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Cauliflower is characterized by excellent taste, high content of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, many gardeners plant it in their personal plots. Growing cauliflower in the Moscow region, like any other region of the country, with a properly organized process, does not cause any particular problems. Therefore, it is worthwhile to study the features of planting and further care of the vegetable in advance in order to harvest a good harvest at the end of the season.
Cauliflower is second in popularity only to white cabbage.
Features of the climate of the region
Active vegetation of this crop occurs at a temperature of +15-18 ° C, and this is fully consistent with the climatic features of the Moscow region. However, it should be borne in mind that spring return frosts are not uncommon for this region, which can damage fragile seedlings of the crop. Therefore, for the middle lane, it is necessary to select varieties with a rooted growth rate, which will allow you to get a good vegetable harvest even with late planting. The best option are early and medium types of culture.
Late varieties of cauliflower are not suitable for growing in the Moscow region. Their active growth occurs in mid-July, when the air temperature in the region rises above +25 °C. And this negatively affects the further development of seedlings, which leads to a lack of harvest.
Terms of planting cauliflower in the Moscow region and the middle lane
For the successful cultivation of cauliflower in the Moscow region, it is necessary to plant a vegetable within a strictly designated time frame. This will allow him to start growing in a timely manner and form inflorescences. You can plant a vegetable in a greenhouse at the end of April, when the soil warms up sufficiently to a depth of 10 cm. And planting cauliflower in open ground is recommended from May 10, if conditions are favorable.
It is recommended to plant a vegetable in the ground when the return frosts have passed.
How to grow cauliflower in the suburbs
You can grow cauliflower in the conditions of the Moscow region using seedlings and seeds. Each of these methods has its own characteristics, which are worth paying attention to.
Growing seedlings
Sowing cauliflower in the Moscow region is best done in mid-March with further cultivation in a greenhouse or at the end of this month for open ground.
Wide containers with a height of 10 cm with drainage holes are suitable for sowing. Fill them with a nutrient mixture consisting of turf, humus, sand, peat in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1. A couple of days before planting, it is necessary to pour the substrate with a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect it, and then dry it slightly.
For the successful cultivation of cauliflower, it is also necessary to carry out pre-sowing preparation of vegetable seeds. It involves soaking the planting material in Epin’s solution for three hours. This will increase the viability of plants at an early stage of development.
Landing procedure:
- Water the soil in the container and wait until the moisture is absorbed.
- Level and compact the soil surface.
- Spread the seeds at a distance of 1 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle them with a layer of earth 1 cm thick.
- Moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
After planting, cover the container with a transparent film or glass and transfer to a dark place with a temperature of +20-22 °C. When shoots appear, rearrange the container on a light windowsill and lower the maintenance regime to + 17-19 ° С.
Cauliflower seeds germinate in 3-5 days
Seedling care involves moderate watering as needed. When the seedlings get stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions and the film or glass removed. At the stage of two true leaves, it is recommended to dive seedlings into separate cups, using the same soil as when sowing. Two weeks later, carry out the first top dressing with nitroammophos at the rate of 30 g per 10 liters of water.
Transplantation in open ground
By the time the seedlings are planted in a permanent place, their age should be 40-50 days, and the seedlings should have time to grow 4-5 true leaves. The day before transplantation, it is necessary to spray the plants with Epin’s solution, which minimizes stress.
Cauliflower should be planted in holes 5 cm deep. They must first be watered. When planting, deepen the plants to the first pair of leaves, which stimulates the development of a powerful root system. The recommended landing pattern is 30 by 30 cm.
Growing cauliflower in a greenhouse
It is possible to grow cauliflower in the Moscow region by direct sowing in the ground. It is recommended to do this in a greenhouse. Landing should be carried out in rows to a depth of 1-2 cm at a distance of 15 cm. After that, water the bed abundantly.
When friendly shoots appear, it is recommended to loosen the aisles in order to maintain air access to the roots of the cauliflower. Water and weed as needed. As soon as the plants grow 4-5 true leaves, they must be seated at a distance of 30 by 30 cm.
This vegetable can be planted after nightshade, beets, cucumbers, beans, onions
Cauliflower care in the Moscow region
Successful cultivation of cauliflower in the Moscow region directly depends on compliance with the basic requirements of the culture. Therefore, it is necessary to know them in advance in order to ensure proper care.
Watering and loosening
Cauliflower, like white cabbage, is a moisture-loving crop. Therefore, when growing it in the Moscow region, it is necessary to ensure regular watering in the absence of rain for a long time. Carry it out daily in the evening until the seedlings form 10-12 leaves. In the future, moisturizing is required as needed, preventing the roots from drying out. For irrigation, it is recommended to use settled water with a temperature of +20 ° C.
Also, when growing cauliflower, it is important that the soil has good aeration, which contributes to the growth of roots. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil at the base of the seedlings. It is also recommended to hill up the cauliflower as it grows to strengthen the plants.
Shading
To grow cauliflower in the middle lane and the Moscow region of a beautiful uniform shade, it is recommended to shade it from direct sunlight. To do this, when the head of cabbage reaches the size of a walnut, fix the two top sheets together.
Additional fertilizing
Successful cultivation of a vegetable in the Moscow region involves timely top dressing. It is recommended to use fertilizers for the first time two weeks after planting seedlings in a permanent place. To do this, you can use chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10. The second top dressing is carried out 10-14 days after the previous one. Superphosphate 40 g and potassium sulfide 25 g per bucket of water are suitable for her.
Pour 1 liter of nutrient solution under each cauliflower bush
Protection against diseases and pests
Cauliflower does not respond well to sudden temperature changes. This is the main reason for the defeat of the vegetable by fungal diseases. Therefore, when growing cauliflower in the Moscow region, it is recommended, for the purpose of prevention, to spray the bushes every 10-14 days with Fitosporin. But keep in mind that the drug is washed off by rain in the first three hours after treatment.
Growing a vegetable also involves protecting it from pests. Most often, cauliflower in the Moscow region suffers from slugs, cruciferous flea, cabbage aphids. In the first case, it is necessary to pour wood ash at the base of the bushes, and in case of mass reproduction of pests, decompose granules based on metaldehyde. From other insects, it is recommended to spray the aerial parts with Fufanon, Actellik, Fitoverm.
Harvesting
When growing this type of cabbage, it is important to harvest in a timely manner as it ripens. Otherwise, the heads break up or may bloom, which leads to a decrease in their consumer properties. Cut the cauliflower with the upper leaves and a 5 cm long stalk. This allows you to keep the vegetable fresh for as long as possible.
Conclusion
Growing cauliflower in the Moscow region is quite capable of mastering a novice gardener. But the main key to success is the right choice of variety, which will allow the crop to ripen before the onset of frost. Otherwise, this culture is considered undemanding. It is enough just to follow the standard rules of care when growing it and strictly follow the recommendations.
