Cauliflower seedlings: the details of planting and growing

Owners of houses and gardens annually engaged in planting in the soil of various vegetable crops. Harvesting in large quantities brings immense satisfaction.

In the last decade, many gardeners have successfully grown fruit plants in the latitudes of the middle and northern regions of Russia, which were previously fruitful only in the southern regions. These include cauliflower.

Planting cauliflower in vegetable gardens until recently was a rare phenomenon. Since this fruit crop grows in a hot climate, gardeners were wary of the feasibility of planting it.

Most of them did not have proper knowledge of caring for cabbage and did not risk growing it so as not to get frustrated. However, the climate has changed significantly in the direction of warming and the summer sun has become quite sufficient for the growth of this plant and its full ripening in different climatic zones.

By its characteristics, cauliflower is different from other varieties of cabbage. It is much more saturated with vitamins and minerals that have a beneficial effect on the human body and contribute to the elimination of toxins, slags and pathogenic bacteria from it.

This vegetable culture, in contrast to the usual white cabbage, requires more light and heat for growing, because the root system of this plant is delicate. For optimal growth, it needs air temperature not lower than + 16- +18 degrees Celsius.otherwise, the fruits will be smaller in size, and eventually their taste will be partially lost.

The high temperature conditions of the air associated with high humidity are also unfavorable for the growth of this culture. At a temperature of + 28 ° C, active vegetable growth can be slowed down. Therefore, proper care of the seedlings will ensure a good harvest in the future.

Cauliflower is of three varieties (early, medium, late culture). The time difference between the final maturation of each of them is from 10 to 14 days.

First, they sow seeds in the soil and wait for them to germinate. You can purchase planting material on the market or in the greenhouse complex.

Early varieties of vegetables are Amethyst, Snowball, Regent, White Castle and others. Cabbage heads ripen from them in the period from 50 to 100 days.

Popular mid-season varieties of vegetable plants:

• "Flora Blanca" (Polish seedlings);
• "Purple ball", well tolerating the fall of the autumn temperature;
• "Parisian" and "White Beauty";
• Dachnitsa and other species.

The period of their growth to full maturity ranges from 100 to 130 days.

Late cabbage (Amsterdam, Autumn Giant and many others) ripens in the range of 4 to 6 months and does not land in the center of Russia because it lacks light and heat for the final ripening over such a period.

This seedling is resistant to changes in temperature conditions. By October 15, the final maturation of cabbage heads. They can be cut off.

The process of sowing cabbage seeds is directly related to its variety. Accordingly, it can be divided into groups.

The first include early shoots. They are sown in late March - early April. For germination such seeds need from 110 to 125 days.

The second group of seeds is the seedlings of rapid germination (early ripening). The time period of their growth is the interval from 80 to 110 days. They must be sown from mid-March to its end.

The next group of seeds germinates within 125-135 days. They are disembarked in the first week of April or May. This seeding refers to the number of mid-season seeds.

The fourth category includes late seeds grown in the last week of May until mid-June.For ripening, they need from 140 to 170 days.

It is best to check them for germination before sowing. This will make it possible to avoid labor costs and save time spent. You can try to germinate a few pieces using a wet cloth. While maintaining a constant air temperature in the room, seed germination will be observed for 5-7 days.

If after this period of time they have not risen, then there is no need to engage in germination further. Replace the entire batch of seeds.

A solution is made, and the seeds are immersed there, and after a day they are removed from the solution and washed thoroughly, dried. Also, the germination test is carried out by immersing the seeds in heated water. Seeds suitable for planting under their weight fall to the bottom of the tank, and the unusable seeds will be on top and float on the water.

If you have firmly decided to start planting cauliflower, the soil for seeds for 1.5-2 months, you need to hold in the cold at minus temperatures. This can be a barn, a shed or a gazebo on the house plot or a balcony (for apartment owners). In this way, the soil will freeze, and all the harmful bacteria in it will die.

Seeds and seedlings of cauliflower should be planted in soil diluted with sawdust or sand. Best suited for this river sand. Soil for sowing is fertilized with peat or humus composition.

Planting cabbage seeds at home is possible in late February or early March. Later varieties of seeds are sown at home in the last week of March. As a container, use deep wooden boxes, separate pots.

When using seed boxes, plant the seeds in rows. The distance between them should be 2-3 cm.

Wells are made in rows in which 2 seeds are planted. Next, gently cover the landing site with soil. Top seeds covered with ash or use calcined sand. At the end produce watering with water. In the pots the landing is done in a similar way.

After planting seeds in the container for their germination, it is covered with a film. Especially for growing seedlings sold film that does not prevent the penetration of sunlight. For seed germination requires an air temperature of +20 degrees Celsius.

To grow cauliflower seedlings from seed at home, you need to carefully monitor the temperature of the air at the location of the seed box or pots with sown seeds. When the seeds germinate, the temperature must be lowered to plus 6-7 degrees Celsius during the day and up to 6 degrees at night. In this state, the seedlings are left for seven days and then the temperature is again raised to +12 degrees Celsius.

After that, the seedlings are left in this temperature for 10 days. The soil should be constantly moistened. After 24-25 days, seedlings will be ready for planting in the ground.

The soil for growing cabbage should contain a large amount of humus and mineral fertilizers. In the spring, before planting a vegetable crop, it is recommended to dig up the ground and add humus at a rate of 1.5 buckets per 1 square meter of land, as well as minerals (for example, nitrophoska).

Just before landing, several hours into deep holes made for planting fall asleep manure or humus with the addition of ash. After this fertilizer sprinkle a little soil and watered. After 4-5 hours, seedlings can be planted.

A layer of soil is removed from the wells. After they are immersed in cauliflower seedlings. The distance between the stalks should be 60 cm. They should be planted, following the rules of disembarkation. The lowest leaf should be buried in the ground, and the leaf located on the stem above, should remain above the ground surface.This will give the opportunity to grow a good harvest. After that produce a thorough watering of vegetable seedlings with water.

When seeds are planted in the ground and the first leaves appear, then after two weeks, the seedlings need to be swooped down (transplanted) in containers filled with fertilizers. The best option is considered diving seedlings into pots with peat. They are sold in flower shops or in greenhouses. A picking is done to ensure that the cauliflower seedlings are strong and suitable for planting in open ground. In pots, it remains for 25-30 days. After it transplanted into the open ground.

After planting seedlings in open ground they need to take care. The most important thing is to maintain the optimum temperature for cabbage growth (up to +25 degrees Celsius), but not lower than +18 degrees. The plant does not withstand the high temperature, and the ovary of the heads may be formed earlier. They, in turn, will not ripen to the necessary limit, will be lethargic and frail. Regular soil loosening around each bush and dressing will ensure good plant growth.

During the period of growing cauliflower it is necessary to feed it several times (at least three times per season).

For the feed, mullein, Kristalin fertilizer and nitrophoska are used.

The first time you need to feed the plant after landing in the ground after 20 days. In a half-liter jar bred mullein and pour the contents into a bucket of 8-10 liters. Each bush must be treated with this solution.

After carrying out the first top-dressing do the second top-dressing. The interval between them is 10 days. A spoonful of Kristalina is added to the previous composition. Under each bush you need to pour up to 1 liter of the solution.

The third time cauliflower is fed in June. Make a solution of water and nitrophoska. On 1 square meter of land with seedlings have 7-8 liters of such a solution. Prepare it as follows: nitrophobia in the amount of 2 tablespoons dissolved in 10 liters of water and stirred.

Before the cabbage heads begin to tie, it is recommended to fertilize each bush with a solution with elements of boron, molybdenum. They put 2 grams per 10 liters of water. Thus, cabbage is fertilized during the ripening season.

Among the common diseases of cauliflower include such diseases:

• perinospora - vague yellow spots on the upper side of the leaves and white bloom on their lower part;
• jaundice - leaves turn yellow on both sides and wither, the disease affects the stem and makes it impossible for moisture and nutrition to penetrate into it;
• kila - on the roots of a vegetable culture, huge blooms are formed, the plant fades and the leaves turn yellow;
• vascular and mucous bacteriosis - in the first case, the cabbage head is not formed, in the second case, the head turns black;
• cabbage mosaic - A viral disease in which the veins of the stem brighten and then dark green spots form around them.

To combat diseases and pests using various methods. To get rid of insects and slugs, carry out fumigation of plants with tobacco or ash. From the stems of tomatoes or onion peels prepare a solution for spraying.

Affected plants should be sprayed with special solutions. After harvesting, be sure to remove from the land all the remains of plants (roots). If the cabbage was struck with a keel, then the site should be fertilized in the spring with lime-containing materials (chalk in the amount of 1.5-2 cups per 1 square meter of land or dolomite flour). They are scattered on the site and they dig up the whole earth.Nitrogen fertilizers should not be applied to the soil during the second growing season of plants, but only potash or phosphorus additives should be used.

Water the affected plants with a solution of potassium permanganate and water. At 10 liters of water put 5 grams of the substance. Also used for watering (disinfection) infusion of onion peel. For its preparation take a husk in the amount of 200 grams and pour boiling water in the amount of 2 liters. Insist 48 hours and then mixed with water. To process 1 square meter of land, you will need 1 liter of solution.

It is necessary to maintain soil moisture by frequent watering. However, you can not overdo it, so as not to fill the seedlings.

Watering should be done 2-3 times a week, pouring up to 7 liters of water at a time into 1 square meter of land. After a period of time, the amount of water for irrigation is increased to 3 liters, and the irrigation itself is made once a week. Immediately after watering the soil should be loosened.

When the seedlings are extended, you can try to make at least one non-seedbed leaf deeper into the soil. When there are no leaves other than cotyledons, the seedlings should be transplanted to another place (swoop down in different containers). Seedlings can be stretched from lack of light. If she was kept in a cool and poorly lit room, or under a thick layer of film, then in this case, you need to organize her backlight.

When the cauliflower seedlings grow poorly, the leaves dry out and the entire seedling withers, the reason for this may be excessive watering of the plant. Also, if after each watering you forget to loosen the soil, then there is a chance that the soil will become covered with a crust and moisture will not be enough for full growth of the seedlings. The access of oxygen in this case is limited, rotting of the roots occurs and the leaves dry. Wilting seedlings in the ground may be due to the lack of acid and alkali.

Growing cabbage seedlings for planting it in the soil is a difficult task. Vegetable culture cauliflower is a very specific plant.

All the details of the process of cauliflower seedlings, see below.