Cauliflower is an extremely tasty and he althy vegetable. It contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals necessary for human life. There are many varieties of cauliflower that are easy enough to grow even in difficult climatic conditions.
Chemical composition and benefits
Cabbage contains a huge amount of vitamin C, without which it is difficult to imagine a he althy immune system. Together with vitamin PP, it strengthens the walls of blood vessels, promotes their healing and prevents the formation of blood clots. In addition, cauliflower is rich in vitamin A. This extremely important element is involved in the creation of new cells in all organ tissues. With a lack of vitamin A, the skin of the face begins to dry and become covered with peeling. Cracks often appear at the corners of the mouth, and hair and nails become weak and brittle.
This vegetable is notable for being extremely low in calories. So, for one hundred grams of the product there are only thirty calories. A huge amount of fiber has a beneficial effect on the stomach and starts the cleansing process. People wholike cabbage, as a rule, rarely get sick, look slim and fit.
Scientists have proven the property of cabbage to prevent the appearance of cancer of the stomach and rectum. It heals the mucous membrane and prevents the development of peptic ulcer. Cauliflower also contains omega-3 polyunsaturated acids and folic acid.
Features of choice
First of all, you should pay attention to the peculiarities of growing in different climatic conditions. To date, the choice of cauliflower is quite large. There are varieties with cream, bright white and even yellow tint. And also the shape of the vegetable and the speed of its ripening are different.
As a rule, varieties of late-ripening cabbage are more productive. They, like ordinary white cabbage, are most often used for pickling and pickling. They keep well for several months, allowing gardeners to enjoy the delicate taste of cauliflower all winter long.
Early varieties tend to mature within a hundred days. The most famous are "Movir" and "Express". Of the mid-season, "White Beauty" and "Flora Blanca" are distinguished.
Variety "White Beauty"
Cabbage of this variety is quite dense and medium-large. Its weight very often exceeds one kilogram. The bright white core of the vegetable is surrounded by light leaves that practically hide it. Due to its high yield of six kilograms per square meter, this variety is quite popular among vegetable growers.
"White Beauty" is recommended to be grown in the open ground with seedlings, which are previously germinated from seeds. The total ripening period is just over one hundred and twenty days. The advantages of this variety include the following qualities:
- Juicy and firm flesh. It can be consumed s alted, pickled and even fresh.
- She has a great taste that many cooks love.
- Due to its attractive appearance and excellent properties, this variety is often planted for sale.
Disadvantages include a tendency to diseases inherent in this vegetable.
Cauliflower "Cortez F1"
This attractive variety is white in color and quite large in size, sometimes weighing up to three kilograms. After planting seedlings, cabbage ripens within three and a half months and often catches the first frosts. "Cortez F1" is often landed for sale. Despite the obvious advantages, the Cortes F1 has its drawbacks. This cabbage is quite capricious in care and demanding for feeding. It is nearly impossible to grow in mineral-poor soils.
Variety "Amerigo F1"
This is another popular late cauliflower variety (pictured). Its weight is somewhat inferior to the Cortes F1 variety. As a rule, it does not exceed two and a half kilograms. This is a fairly frost-resistant variety that is beneficial to grow in areas of risky farming, where the first frosts come early. It not only tolerates cold well, but is also resistant to high temperatures. Vegetable growers have to feed it regularly, as "Amerigo F1" is quite picky about good soil and loves fertilizer.
Early ripe "Movir"
This variety of cauliflower (pictured) has a fairly high ripening rate. This usually happens on the hundredth day after the start of sowing seeds. The sockets are medium-sized and barely reach ninety centimeters. This variety is quite hardy and can withstand night frosts well. The shape of the head is round and slightly flattened. Its color ranges from white to light yellow. Movir cabbage is very often eaten raw or used for canning.
Medium "Flora Blanco"
This cabbage has a fairly large size with a slightly raised rosette. Its leaves densely frame the white core. This feature of the Flora Blanco variety is very helpful in combating the summer drought. Harvesting begins on the one hundred and tenth day after planting. Heads of cabbage have a fairly long shelf life and perfectly tolerate transportation over long distances. She practically does not get sick and does not freeze. Light frosts may well withstand.
In addition, "Flora Blanco" has a good yield and is liked by cooks. This is one of the best cauliflower varieties for short summer areas. Heads of cabbage ripen at the same time, making it very convenient to harvest. This feature of Flora Blanco is perfect for farming.
Variety "Express MS"
Thisearly ripe cabbage has excellent taste. Unlike Flora Blanco, Express MS has very few leaves. The size of a head of cabbage usually does not exceed half a kilogram. Already at the end of June, you can harvest the first harvest. One of the disadvantages of the Express MS cauliflower variety is its high demands on the quality of the soil. Therefore, it has to be fed regularly. As a rule, the first top dressing is carried out while growing seedlings. It is recommended to use not only mineral fertilizers, but also organic fertilizers.
This cabbage loves the sun and moisture. It can not be planted in dark places or close to each other. There should be a small distance between plants, as being too close together will harm them.
Cauliflower Guarantee
Another good early ripe variety is Guarantee. It was first grown over fifty years ago. He has proven himself among the inhabitants of Siberia and the Far East. It is also one of the best varieties of cauliflower for Central Russia. Heads of bright white color are almost completely covered with thick fleshy leaves.
The shape of the heads is semicircular and slightly flattened. Its dimensions are small, and its weight barely reaches one kilogram. It usually takes three months to mature. With proper care, this variety gives an excellent harvest.
Early ripe "Alpha"
This medium-sized cabbage ripens within sixty days from the start of planting seedlings. It contains a large amount of sugar, thanks to which the taste of Alpha is excellent. She tolerates wellfreezing, and after thawing retains all its qualities. The first harvest is usually obtained in late spring. It is also one of the best outdoor cauliflower varieties.
Dutch Goodman F1
This hybrid has unique properties. It has a very short ripening period, usually not exceeding seventy days. This variety loves regular fertilizing and watering. However, thanks to a fairly powerful root system, Goodman F1 tolerates drought well. In addition to excellent taste, this cabbage is practically not susceptible to fungal diseases and tolerates transportation over long distances. It is often used by processors, since during freezing and subsequent defrosting, heads of cabbage absolutely do not lose their qualities. The color of the cabbage is pure white.
Features of cultivation
This vegetable loves top dressing and is often picky about good, mineral-rich soil. For seed germination, the following mixture is prepared: three parts of peat, one part of sawdust and one mullein. Sand can be used instead of sawdust. In this case, the composition of the soil will be as follows: one part of peat and ten parts of humus. Mineral fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate and superphosphate are used for top dressing.
In most cases, the seedling method is used to grow cauliflower. Seeds begin to germinate from March or late February. As for mid-season varieties, the optimal period for them is the period from mid-April to May 10. Late-grade cauliflower seeds germinate from late May to mid-June.
Seedlings of early cabbage are planted in early May or in the twentieth of April. Everything will depend on the weather conditions in the climatic zone where the landing takes place. From the twentieth of May, they begin to plant mid-season varieties. And from the first of July, they begin to work with latecomers.
Experienced vegetable growers advise planting seedlings on a cloudy day. The bed should be well lit, without dimming. Literally seven days before the start of planting, seedlings are no longer fed with fertilizers containing nitrogen. Instead, plants are watered with a solution of potassium chloride in the ratio: three grams per liter of liquid. Thanks to him, the cold resistance of seedlings increases, and it becomes less prone to night frosts.
Which seeds to choose
Cauliflower seeds are selected depending on the region. For example, for the Urals and the Middle Strip, early frost-resistant varieties will be the best options. These include Alpha, White Castle, Express and Movir 74. First of all, the variety must be cold-resistant and not prone to fungal diseases.
The best varieties of cauliflower for the Moscow region are considered to be the same "Express", "Movir 74" and "Alpha". And also cabbage "Guarantee", "Skorospelka" and "Gribovskaya early" has proven itself well. These varieties also have a number of advantages. For example, "Skorospelka" has a rather high head density and excellent taste. It is extremely juicy and elastic."Gribovskaya" tolerates darkening well. The inflorescences of this cabbage are somewhat loose, and the weight of the head often reaches seven hundred grams.
Among the features of growing in the Moscow region, experts note the following points:
- All varieties of cauliflower should be planted in an open area without shade on the bed. The fact is that this vegetable is extremely fond of the sun, and in this region it is not enough. Even small shrubs can significantly reduce the quality and yield of cauliflower.
- The composition of the soil in the suburbs leaves much to be desired. As already mentioned, cauliflower does not tolerate acidic soils and therefore vegetable growers have to alkalize it with limestone. Dolomite flour can be used instead of lime.
To increase productivity, experienced gardeners advise preparing the soil in the beds in advance. To do this, neutral soil is made from acidic soil in autumn.
Throughout the entire growing period, right up to harvest, almost all varieties of cauliflower require attention. This vegetable loves elements such as boron and molybdenum. It is recommended to spray seedlings with solutions of these substances. Immediately after planting in open ground, the plants are covered for forty-eight hours with a regular film. Water the vegetable no more than once a week, provided there is no obvious heat. Extreme care should be taken when weeding weeds and loosening the soil. The fact is that the roots of this plant are located too close to the surface of the earth and therefore they are easy to damage.
For disease and pest controluse "Fitosporin", "Enterobacterin" or folk remedies.
Harvesting
In the description of the cauliflower variety on the package with seeds, manufacturers, as a rule, prescribe the recommended time for harvesting heads. Sometimes two crops can be obtained from one plant. If the head of cabbage did not have time to ripen before frost, then it can be planted at home in a pot. The main thing is not to damage the root while digging.
Reviews of gardeners
On the Internet, you can often find various reviews of summer residents about certain varieties of cauliflower. Most gardeners prefer to grow early-ripening varieties in order to enjoy juicy, crispy cabbage at the beginning of summer. The Express and Movir 74 varieties are very popular. Despite the fact that the size of the head of "Express" is quite small, its taste is simply great. Seeds of the best varieties of cauliflower are advised to be purchased in specialized stores from trusted suppliers.
Judging by the reviews, many gardeners, when growing vegetables for their own needs, try to avoid mineral fertilizers. Without them, getting a good harvest is almost impossible. Users are advised to use wood ash, which contains a sufficient amount of potassium. According to them, in this way they were able to achieve good results. If the first sprouts of seedlings are stretching up instead of gaining strength, gardeners recommend lowering the temperature slightly to stop growth. In addition, these varieties of cauliflower for Siberia and the Urals are ideal. Reviews confirm this.
Except varieties"Express" and "Movir 74" such names of cauliflower varieties as "White Beauty" and the Dutch variety "Goodman F1" are popular. It is very often grown for sale, as the heads of this variety are perfectly stored, look attractive and appetizing. Breeders have created a variety that is extremely disease resistant.
Often in reviews of the Goodman F1 cauliflower variety, vegetable growers praise him for the fact that he practically does not get sick and bears excellent fruit. To protect the vegetable from caterpillars, users are advised to use homemade burdock tincture. This product is prepared with water. You will need a container and burdock leaves. They are poured with ordinary water and left under the sun. The next day, the composition is filtered and sprayed with cabbage leaves.
