Methods for growing cauliflower

Contents:

• Cauliflower: the cultivation of seedlings
• Growing cauliflower in the open field
• Secrets of harvesting

Cauliflower - an annual vegetable plant cabbage family. Motherland - the Mediterranean, is widespread in Western and Northern Europe. In Russia cauliflower imported from Europe in the 18th century, it is cultivated widely in small volumes. Prized for its earliness and taste and not too complicated care. In the food consumed head (inflorescence modified) plants that contain a lot of vitamins and mineral salts. Very helpful use of cauliflower with gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases.

The root system of the cauliflower is located close to the surface of the soil and developed worse than the root system of cabbage. After the formation of rosettes of 25-30 leaves inflorescence is formed, having the form of a dense head of green, yellow, white or purple flowers. In general, the cauliflower to grow more demanding than other types of cabbage. Sensitive to adverse conditions and care, although generally not demanding to heat, but less resistant to low temperatures than the same cabbage. When their prolonged exposure to plant growth slows down, and used in food formed small head. The optimum temperature for the formation of dense and large heads - 15-20 degrees.

At temperatures above 25 degrees formed small head and loose, especially at this time insufficient watering. In addition to the ambient temperature, cauliflower demanding light conditions, especially during the growing seedlings. In the context of the long daylight hours plants accelerates the formation of heads, but in the future is their izrastanie and flowering shoots are formed.

The artificial creation of conditions the shortened daylight hours leads to the formation of denser heads and prevents the formation of flower-bearing shoots.

Of all the most fastidious cabbage color to the composition of the soil, its fertility. Nutrient requirements of her two times higher than that of white. In addition to basic applied mineral and organic fertilizers, it urgently needed feeding manganese, magnesium, boron and molybdenum. With a lack of trace elements observed underdevelopment heads, hollow stalks, leaves and deformed heads themselves usually rot.

Currently zoned about 10 varieties of cauliflower. Early-maturing (vegetative period - 85-100 days) - Movir 74 (good for canning), Early Gribovskaya 1355 Snowflake. Medium early (the growing season - 95-120 days) - Domestic (suitable for canning), Moscow canning and guarantees. Late-maturing (vegetative period - 175-230 days) - 679 Adler winter, spring Adler and Sochi.

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Cauliflower: the cultivation of seedlings

Growing conditions cauliflower and care are almost the same as in the cultivation of seedlings of cabbage. Seeds are sown in early varieties of seedlings boxes installed in heated greenhouses or other heated rooms. On each potted consume about 2-3 grams prepared for sowing seeds. Soaking of seeds is recommended, for which they were placed in a gauze bag filled with 0 to 5 volume and soaked in pure water at room temperature for 10-12 hours. Moistened soil before sowing and seeding is carried out to a depth of no more than 1 cm. After seeding seeding mulch thin layer of sand.

About two weeks after germination held swordplay seedlings. Seedlings earliest planting dates grown in peat-humus pots. Seedlings later dates can be grown and bezgorshechnym way. For this dive seedlings in peat-humus soil hothouse flower beds or potted.

In the formation of 2-3 true leaves conduct fertilizing plants with a solution of potassium or ammonium nitrate, which is diluted in a bucket of water 5 g of ammonia and 15 g of potassium nitrate. When the plant forms 3-4 leaves, top-dressing is performed by spraying a solution of boric acid and ammonium molybdenum acid (2 g per 10 liters of water). Seedlings watered rare, but abundant, after watering the room ventilated. About two weeks before planting in open ground carry out the gradual hardening of seedlings, plants accustoming to the outdoor temperature. Seedlings ready for planting at the age of 45-50 days. By this time, the plants should be at least 4-5 leaves.

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Growing cauliflower in the open field

Regardless of the method of planting, do not forget that cauliflower thrown on the site after such predecessors as legumes or root crops, onions, early potatoes or early varieties of cucumber. When grown as a re-culture cauliflower placed after the early crops and green podzimnih crop roots.

Under the spring and summer growing cauliflower soil is prepared in the fall. After harvesting the previous crop it carefully treated with a hoe to a depth of 6-10 cm. Then dig site, introducing 1 m 7-8 kg of manure or compost torfonavoznogo, provided that they have not been made by predecessors. In the spring, before planting into the soil making fertilizer (ammonium nitrate - 30 g, potassium chloride - 20 g and 50 g of superphosphate per 1 sq. M) and re-dug it carefully loose clumps.

Seedlings are planted in early cauliflower scheme 70h25 cm, mid - 70h30 see. Sometimes it makes narrower aisles (50-60 cm) and the distance in the ranks of the wider (40-45 cm). When transplanting into each well was added a pinch of ash, mixing it thoroughly with the ground. Then poured into 1 liter of well water and planted plants. After planting the seedlings watered regularly to adapt it to the site. A week later, dead plants are replaced with new ones.

Planting seeds in open ground is carried out to a depth of 1 cm. Sowing is usually carried out pre-soaked seeds. When the first true leaf plants thinned out, and leave between 15-20 cm (with a width between rows 70 cm) or 35-40 (with a width between rows 50-60 cm). Further care of planting the same as caring for seedlings.

During the cultivation is carried out at least 5-6 irrigation (at least 30 l / m). A prerequisite, especially during the formation of heads, is loosening the soil, which is held after every rain or watering. Care is in the processing between rows and hilling plants. If necessary, a fertilizing complete mineral fertilizer.

To grow a full crop compulsorily spend pritenenie heads of cauliflower in the period of intensive formation. Furthermore, two of the upper tie plate or head bends sharply.   This is done in order to head is not falling apart and keep their color.

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Secrets of harvesting

Proper care - is not only growing, but also literate harvest. The heads of cauliflower are cleaned when they reach sufficient size. 1 m planting clean 2 kilograms or more heads. Cut off the head with the 3-4 rosette leaves. Plants that failed to mature before the end of the harvesting time, pulled out by the roots and used for their rearing. For this, they must have a head diameter of about 5 cm and at least 20 leaves.

For rearing, they are placed in the cleared of biofuel heated greenhouses and greenhouses, placing at 1 m 35-40 plants. The plants are then closed shields mats black film and maintained in the greenhouse temperature 5 degrees. Greenhouses, as cooling, insulated with sawdust or other materials at hand. Clean such a harvest in December or January.

Doraschivat head of cauliflower can be in basements or cellars. In this case, the associated plant and hung up back on trellises. Once the mass rearing heads of cauliflower reaches 0, 5 kg and a diameter - 15-20 cm.

That's all the secrets - nothing complicated.

The heads of cauliflower used in food in fresh, boiled, fried. They are also pickled, used in soups, casseroles, side dishes and salads.