A healthy diet means eating healthy foods rich in vitamins and trace elements. These include cauliflower, so many gardeners practice growing vegetables in their backyards in the open field. With proper care it is not difficult.
With proper planting, you can plant cauliflower in the country and in the suburbs. It is necessary to sow seeds for seedlings at home, following the step-by-step instructions for the care and feeding to ensure germination.
Table of contents
- What is a cauliflower
- History of origin
- Beneficial features
- How to grow cauliflower seeds from the plot
- Planting seedlings in open ground - scheme and agricultural engineering
- Secrets of care and cultivation
- Susceptibility to diseases and pests
- Harvesting and storage of the crop - step by step instructions
What is a cauliflower
The general idea of cabbage does not apply to varieties of color, although it also belongs to the cruciferous family. The plant has fibrous roots close to the ground surface. The heads are formed round and semicircular in shape. The edible part is represented by thick flowering tassels, whose length varies from 2 to 15 cm.
Cauliflower refers to annual crops with a growing season. 90-120 days after the emergence of shoots. Plant loves the lighttherefore, it is necessary to plant seedlings in well-lit areas.
The taste is soft inflorescence with shades of milk, not for nothing that it is called vegetable curd.When cooking with the help of spices, it is possible to give the vegetable unusual notes that are not typical of cabbage.
History of origin
It is believed that cauliflower was bred in the Mediterranean. Previously, it was called as Syrian. In those days, the vegetable was late-ripening, had a bitter taste and a creamy-green inflorescence. For the first time, the culture was described by the Arab botanist Ib el Beytar.
Culture got to Russia only 2 centuries ago, but it was possible to grow a heat-loving plant only in the southern regions. After the famous scientist Bolotov brought northern version of cabbage, it became possible to cultivate a vegetable in the northern part of the country.
Beneficial features
The cabbage contains many valuable vitamins and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the human body:
- calcium improves the condition of hair, nail plates and teeth;
- vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system;
- potassium positive effect on the work of the cardiovascular system;
- magnesium and iron improve blood flow in the tissues;
- B vitamins activate brain activity.
Many dietary tables include cauliflower dishes. This is due to the ability recovery of metabolic processesadjusting the work of the digestive system. The active ingredients cleanse the body of toxins and other toxic substances, and the rich vitamin composition (A, D, E, K, H, PP, etc.) strengthens the protective function.
How to grow cauliflower seeds from the plot
Inflorescences are grown seed and seedling ways. Of course, you can buy ready-made seedlings and plant them around the garden. However, it is impossible to be sure of the quality of the used seed and the conditions of seedling germination. Therefore, it is rational to grow seedlings on their own.
Sowing time at home
Seeds are sown in 40-50 days before planting seedlings on an open bed, this period falls approximately on end of february.
The early varieties are sown first, after 2 weeks they are mid-season cabbages, and only a month later they start planting the seeds of late varieties.
The material for sowing is first sorted, then prepared before planting. The treatment is done using a thermos with water, the temperature of which is 50 degrees. After 15 minutes of steaming, the seeds are immersed for a minute in cold water, after which they spend 12 hours in a solution of microelements that stimulate growth.
After the shoots appear on the surface of the soil, the temperature drops to 6-8 degrees. Days after 6-7 degrees should be increased to the daily rate of 15-18 and 6-8 at night.
Seedling care
Caring for seedlings does not contain secrets or cardinal features and consists in moderate watering (using spraying), loosening the soil, observing the temperature regime.
After the formation at the escape of 2-3 leaves of the plant you need spray with boric acid solution (2 g. Per 1 liter of water). After 1-2 weeks, the treatment is repeated, but with a solution ammonium molybdate (5 gr. On a bucket of water).
Picking
Usually picking cauliflower seedlings do not conduct due to underdeveloped root system. But if the seeds were sown in a common box, then when sowing grain at a great distance, and the soil depth in the container should be at least 15 cm. Then the seedling can be removed from the box along with the soil.
Planting seedlings is recommended for individual containers. at the age of 2 weeks. Before the seedlings finally take root in a new place, the temperature in the room, at home or where the seedlings are stored must be between 19-21 degrees.
Planting seedlings in open ground - scheme and agricultural engineering
Early ripe varieties are planted in open ground late April-mid May. A week before the start of planting, the seedlings are fed with superphosphate (3 g), potassium chloride (3 g), diluted in a liter of water. This will increase the cold resistance of the shoots. It is also necessary to conduct quenching, accustoming the plants to a new habitat.
The soil prepared in autumn is planted before planting. In each well make a mixture of compost (humus), wood ash, superphosphate, urea (1 bucket / 2 cups / 2 tbsp. L / 1h. L.). All components are mixed with fertile soil.
Seedlings are buried in the soil to the first sheetsafter which it is well compacted with earth. Immediately after the landing, watering is carried out. Spring weather often surprises in the form of night frosts. To protect the bed from them, it should be covered with agrofibre or film.
Secrets of care and cultivation
Cauliflower grows well in warm climates. It transfers the conditions of the middle lane only due to reverent care, therefore the quality and quantity of the crop depends only on the efforts made.
Correct watering
Moisture is necessary for the normal vegetation of the plant, so watering is carried out regularly with a frequency 1-2 times a week.
Water consumption rate on 1 m2 beds with young shoots up 6-8 l. Over time, the indicator increases to 9-11 liters per 1 m2.
In hot weather, regular irrigation increases. up to 3-4 times a week, but in any case, it is worthwhile to focus on the degree of soil moisture, because overmoistening is also dangerous for the plant, just like drying.
Features of loosening and weeding
Weed grass thickens the beds, causing the development of various diseases. In addition, it obscures the culture, resulting in dark spots on the inflorescences.
Weeding should be combined with loosening the soil, it is also recommended grind the bed with peat or dry grass. This will prevent drying out of the soil and rapid germination of the weeds.
Top dressing
During the growing season, cabbage must be fed 3-4 times. The first portion is introduced 3 weeks after transplanting seedlings. The best food for the culture is the solution of mullein (in a bucket of water dissolve a liter of liquid composition). Under every bush pours not less than 500 ml of fertilizer.
The second feed is introduced after 10 days. In a solution of mullein, it is recommended to add 1 tablespoon of Kristalina. For each plant use 1 liter of the workpiece.
After another 10-14 days, mineral fertilizers are introduced (for 10 liters of water, 2 tbsp. Nitrophoska, the consumption rate per 1 m2 is 6-8 l).
Treatment
The advantage of cauliflower agrotechnics is the possibility of using biological agents without the use of pesticides. Effective will be dusting of wood ash or tobaccospraying infusions of onion peel or burdock.
Susceptibility to diseases and pests
Cauliflower is susceptible to various diseases and pest attacks, therefore during the growing period it is necessary to regularly inspect the plants in order to identify the problem at an early stage.
The development of harmful microorganisms often begins as a result of irrigation violations or because presence of pathogen in seed material.
The following diseases are considered the most dangerous:
- mucous bacteriosis - the first signs appear on the head in the form of watery spots, for localization you need to cut off the affected area, capturing some healthy tissue;
- blackleg - blackening and softening of the root collar and stem base, before sowing, the soil and seeds are disinfected, when lesions are detected, the plant is removed from the bed;
- mosaic - on the leaves appear spots of different shapes and colors, the treatment of diseased bushes can not be, if they are found, they must be destroyed;
- kila - fungal disease affecting the root system of the plant, manifested in the form of growths on the roots, with the identification of the bush is removed, the protection created by preventive measures;
- persporosis - the fungus appears on the leaves as yellow spots with white bloom, the treatment consists in spraying the beds with a solution of Bordeaux liquid (1%) or polycarbocin (0.4%).
-
- Cauliflower bacteriosis
-
- Damage to the leaves by mosaic
Harmful insects can also reduce yields or ruin a bed:
- cruciferous flea;
- cabbage fly;
- aphid;
- Stem Seabed;
- butterflies.
If pests or signs of the presence of larvae are found, it is necessary to treat the beds using the following means:
- Entobacterin-3;
- Actellic;
- Aktara;
- Spark M and others.
Chemical and biological products are used upon detection of signs of invasion of parasites.
But it is more effective to carry out prevention, which prevents the destruction of the culture by pests.
Activities include:
- thorough cleaning of plant waste in the autumn;
- removal of damaged shoots from the beds to localize the problem;
- soil and seed disinfection;
- spraying with biological solutions;
- pollination of beds with wood ash.
Harvesting and storage of the crop - step by step instructions
Dates of ripening inflorescences, indicated on the seed packaging, are approximate, so you need to navigate on external signs. If the harvest is collected sooner or later, then the heads will quickly deteriorate or germinate.
The maturity of the vegetable depends primarily on the growing conditions, in particular on the temperature conditions. In the second half of July, begin collecting mid-season varieties. From the end of August and the whole of September, heads are cut off late maturity cabbage, which is characterized by a long shelf life (from 5 months and above).
.
-
- Inflorescences must be cut at the base of the stem
-
- Storage is carried out in a humid room in plastic boxes.
The inflorescences are cut with 2-3 leaves at the base of the stem. Vegetable does not lose its properties for 40-50 days.In determining maturity, the following features are taken into account:
- head diameter reaches 10-12 cm;
- inflorescence has a light green or cream color;
- dense structure.
To increase the shelf life, remove the cauliflower along with the root system. This method is suitable for slightly unripe vegetables that reach maturity in boxes of soil.
Harvest storage rules:
- heads, folded in a cardboard or plastic container, are installed in the room with a high level of humidity up to 95% and a temperature of 0-2 degrees;
- peeled from the extra leaves of inflorescence can be stored in the refrigerator, after wrapping them with food film;
- the fragments washed and separated into inflorescences are stored for a long time in the freezer.
It is also allowed to store cabbage in the basement, hanging her head down on wooden sticks.
Agro-cultivation of cauliflower is not fundamentally different from the cultivation of other varieties. Therefore, you can safely replenish the range of crops in your own garden. If you care according to the instructions, you can get a great harvest of vegetables.