Cauliflower is a real storehouse of vitamins and microelements: iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. This is one of the favorite foods supporters of proper nutrition and an indispensable tool in losing weight. Try to grow this vegetable in your garden!

We call this type of cabbage cauliflower not because of its coloring, but because its head is made up of small inflorescences that are eaten. The largest producers of cauliflower are the USA, France, Italy, India and China, but in our climate you can successfully grow this tasty and healthy vegetable.

When to sow cauliflower on seedlings?

The main method of growing cauliflower is sprouts, because this plant is rather capricious and more demanding than its “relative” - white cabbage. The timing of sowing cauliflower seeds is determined on the basis of the plant variety.

Seed preparation

Experienced vegetable growers begin preparing cauliflower seeds for seedlings with quenching according to the following algorithm:
  • soak the seeds for 15 minutes in hot water  (up to 50⁰С);
  • cool in cold water;
  • soak the seeds for a day in a nutrient solution of a mineral fertilizer, for example, nitrophoska (1 tsp. per 1 l of water);
  • wash and dry the seeds;
  • for 2-4 days, place the seeds in a cool place (up to 2 ° C, for example, on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator).
Seeds can be prepared for sowing and warming. To do this, dip them in a thermos with hot (50-55-С) water for 2 hours, and then dry.

After this procedure, the seeds can be sown in pots for several pieces, since the pickles hardly endure the pickling. If you plan to sow the seeds in one box, then select the container deeper and arrange the seeds not thickly so as not to damage the roots when transplanting into the ground.

Sowing cabbage seedlings

At the bottom of the pot, place the drainage, then pour the soil neutral reaction. Such soil is sold in stores, but if you wish, you can prepare it yourself: mix 1 part lowland peat, 1 part sand and 10 parts of humus or 4 parts lowland peat, 2 parts rotted sawdust and 1 part mullein.

Before sowing the seeds, calcine the substrate in the oven for 5 minutes at a temperature of 60-80 ° C (no more!). This will clear the soil of harmful microorganisms and increase the disease resistance of plants.

Seeds are sown in cups or peat pots, deepening 0.5 cm and compacting the soil, and then mulched with a thin layer of sand.

Care for cauliflower seedlings

The optimum temperature for the emergence of shoots is 18–20 ° C, then after the appearance of the shoots (usually it is the 7–10th day after sowing) it is reduced to 6–8 ° C, moving the seedlings closer to the light source. A week later, the temperature regime is changed to 15-18 ° C during the day and 8-10 ° C - at night. When 2 true leaves appear, cauliflower seedlings are transferred to a larger container.

It is not recommended to dive cauliflower seedlings, but if you do decide on a picking, then sow the seeds in rows: make furrows 3 cm apart and spread the seeds at intervals of 1 cm.

If seeds are sown in a common box, then a pick should be carried out 2 weeks after the emergence of shoots, after which the seedlings are provided 21 ° C indoors until they take root. Then the temperature is maintained at 17 ° C during the day and 9 ° C at night.

Cauliflower seedlings are watered infrequently (once a week), but plentifully, and the room is aired after each watering. Loosen the soil is not necessary - the roots of cauliflower are located close to the surface.

How to feed the cauliflower seedlings?

When the seedlings appear 2-3 true leaves, spray them with a solution of boric acid (2 g per 1 liter of water). After the appearance of 4 leaves, dissolve 5 g of ammonium molybdate in the bucket (10 l) of water and again foliar top dressing of the seedlings.

Planting cauliflower in the ground

At 45-50 days the seedlings of cauliflower are ready for planting in the ground, usually by this time the seedlings already have 4-5 leaves. Two weeks before planting, begin to harden the seedlings, bringing it to a cooler room and leaving it for a while.

Good cauliflower precursors: root vegetables, legumes, onions, early cucumber varieties. The bad: tomato, beet, radish, radish and all kinds of cabbage.

Soil under cauliflower  they are prepared in autumn: they dig it up, make manure or compost (7-8 kg per 1 sq. m). In the spring, the earth is fertilized with mineral fertilizers: per 1 square meter - 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium chloride and 50 g of superphosphate, after which the soil is again dug up, breaking up lumps.

Terms of planting cauliflower seedlings in the ground depend on the variety (see table above), as long as the threat of frost has passed. It is better to choose a place for planting sunny, the soil should be of neutral acidity (pH 6.7-7.4).

Cauliflower planting scheme: 60-70 × 25-30 cm. Pour a pinch of ash into each well, mixing it with soil, then pour it with water (1 l per well). Bury the seedling before the first true leaflet. If disembarkation takes place in April-May, cover with a bed for several days with a spanbond or film.

Mandatory procedure for cauliflower is shading. In June-July, fasten 2-3 leaves from the socket over each formed head. You can also break a large sheet and use it to create a shadow.

Cauliflower care

Despite the fact that cauliflower is not too adapted to growing in the middle lane, caring for it is not much different from caring for white cabbage: regular watering, loosening, hilling, feeding and treatment of diseases.

Cauliflower is watered once a week (the first time after planting - twice a week) at the rate of 6-10 liters per 1 sq.m. After watering or rain, the soil is carefully loosened to a depth of 8 cm, removing weeds. Cauliflower should be regularly spud to increase root growth.

Feed cabbage three times per season: for the first time on the 10th day after planting, then at intervals of 2 weeks. Top dressing is made under the root at the rate of 5 l of fertilizer per 1 sq. M. The composition of the first feeding: 0.5 liters of liquid mullein, 10 liters of water and 1 tbsp. complex mineral fertilizer. Second, in 10 l of water add 40 g of superphosphate, 30 g of ammonium nitrate, 2 g of boric acid and potassium chloride. The third feeding: in the ratio of 1: 8, mullein is diluted with water and 20 g of calcium chloride, 30 g of superphosphate and ammonium nitrate are taken for 10 liters of such a solution.

Cauliflower Diseases

If you follow all the rules of growing cauliflower, then the likelihood that the plant can become ill or become a victim of pests is extremely small. But - forewarned, it means, is armed, and therefore we offer to get acquainted with the main health problems of cabbage.

Diseases and pests Signs of defeat Prevention Methods of struggle and treatment
Quila Roots and swellings on the roots Top dressing with dolomite flour solution (1 cup per 10 l of water) The introduction of ash in the ground throughout the growing season
Ring spots Black dots on leaves and stems with the formation of circles around Disinfection of soil and seeds before sowing Fungicide treatment. After harvesting, remove all plant residues.
Mucous bacteriosis (wet rot) Small watery spots of dark color on the heads and black oblong - on the stems Spring treatment with a 0.4% suspension of colloidal sulfur Cutting stains with the capture of a healthy area; destruction of severely affected plants
Fusarium Yellow-green color of the leaves, the appearance of dark specks, dark veins Add Fitosporina-M to water for watering plants Treatment with Fundazole
Blackleg Root collar blackening Soil disinfection with formalin solution, seed treatment with manganese solution Destruction of diseased plants
Perinospora (downy mildew) Depressed spots on sheets, whitish bloom from the underside of the sheet Disinfection of soil and seeds Treatment with fungicide (0.05% suspension of Ridomil Gold)

Against the pests of cauliflower (cabbage scoops, cabbage whitefly caterpillars), insecticides such as Enterobacterin should be used. You can also use a folk remedy for spraying - an infusion of burdock leaves (1/3 of a bucket filled with burdock leaves, pour water and insist for 24 hours).

How to store cauliflower?

Typically, cauliflower crops are harvested in mid-August, when the heads have reached a diameter of 8 cm. They need to be cut with 3-4 leaves that are 2 cm below the last leaf.

Store cauliflower in a cool dark place with good ventilation and low humidity. It is best to hang it by the stalk so that the heads do not touch each other. You can also remove the leaves, wrap the heads in food wrap  or paper and put in the fridge.

The best way to store cauliflower is freezing. Before you send the cabbage to freezer, heads need to be dried and cut into small pieces or divided into florets.

Do not be afraid to grow this, at first glance, quite capricious vegetable on your site. If how to take care of the plant, then you can perfectly diversify the home menu interesting dishes  from cauliflower.

Cabbage is a moisture-loving and rather demanding vegetable crop. Just planting seedlings is not enough. Sometimes preparation and care for cultivation begins in the fall, when it is necessary to prepare a plot for planting cabbage in the spring.

This leads to the fact that many do not like to do it. Especially if the question is about how to grow cauliflower in open ground. A tasty, healthy, beautiful vegetable crop, the harvest of which can be harvested from the last days of April to the beginning of May.

Many centuries ago it was cultivated in Syria. That is why it has the second name - Syrian cabbage. Another medieval physician Avicenna advised how to eat this vegetable raw as much as possible. A little later, traders begin to transport cabbage to different countries. But in European countries, it appears only in the eighteenth century.

Very few people managed to cultivate it because of the climate. Therefore, for a long time, it was left overseas delicacy intended for rich people. But today, thanks to the hard work of breeders, managed to bring the varieties that get along perfectly in all regions.

The extraordinary taste and weight of nutrients made this vegetable quite popular.

Growing it is absolutely simple, no more difficult than the usual varieties of white cabbage. It is a real pleasure to grow, plant, care, observe growth and development. Especially when you enjoy the taste of an overseas beauty grown on your own plot. After all, it is a plant that carries a rich set of vitamins and trace elements.


Among which are:

  • fluorine;
  • molybdenum;
  • tartronic acid;
  • a large amount of vitamin C and other components, which are not so much in the usual varieties.

It is a bit more demanding than other vegetables and cabbage, in particular. But for great efforts, she is ready to reward us with a bountiful harvest, beginning in the second half of May, and continue to amaze until late autumn.

Varieties, their features

For our strip and regions a fairly large number of cauliflower species has been eaten. As well as the white one, it is divided by species into:

  • early maturing
  • mid-season;
  • late maturity

Nowadays, there is an incredible range of varieties. Moreover, their differences are not only the quality of inflorescences, but also their colors. So, you can meet the snow-white, pleasantly green, orange, bright blue-gray cauliflower. Regardless of this, all varieties have an exceptional taste, have high nutritional properties.

Due to its exceptional taste, vegetables are eaten raw, boiled, baked, fried, frozen, and tasty winter pickles are prepared.

Cauliflower seedlings: subtleties

Growing cauliflower in the open field or in the greenhouse is almost the same as the types of culture that are more common to us. She, like many other species, planted seedlings, you can sow cabbage and seeds directly into open soil. But more profitable, productively plant cauliflower seedlings.

Thanks to this method, the ripening period is reduced, the quality of the ovaries is improved. When wondering how to grow cauliflower seedlings, you need to remember that only two methods are used:

  • normal, but it will be necessary to dive cauliflower;
  • in separate small containers of one, two seeds.

Both ways are effective. But, if you need to dive, you can damage the rather fragile root system. Therefore, experienced gardeners, gardeners prefer to plant at home in separate pots. Moreover, it is advantageous to use peat tanks, with which the seedlings then land in the ground.

Strong, healthy seedlings - this is only possible when the seeds are planted in loose, fertile soil.

Soil for strong seedlings

Experienced gardeners recommend planting cauliflower seeds in boxes, pots that are filled with a special soil mixture. It has a sufficient number of necessary components for seedlings, and also passed the preliminary stage of disinfection. This is important because any cabbage is subject to many fungal diseases.

Using these methods, you can apply the soil from your own site. To do this, you can carry out processing Bordeaux mixture, which contains copper sulphate and hydrated lime. To conduct only on the basis of recommendations of the manufacturer. This is the best way to disinfect. Then you can prepare an earth mixture, which contains:

  • soil - three parts;
  • sand is one part;
  • peat is one part.

If the land at the site was not fertilized, then to this mixture it is necessary to add superphosphate (60 gr.), Calcium chloride (30 gr.), Wood ash around one cup. For seedlings important components such as:

  • nitrogen;
  • potassium;
  • calcium;
  • phosphorus.

This mixture will help provide the plant with important elements in the soil. The same mixture is recommended for the first feeding of seedlings. This process is carried out after the appearance of 3-4 full leaflets.

Seed preparation

In order to seedlings, you should follow some rules for their acquisition and preparation. Seeds are preferably purchased at proven points of sale. It is imperative to pay attention to the implementation dates and the manufacturer.

Seeds must be the same size. If not, then calibrate. Small seeds should not be used or planted separately.

Before planting seeds, they can be disinfected. To do this, simply drop the potassium permanganate into the solution and hold it for no more than 20 minutes, dry it. Plant 1-2 seeds in each pot, deepening by no more than 1 centimeter. If the seeds are planted in containers or boxes, then you need to sow in shallow grooves, keeping the distance between them no more than 3 centimeters.

At what time they sow: seed species for seedlings

For the timely maturation of the culture, it is necessary to respect the timing of seedlings. This is a very important point, especially for late-ripening varieties, so that the cabbage can ripen:

  • early ripening - 90-100 days;
  • middle ripening - 110-130;
  • late varieties - up to 150 days.

This is exactly the period necessary for the full ripening of cabbage. From the time of planting seedlings to harvest, regardless of when the cauliflower was planted in open ground.

Picking

If the low temperature environment is important for the white cabbage, the cauliflower needs more heat. This fact does not mean that it does not tolerate low temperature conditions. The culture tolerates even frosts.

But for seedlings are important constant mode and the temperature is not below 20 degrees, lighting. Then the first shoots will appear already at 5-6 days. This is important to consider. The pick is held 7-10 days after the landing. How to dive? There is nothing difficult, and this procedure is no different from how other vegetables dive.

Important! After sowing cauliflower seeds for seedlings, in the future the main thing is not to miss the deadlines. An older plant takes root heavily.

Dive seedlings with extreme caution so as not to harm the very fragile root system. Dive should be in pots of peat and then they planted cabbage into the ground. It is advisable to carry out mulching after this event. To do this, fine wood ash, which is scattered over the surface of the soil.


Ten days before disembarking, it is necessary to temper the culture.  This can be done by placing the seedlings in the open air at the cottage or on the balcony if the seedlings are grown in a city apartment.

They do this in sunny, windless weather, if the temperature of the air does not fall below 10 degrees. Before sunset, seedlings are brought into the room. Before planting, make sure that the temperature in the room does not rise above 15 degrees, you can keep the seedlings in the greenhouse or on the balcony.

Planting cauliflower in the ground

Proper care of cauliflower in the soil is slightly different from the care of the more familiar white. This is due to the fact that the cultivation of cabbage of this variety requires a more attentive attitude.


The fact is that throughout the growing season, cauliflower maintains a weak root system. Moreover, the optimum temperature for this culture is about 18 degrees. If the temperature of the environment is higher, then this is reflected in the formation, size and taste of the heads.

But this is only the result of selection. If the seeds for seedlings of the modern variety or the seedlings themselves were subject to the hardening procedure, they can withstand even frosts up to five degrees below zero. But, if the heads are formed at high temperatures, more than 25 degrees, then they become loose and tasteless. In addition, it is possible to grow cabbage, if the recommendations are followed, at least presented in this article.

  1. There is a certain pattern of planting cauliflower, which is desirable to adhere to.
  2. Be attentive to questions like.
  3. In a timely manner to make dressings and process from pests, diseases.

But most important are the terms of sowing and planting, as well as the composition of the soil. Planting cauliflower in open ground is carried out according to a certain scheme. Along with this should be considered time. In addition, you need to determine exactly when you can plant, and when it is not recommended.

In all likelihood, the soil has been prepared, the seedlings are strong and beautiful, even if grown on a window sill, we make a landing in the ground. The soil must be wet. To do this, it can be watered the night before.

We have already said that it is best to plant along with peat pots. This is another additional protection and nutrition for the root system. Observe the following scheme.

  1. Break the plot into squares.
  2. The distance between the holes - 25-30 centimeters.
  3. The distance between the rows is 70 centimeters.
  4. If late varieties are planted in the garden, then these figures can be reduced by 10 centimeters.
  5. In the hole, lower the plant with a pot to the first leaves and prikopat.
  6. To produce watering.

There is nothing difficult in such a scheme. However, planting and gardening need further attention. When and how to plant, does not matter, especially if it is early varieties. The main thing is that the threat of night frost is over. There are doubts, then you can plant at intervals of several days.

It is even more profitable, because the ripening time will be different, thanks to this, each mature plant can be used alternately. After all, the culture should not overripe, otherwise the heads can throw out seed pagons and then it is not recommended to take them as food.

Before you need to determine in advance the place for this. We have already said that it is desirable that the soil be prepared from the autumn period. If this does not happen, then it can be fertilized by it after the snow has completely melted.

Seeds of late varieties are sown first, then saplings dive. Early profitable plant immediately seedlings and do not grow from seed. This significantly reduces the ripening time.

Important! If the soil is well fertilized - this is boldly late varieties of cabbage seeds. If you plant seedlings, then in each hole you need to add wood ash.

It must always be remembered that cauliflower, like the rest of its relatives, is prone to fungal diseases. It is advantageous to plant it in those areas where they had previously grown:

  • tomatoes;
  • potatoes;
  • beet;
  • cucumbers;
  • dill.

These are the plants that can disinfect the soil from fungal diseases.
  You can pickled cabbage at the time of transplant further process the roots. To do this, simply lower the root of the plant into a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Bordeaux mixture.

Also, marigolds, dill are planted between the rows, and bushes of skewed nettles are placed between the rows and at the root. This is all an additional tool in the fight against diseases and pests.

Cabbage on the plot and planted material needs protection, which consists in timely feeding and pest control.

Cauliflower protection

Despite the best efforts of breeders, most varieties of cauliflower are still poorly adapted to our climate. But if you regularly take care of the culture, then she will definitely thank. It is simple, those gardeners who regularly cultivate such a crop will agree with this.

According to their statements, it is possible to understand that it is worth trying once and that this beautiful woman will become an annual crop on the garden bed. More experience is not needed. Prepare the land, sow, care for a little and reap.

Cauliflower, like many other varieties, fell in love with numerous pests. If you notice, it is constantly mentioned about the Bordeaux mixture. This is a unique composition that will help get rid of many problems on the site.

And not only during the cultivation of cauliflower, but also many other vegetable crops, trees, bushes. The main thing is to maintain the proportions recommended by the manufacturer. This mixture of copper sulfate and lime destroys almost all pests on the plant itself, on the soil, in the soil, without damaging the crop.

On its own plot and in the house there are organic products that will help fertilize the plant. It:

  • yeast;
  • tincture of onion peels, garlic;
  • nettle.

As a rule, any country site can boast an abundance of nettle on the site. Those with more experience know that this is a unique tool. If you put it between the rows, it is able to saturate the soil useful substances, retain moisture, scare away pests. Water tinctures are a unique organic fertilizer, a source of nitrogen and phosphorus.

The yeast is dissolved in settled water, after which the plant is fertilized by adding it to the water for irrigation. Tinctures of onion peels and garlic, also scare away many pests.

What you should pay attention to in the process of growth

Like any other cabbage, a cauliflower always shows by its appearance that something is missing, something is hindering normal development. Any problem can be eliminated if the plant looks a bit sluggish, spots, caterpillars, aphid appear.

These tools quickly solve any of these problems.  But for any cabbage, and color is not an exception, a disease such as keel is very common and dangerous. If none of the methods helped, the plant continues to wither, then it is necessary to check the condition of the root.

To do this, carefully dig it out of the ground and check the root. If there are even small growths, then it speaks of the keel started. Save the plant is impossible. It dies, as the disease prevents the admission of moisture and nutrients.

Moreover, if the diseased plant is not disposed of, then there is a risk of infection of the entire crop. Sick plants are burned, disposed of far from the site. Disputes are so tenacious that they can infect the earth, even dropping to the surface with smoke. Kila is not afraid of chemicals and open fire. But, the tools proposed here will help to collect a rich harvest of cauliflower.

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As you know, cauliflower has a thinner and delicate tastethan white, but in this regard, and the process of growing it is more complex and laborious.

Cauliflower is a popular product, but efforts should be made to grow it.

It will be difficult for a beginner to cope with the cultivation of cauliflower, since certain knowledge is necessary for a good fit.

In nature, cauliflower is impossible to meet. There is an opinion that it was obtained by breeding from broccoli, and then, it was brought to white color, which makes it look like white cabbage. Therefore, now, most people know how to distinguish cauliflower from white cabbage.

Botanical description

The root system of such cabbage is in the top layer of soil, and if the plants are immediately planted on a bed, the roots of this vegetable will be much stronger than those that are planted with seeds.

The weight of each cauliflower head can fluctuate and reach 2-3 kg. Cauliflower have a different shape. Usually this:

  • round;
  • flat;
  • cone-shaped.

The color of cauliflower can be different, it all depends on the variety of seeds and the sun, but most often it is either yellow or white, like white cabbage.


White is the most popular cauliflower variety.

Features of a biological nature

If we compare cauliflower with other species, then it is most demanding for planting and growing conditions. Therefore, when gardeners are wondering how to grow cauliflower, they have to carry out numerous information gathering. Otherwise, if you do not follow the requirements that are needed for the cabbage to grow good, beautiful, big and tasty, it will not work and the seeds will be wasted.

When the best time for planting is chosen, it is necessary to take into account that cabbage does not like strong temperature fluctuations, as well as conditions of high humidity absolutely not positively affect each stage of its cultivation.

It is important to understand that cauliflower, like any other plant, needs care.


Cauliflower is very demanding on growing conditions.

Growing process

First step

Planting cauliflower requires certain preparations. First you need to prepare a mixture that will be nutritious for the seeds of cauliflower.

Here there are two options: you can immediately buy ready-made nutrient mixture, then you definitely won't have to doubt the quality, or you can cook it yourself. When the mixture is prepared independently, it is necessary to acquire a considerable amount of peat. Moreover, the preparatory work to be done in the fall.

Peat is chosen because it helps to ensure proper care of the seeds, which then grow a beautiful crop. Peat perfectly absorbs moisture that cauliflower does not like so much. Here it is very similar to the white one. Excessive moisture is the enemy of a good harvest.

Proper preparation requires care and thoroughness. The selected mixture of peat must be steamed for several hours, and then add to it 20 grams of nitrogen fertilizers and fertilizers that contain microfertilizers.

The resulting mixture should be stored until spring in an inaccessible place. It can be stored both at the cottage and at home.

The periods when you can sow the seeds may be several:

  • Period one. If you sow seedlings at this time, the harvest will be early: March 15-20.
  • Period of the second. Seedlings are planted from March 30 to April 8.
  • The third period. Sowing is performed from April 25 to May 8.

In order to harvest in the fall, sowing must be done from the beginning to the middle of June.


For planting you need to select only the highest quality seeds.

Terms are determined individually. As already mentioned, planting cauliflower is a painstaking but worthwhile job. After all, later, you will have on your hands a delicious, juicy, beautiful harvest.

Cauliflower seedlings are selected so that their seeds are larger. Because they will give the best result. They are equally well suited for landing in the Moscow region, and in Siberia, and in the Urals.

The preparatory stage on the nutrient mixture does not end. It is necessary to seedlings for planting in the same way to prepare. This can be easily done at home. Take the seeds of the desired variety, and heat them in hot water for 20 minutes. After that, they must be cooled in cold water. Next, at night, for 8 hours, you need to soak the seeds for sowing in a solution of potassium permanganate.

If all the preparations will be made in the fall, you will have to save the seedlings and the nutrient mixture for the winter. With the storage of a mixture of problems will not be. It should be away from the eyes, especially if there are children in the house, and from rodents, if you live in a private house.

In the ground at your cottage you need to make small grooves, the depth of which will not exceed 2 cm.

The seeds are arranged in them according to the scheme of 3 cm by 3 cm. Properly planted seedlings will help you to avoid many problems when the harvest begins to stretch in the garden. Make the right amount of strips for planting cauliflower. Thus, leaving the distance between the grooves, you provide space for the growth of each head of cauliflower, just as is done with white cabbage.

Picks do not recommend landing. As usual, a pick holds up the growth of seeds for several weeks. It turns out that you wanted it or not, and the harvest will be late. And this will interfere with your plans, if you expected that the cabbage will be early.


Cauliflower seedlings do not require picks.

Continuing to care for your future harvest, it is necessary for each plant to select a nutrient box from the mixture that you harvested for winter storage.

It is also possible to select a separate pot for each plant, so it will be more convenient to monitor the harvest and care for the crop. This approach will allow you to store seedlings in a comfortable environment that will only have a positive effect on the result.

While the seedlings from the ground have not yet begun to rise, it should be in optimal temperature conditions (about 22 degrees). Each cube or pot, you need to cover the film. This is to ensure that the soil under the seedlings are not dry.

Second phase

In the next step, we will answer the question of how to grow cauliflower seedlings. After all the preparatory stages described above, it is necessary to lower the temperature to 10 degrees for a week. This will help ensure better crop growth and will contribute to the rapid development of its root system. It is important that the temperature of the soil was in the range of 20-20 degrees.

Cauliflower seedlings do not tolerate when around a lot of moisture. But at the same time, overdrying is very harmful. Care must be taken to ensure that the air humidity during the cultivation of cauliflower remains within 80%.

If you do not observe the comfortable conditions for the plant, do not monitor the humidity and dryness of the soil, do not control the temperature and moisture drops, then the plant will break all terms, grow, forming small empty heads, and move on to the next stage - the flowering stage.


If you do not adhere to growing conditions, cabbage will bloom without forming heads.

Third stage

When the weather is already steadily warm, around the beginning of May, early seedlings can be transplanted to the garden to a permanent place. The main thing is to choose a good time so that the seedlings do not stretch out much. The best age of cauliflower seedlings, before it falls into the ground, must be at least 50 days. Just like with temperature and moisture, it is important that the seedlings are not too early, but at the same time it is harmful that they are overgrown.

If the age of seedlings is more than 50 days, then the quality of the finished crop will be very poor. The reason is that after planting such a seedling, it will lose several sheets, and in this case, a small head of cauliflower will form.

On a small head, the leaves will not hold well and will fall away. It is important to choose the moment when four full leaves will grow around the head. Seedlings should be planted in a permanent place very carefully, not very deep in the core. The final result will depend on how correctly the seedlings are planted.

While the seedlings will grow, you have enough time to prepare the beds in the garden. The best soil for cauliflower is a fertile soil with a neutral reaction.

If you are the owner of the dacha, it is best to plant the cauliflower and grow it in the beds. This will help ensure proper care for her.

The layout is extremely simple: all the seedlings are planted in two rows, the distance between a number of half a meter / meter. This will enable the crop to grow without hurting each other.


Cauliflower beds should be easy to clean.

Proper care means that the seedlings need to be planted in optimal conditions for it. It should not be deeply buried so that you can take care of the leaves and the plant itself.

In order for the cabbage to grow in conditions that are comfortable for it, it is necessary that the soil from which it grows is warm. To save heat, each bed is “covered” with a film. The film not only helps to keep warm, but also does not allow the weeds to go outside and spoil the crop.

After you have already seen small cauliflowers in the garden, you need to continue maintenance and storage. It is necessary to water the crop in time, weed the beds and feed the plants.

Another important condition high-quality cultivation of cabbage, both cauliflower and white, in principle - this is the correspondence of its variety and climatic conditions. For example, in conditions of the south, varieties intended for the middle band, etc. cannot be used, because then it will be difficult to care for a certain variety as required.

When the cabbage ripens it can be cleaned, or selectively removed. Harvested storage is stored in boxes. In addition, if the seedlings are small, then it can be stored in the house, in the refrigerator, on the balcony, in the basement, where it is convenient.

The main thing is that the storage conditions should be as optimal as the conditions under which the cabbage grew.


Cauliflower can be harvested as it ripens

Cauliflower varieties and hybrids

Cauliflower varieties can belong to both domestic and foreign breeding. It can also refer to the vulnerable, middle and late varieties.

Each cauliflower variety has its own individual requirements for growing, maintaining and storing. But remember that cauliflower is a perishable product that can not withstand long-term storage (at the cottage, in the cellar or somewhere else). There are several ways to store this product (storage in the open, fresh, it can be salted, pickled or frozen). Care for cabbage at all stages of cultivation is very important if you intend to achieve the desired result.


Cauliflower Goodman may have a yellowish tint

Varieties of foreign selection:

  • Fine linen. It is a Dutch hybrid that harnesses early enough. This plant has a large head and looks quite powerful. The head of this representative of the Dutch selection is densely covered with leaves. Usually grown in spring and summer, sometimes in autumn.
  • Goodman Another representative of the Dutch selection. This cauliflower variety has a yellowish head and a flat shape. The head of the cabbage is only partially covered with leaves. It has a pronounced taste. Cabbage Goodman is ideal for early production in open fields and film greenhouses at home.
  • Opaal. It is the fastest growing variety of Dutch cauliflower. Can be grown in almost all areas and in different conditions. Suitable for growing in greenhouses and on the ground. It has a bright white head and a flat shape. It tastes great.
  • Alpha. Very early variety (from germination to harvest 85-95 days). Suitable cauliflower varieties Alpha for the Urals and regions with similar weather conditions (Siberia). This variety has excellent taste. Alpha cauliflower heads are white in color, smooth, medium density. Therefore, it is so popular in the Urals and Siberia. This variety is successfully used at home for various processing methods: cooking, frying, salting and freezing.


Alpha cauliflower ripens quickly and is suitable for cold regions

Cauliflower varieties other than the Dutch, may be other selections. Although Dutch are the most common.  Among them are:

  • Patriotic. This cauliflower variety can rightly be considered a veteran, since it has been grown since the 50s. It has a flat shape and a bright white head. Very tasty, does not lose shape for a long time. It is intended for fresh consumption, salting and canning, as well as storage. Domestic cabbage does not require special care.
  • Early Gribovskaya. It has a white head, matures quickly and has excellent taste. Usually grown in spring and summer. Cauliflower Gribovskaya 1355 is very popular in the suburbs.
  • Smilla. Quite a popular hybrid that can be grown almost everywhere. It has a flat shape, a bright white head of medium size, which is completely covered with leaves. In weight, one head can easily reach 3 kg.
  • Snowball Famous domestic hybrid grown everywhere. It has a white head, round shape, completely covered with leaves. Wonderful taste. It can grow and produce crops even under bad conditions. Designed for cultivation in film liners and open ground. This variety is great for salads and pickling at home.

As you can see, cauliflower is not very fastidious plant for growing, but requires some knowledge and preparation, as well as compliance with temperature conditions, climate and humidity. However, the observance of all these rules allows you to get a good and tasty harvest as a result.

Proper planting of cauliflower for seedlings and regular care for them is a guarantee of a stable harvest. However, few people know that it is possible to get inflorescences of this culture rich in vitamins and microelements from the second half of May to mid-October. How to do it? To this question we have prepared a number of useful recommendations.

When sowing cauliflower seeds for seedlings

To get the first early harvest, cauliflower is sown on seedlings in the last decade of February. As a rule, seedlings are grown in a room or heated greenhouse. In order to use separate peat pots, pills or ordinary plastic cups. In such conditions, seedlings should be until 4-6 of these leaves appear.

Seedlings of cauliflower, which was sown in February, are transferred to prepared beds in the first half of April. To protect plants from frost, it is best to use film covers or shelters made of spunbond. Well proven, which can be used to establish stable weather conditions.

IMPORTANT! Cauliflower planted out of seeds may not bind heads due to planting seedlings too early. Even a frost of -1 ° C is able to destroy the growth point, and the curly head will not form. For reliability, the seedlings are gradually quenched before they land in the ground.

For harvest at the end of July - in early August, the cauliflower begins to germinate seedlings from April until the end of May. If you sow a crop periodically every week, then from mid-summer to early autumn you will be able to regularly shoot juicy inflorescences. It is best to sow seeds in hotbeds or late greenhouses. In the open ground plants are sent in the last days of May - mid June.


Get a good harvest of cabbage blossoms in September or the first half of October will allow summer planting of seedlings. To do this, prepared seeds of culture are sown in early June in an open or protected ground. If the planting scheme is observed (usually the distance between plants is 40x50 cm), the strengthened plants can be left in the same place. In the opposite case, the transplant is better to make in early July.

Choosing cauliflower varieties

Planting cauliflower seedlings to collect in a certain period should be made not only at a certain time, but also taking into account the time of ripening. Get summer harvest will allow the selection of seed early and mid-season varieties. Autumn harvest can be obtained by choosing late-ripening varieties for planting.

TIP: The most important thing when planting cauliflower is not to lose time with the deadlines, since during late planting the inflorescences do not have time to mature. Therefore, the total number of stages of sowing seeds for seedlings should not be more than 4.

What kind of cauliflower is best used for planting? Long-term practice of our summer residents allowed us to identify the most reliable varietal material for the climate of central Russia and Belarus. This is a classic, time-tested.

The best varieties of cauliflower
Ripening Number of days Sort
Early spikes from 90 to 110 days
  • Amphora;
  • Alpha;
  • Snowball;
  • Early Gribovskaya 1355;
  • Express.
MEDIUM from 110 to 135 days
  • Pioneer;
  • Rocket;
  • Patriotic.
LATEST about 150 days for the Moscow region
  • Consist;
  • Autumn giant;
  • Skywalker F1;
  • Regent.

Seed preparation for distillation of seedlings

Before germinating their cauliflower seeds, first of all, you need to calibrate and check for germination. This is done quite simply:

  • seeds are examined and selected by the form of large, healthy;
  • then the seeds are put into a container with warm water (47 ... 50 ° C;
  • in 20 minutes. sunken seeds are extracted and processed cold water  within 1 min;
  • seeds floating on the surface are rejected.

Next, calibrated cabbage seeds are soaked for 8 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). For better germination of the prepared material, you can use special preparations that stimulate the growth of seeds with a disinfecting effect (for example, EPIN). After disinfection, the seeds are washed in running water and placed for a day on the lower shelf of the refrigerator.

INTERESTING: To disinfect cauliflower seeds before sowing seedlings, you can use garlic juice, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3.

Soil preparation for seedlings

Having determined for yourself the time when to plant cauliflower seedlings and properly preparing the seed, you can proceed directly to sowing it. But before that, take care of the nutrient soil in which the seedlings will be grown. It can be purchased or prepared as follows:

  • humus or compost - 2 parts;
  • peat - 7 parts;
  • rotted mullein - 1 part;
  • turf ground - 1 part.

Consider that the soil for seedlings of this type of cabbage should be lighter in terms of its mechanical composition. Therefore, it is desirable to add into the prepared soil rotted sawdust and river coarse sand in equal parts - in the amount of one liter jar.

For the disinfection of soil in which the seedlings of cauliflower planted from seeds will grow, it is necessary to be long enough - pre-freeze for 1-2 months (on the balcony, in the open air in the yard). After that, it is possible to calcine the soil, but such disinfection is not always effective, because in parallel with the disease, it is possible to kill the beneficial microflora. Usually, additional heat treatment is performed if there is a threat that the keel pathogen is present in the soil.

IMPORTANT! Soil mixture for planting seedlings of cauliflower should be light and enriched with organic matter. The prepared substrate must be neutral, not acidified. For deoxidation per 1 liter of land use: kiln ash - 20 g or dolomite flour - 15 g.

Preparing containers for sowing seeds

In order to have an early cauliflower harvest in June, seedlings are sprouting only in pots; peaty or bulk. You can germinate seeds in peat cubes, cassettes or cardboard trays of eggs.


Such agrotechnology allows growing sprouts without picking with further transplantation into open ground. A pick of this type of cabbage is not shown, since the short taproot can be broken. In addition, cauliflower grown in individual containers is less susceptible to damage such as keel.

When using wooden boxes for sowing cauliflower seeds, they must be disinfected. This can be done in one of two ways:

  • To process dark solution of potassium permanganate;
  • Make a boiling water treatment of the entire surface of the boxes.

Planting cauliflower seeds for seedlings

Sowing cauliflower seeds for seedlings is done in seed boxes or individual cups. Traditionally, in each pot, in each hole of the box put 2 seeds. They are deepened by 2 centimeters, then sprinkled with soil and mulched with dry, steamed river sand. Then the container is covered with glass or film and put in a warm dark place. At a temperature of 20 o C shoots appear on the 2nd ... 4th day after planting. At this moment it is very important to leave one of the two shoots - the strongest.


To prevent the cauliflower seedlings from stretching, immediately after spitting for 5 days, it creates favorable conditions:

  • daytime temperature regime - +10 ° C;
  • night temperature - +6 ° C;
  • bright lighting (backlit).

After 5 days, the temperature is gradually increased to 18 ° C during the daytime, and to 10 ° C at night. On cloudy days, the ambient air temperature should not be higher than 14 ° C.

IMPORTANT! During the sowing of seeds, the soil temperature should be 18 ... 24 o C, humidity mode - 70 - 80%. Overdrying of the soil, low (less than 4–6 ° C) and high (more than 25 ° C) temperature can cause stress. As a result, cabbage forms small heads and fast flowering.

Care for cauliflower seedlings

At emergence of shoots of a cauliflower plants will need periodic fertilization. As a rule, spend 3 dressings. The first - after the appearance of the 2nd ... 3rd of this leaflet. Subsequent feeding make an interval of 10 days. As feedings use the following:

  • Infusion of wood ash at the rate of 200 g glass per 10 liter bucket;
  • Insulin mulle in the ratio of 1:10 with the addition of a tablespoon of superphosphate;

IMPORTANT! When forcing and developing cauliflower seedlings, one should not abuse nitrogen fertilizers, because they increase the acidity of the soil, which is destructive for these plants.

Watering the cauliflower, planted with seeds, is best sprinkled. This method allows to increase the humidity and reduces the temperature of the soil and air. Water temperature for irrigation should be several degrees higher than soil temperature.

Favorable conditions are necessary in a greenhouse for cauliflower. If it is hot, the greenhouse is aired, excluding drafts, which are absolutely contraindicated for cauliflower. AT warm days  greenhouse frames can be opened. And before planting the seedlings in the ground for several days in a greenhouse, they maintain a daytime temperature close to the temperature outside.

Cauliflower is an annual garden plant; it is not found in the wild. Diet vegetable was introduced to Russia more than 200 years ago. Today, growing cauliflowers are engaged not only professionals, but also simple summer residents. However, without knowing the intricacies of the agrotechnology of this crop, good yields cannot be obtained.

Basic rules for growing cauliflower in open field

To obtain commodity inflorescences-heads, which are rich in vitamins and minerals, it is important to know some of the features of the vegetable, and to strictly follow the techniques of agricultural engineering.

1. Cauliflower, like other varieties of culture, tends to accumulate a large number  nitrates in the heads. To avoid this, you need to properly feed the seedlings. For the preparation of nutrient mixtures use only rotted manure or compost. The presence of fresh manure and the lack of potassium in mixtures leads to an accumulation of nitrates.

2. Grow vegetables in well-lit places. Thickened planting and non-compliance with the temperature regime contributes to the accumulation of nitrates in the heads.

3. Throughout the entire period of cultivation, cabbage is demanding on soil moisture, so the bed must be watered regularly.

4. The best predecessors for cauliflower will be legumes, tomatoes, potatoes and cucumbers. You can not plant a vegetable after cruciferous crops.

5. At one place to plant seedlings of cabbage can be no more than three years, after which the bed should be changed.

Cauliflower is grown in two ways - seedling and sowing seeds in open ground, the latter is acceptable only for residents of the southern regions of the country. Basically, the cultivation of vegetables occurs through seedlings.

Preparing cauliflower beds

This variety of cabbage is very demanding on the composition of the soil. You can get a good harvest only on light nutrient soils that are able to retain moisture. The soil for planting cabbage is prepared in advance. In the autumn, the beds are filled with rotted manure or compost at the rate of 10 kg per 1 sq. Km. square meter. It is best to apply fertilizer for digging the soil. It is made after harvest. Deep loosening and large doses of organic fertilizers - the key to a good harvest in the future season.

In addition to organics, cabbage needs mineral fertilizers. In the autumn, the following preparations are made under digging:

100 grams of superphosphate;

120 grams of potassium.

If desired, they are replaced by the introduction of 1-2 kg of wood ash. In winter, the soil is not leveled, but left in blocks for better frost penetration. This contributes to the destruction of wintering pests.

In order to prevent the appearance of small non-commodity heads, boron preparations are introduced under digging in the fall. Determining the lack of this element is simple: the cabbages are tied loose, leaves are deformed, and the heads often begin to rot from the inside.

If in the autumn with digging up the soil is late, then preparation of the beds should be done in the spring. At the beginning of the season contribute:

3-5 kg ​​of humus;

100 grams of urea;

100 grams of double superphosphate;

20-30 grams of magnesium sulphate;

120 grams of potassium salt;

2 grams of boric acid;

1.5 kg of wood ash.

The number of drugs designed for 10 square meters. meters of beds.

How to grow healthy seedlings

When growing cabbage in a seedless way, the seeds are buried in a moist soil in early May, when the soil warms up to 10 degrees. After germination, the cabbage is dived and planted in the garden. The seeding depth is about 2 cm.

With growing seedlings will have to work hard. There are simple rules that will allow you to get a strong and healthy seedlings.

1. Growing seedlings begins in a heated room 60 days before the intended landing on the garden bed.

2. Before sowing, seed treatment is carried out. First, they are kept in hot water (temperature up to 50 degrees) for about 20 minutes, then placed in a container with cold water. Next, prepare a solution of microelements (manganese + boron) and keep cooled seed in it.

3. Before the emergence of shoots in the room maintain a temperature of about 18 degrees. After that, it is reduced to +10 during the day and +5 at night. A week later, the temperature is raised to +15 degrees. At this level, it is maintained until the planting of seedlings into the ground.

When growing seedlings in a common box, it is important to remember that the root system of cauliflower is weak. A week before landing it in the ground, the soil is cut into squares. This procedure helps the seedling to form an extensive root system.

To produce large cauliflower heads throughout the season, many gardeners plant a seedling conveyor belt. Planting seedlings on the beds is carried out after the threat of frost.

Planting seedlings in open ground

A good cauliflower seedlings before planting should have up to 4 developed leaves, an extensive root system. Overgrown seedlings in the future will give small heads.

Photos of full-grown cauliflower seedlings


Growing cauliflower in the open field begins with planting seedlings on the beds. The optimal landing time is the beginning of May. But if the risk of return frost exists, then the seedlings need to be covered with a film.

The scheme of planting seedlings on the bed is as follows:

The distance between the rows is about 50 cm;

Distance between seedlings up to 40 cm.


Plants in the hole are buried to the cotyledon leaves, tightly pressed to the ground. After planting, seedlings are well watered and hardened. Cruciferous flea often attacks freshly planted plants. To scare it, ash or tobacco dust is used, which is sprinkled with beds of plants.

Cauliflower care in the garden

Cauliflower needs regular abundant watering and high humidity. In hot summer, without additional spraying, heads are formed ahead of time, and they are small and tasteless. During the laying of the head plant watered 5-8 times a week.

Feedings

A few days after transplanting, it is fed with a solution of mineral fertilizers on the sheet. After 10 - 15 days, cabbage can be fed with the following mixture:

Ammonium nitrate - 15 g;

Superphosphate - 10 g;

Potassium chloride - 15 gr.

The prepared solution is watered by planting on wet soil, after which the bed is loosened by slightly spuding the seedlings.

The following feeding is carried out only after 20-25 days, increasing the dose of fertilizers 1.5-2 times. The last time the cabbage is fertilized after 10 days from the third dressing.

Pest control

Cabbage is often affected by pests that slow down plant growth and significantly reduce yield. To scare off insects apply infusions of tomato tops and potatoes, and also spray the seedlings with tobacco solution.

Cauliflower contains more vitamins than other types of cabbage. But the process of growing it is quite laborious. To avoid mistakes and get a good harvest, it is important to remember that cabbage is a long day plant. For tying the product heads, she needs warmth and enough light. Crop harvested as it ripens. Overgrown cooking color change to greenish and crumble. Cut ripe cooking need with leaves. It is better to store cauliflower in frozen form, previously divided into florets. In the basement, it is not stored for a long time, it quickly fades and deteriorates. Experienced housewives prefer conservation from cabbage, which allows you to save a maximum of vitamins.