Growing cauliflower in a regular garden is not difficult, especially if you have experience growing white cabbage.
In essence, the agricultural technology is no different. Those who plant early white cabbage can sow cauliflower in parallel with it, cultivating the two species together in one bed.
But there are still secrets that agronomists know, but summer residents often ignore.
Secret one: love of heat
All cabbages are cold-resistant, even frost-resistant plants, so they grow better in the cool than in the warm. But cauliflower likes moderate warmth. It is best to germinate seeds at a temperature of about 22 degrees, then the shoots will appear on the 3-4th day.
After the shoots appear, it is recommended to place the cups in a cooler place. The temperature should be around 17 degrees.
Secret two: plant on time
The yield depends on the size of the leaf apparatus. If you keep the seedlings in cups for too long, the leaves will develop poorly due to the limited space. Therefore, the best time to transplant into open ground is 25-30 days after germination.
Also, some summer residents practice sowing seedlings in a greenhouse in early spring. In this case, the seeds take longer to germinate, but the seedlings are stronger and more hardened. Despite its love for warmth, cauliflower is not afraid of the cold and grows well in an unheated greenhouse.
Secret three: nutrition
The key to high yields is adequate nutrition. While the leaf apparatus is forming, the plant is very demanding of nitrogen. The first feeding should be done 10 days after planting in the ground, the second after another 10-15 days.
You can fertilize:
- Ammonium nitrate (40 g per 10 l of water).
- Urea (40 g per 10 l of water).
- Infusion of bird droppings (0.5 l per 10 l of water).
- Green grass fermenter (1 liter per 10 liters of water).
When the plant begins to produce a flower stalk, nitrogen fertilizers should be replaced with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers. The best option in this case is wood ash. 1.5 cups of ash should be diluted in a bucket of water and left overnight. Pour 1 liter of infusion under each plant.
You can also use monopotassium phosphate according to the instructions.
Important: all fertilizing is carried out on moist soil.
Secret number four: microelements
In addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, cabbage needs minerals. It is especially sensitive to boron, manganese and molybdenum. You can, of course, buy them separately and mix them, but it is easier to buy a complex fertilizer that contains these three elements.
You can feed at the root and by spraying on the leaves.
Secret number five: watering
Cauliflower requires a lot of water. To get a large head, you will have to water the bed regularly. The amount of water depends on the weather and soil characteristics. But try to keep the soil moderately moist at all times. It is also worth remembering that it is better to water the bed generously 2 times a week so that the soil gets wet to a depth of 30–40 cm than to water it in small amounts every day. In this case, the plant will still not have enough water, but increased humidity in the bed will lead to the development of diseases.
