-quality, healthy and strong planting material, which in the future will give a rich harvest.
The optimal time for diving occurs approximately 7-10 days after seed germination. In order for cauliflower (cultivating a crop differs in its simplicity in comparison with other types of vegetables) to grow well and quickly, it is necessary to plant it correctly in open ground. In this case, it is very important not to overexpose the seedlings in the boxes, since in this case the root system can suffer.
Specialists recommend diving and planting young cabbage in special peat pots. This will strengthen the root system and accelerate the growth of cauliflower. In this case, the sprouts should be buried in the substrate to cotyledon leaves, and the soil should be sprinkled with a layer of mulch on top, for example, wood ash can be used. It is worth noting that peat pots can be made independently, but experienced vegetable growers recommend buying ready-made ones in specialized stores. They have a very affordable price.
Making peat pots with your own hands
Features of growing cauliflower differ from those for other types of vegetables. The crop will yield significantly better quality crops if transplanted seedlings first in peat pots, and only then in open ground. If you do not want to buy them, then you can do it yourself.
This will require the following materials:
- lowland peat with an acidity level of not more than 6.5;
- sawdust, in which a small amount of ammonium nitrate solution is added (this will kill all bacteria and harmful organisms that can absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere);
- sand;
- fresh mullein, which is bred in equal proportions with water.
To prepare the substrate, take one part of peat and sawdust, as well as 0.2 sand. As for fertilizer, a small amount is needed. It is very important not to go too far with it, because otherwise the soil will turn out to be too dense and the root system will not be able to develop normally. Also, cauliflower, the cultivation of which is carried out practically without the use of chemicals, adapts much faster in a new place if it is fed with any universal mineral fertilizer.
Growing seedlings in peat tablets
This technology was invented relatively recently, however, it was already able to prove its effectiveness. Peat pills can be purchased at almost any vegetable store. They are laid out in ordinary disposable cups and poured with warm water. After the tablets increase in size and acquire a loose consistency, seeds are planted in them. This method allows you to get a very strong, strong and healthy seedlings.
Cultivation without picking
So is this possible? Growing cauliflower from seeds can be carried out without diving. This method is simpler, and the seedlings are quite high quality. The essence of the cultivation method is that the seeds are immediately planted in peat pots. But here it is better to use later varieties of cabbage.
The advantage of growing without diving is that planting material can immediately be planted directly on the bed. At the same time, the density of sowing seeds should be quite high. In order to protect the cauliflower from the cold, metal arcs are placed around the edges of the hole, onto which the film is pulled.
A few words about fertilizer
Cultivation of cauliflower in the open ground can be carried out without the use of fertilizing. But so that the yield, as well as taste and healthy qualities, are high, it is recommended to fertilize the vegetable several times in a timely manner. To do this, you can use a solution of ammonium nitrate or any other mineral fertilizers. The nutrient solution of the plant is watered under the spine twice at an interval of 10 days after diving.
Seedling hardening
Why is this necessary? If you live in a region with a cold climate, then in order for cauliflower to survive freezing, it must be hardened. Preparation consists in the fact that approximately two weeks before the proposed dive, the boxes with planting material are carried outside for several hours. And five days before planting, seedlings should be placed in a greenhouse, in which it will remain immediately before planting in open ground.
General tips and tricks
If you stick to the technology described in this article, you will get an excellent harvest of cauliflower. Growing and caring in the open field for it will not take much time. Vegetable will delight you with a rich and quality crop. Experienced vegetable growers advise against diving too deep holes when diving, and also do not plant plants very densely relative to each other. Culture loves space, so between plants should be at least 25 centimeters. Watering the cabbage must be plentiful, but not too often, in order to prevent rotting of the root system.
This, in fact, ends our article on how to grow cauliflower with your own hands. This is an amazing vegetable with great nutritional value, so you just have to plant it in your garden.