Content
- Sowing cauliflower - conditions and possibilities
- Basically for sowing
- Early sowing
- Sow directly into the field
- soil preparation
- Sow in the bed
- Tips & Tricks
Sowing cauliflower - conditions and possibilities
The cauliflower is the "diva" in the cabbage family. Delicate and nutrient-hungry, cauliflower needs a lot of attention even as a small plant. You can already sow the early varieties in January / February in the greenhouse or in the protected cold frame.
Basically for sowing
Not every garden has so much space that the seeds of a bag can be cultivated in the same year. From 1 g cauliflower seeds are about 150 plants. The cauliflower seed retains its germination about 4 years. So you can easily use remaining seeds in the next year. In addition to the common white cauliflower varieties are also commercially available varieties with purple and yellow heads. A profitable white early variety is the "Erfurt dwarf", for the entire open season, for example, the varieties Synergy F1 Inkrusaat or Clapton F1 are suitable.
Early sowing
Cauliflower is sensitive - the use of potting soil is therefore advisable. Cover the seeds only lightly (about 2 mm) with soil. A bright location is important for the preculture. If no greenhouse or cold frame is available, you can also prefer the cauliflower in planters.
Four to six days after sowing, the first leaflets show up. The seedlings should not be too humid. If the plantlets are big enough, they need to be piqued so that they have enough room for their development. After about six to eight weeks, it's time to relocate the strongest seedlings into cold frame or outdoors.
Sow directly into the field
soil preparation
The successful cultivation of cauliflower requires a sunny to half shady location in the garden. The soil must be completely dug up before cultivation. Cauliflower is one of the heavyweights and - like all types of cabbage - to the deep roots. It thrives best on soils with high to very high pH. Clay or loess soils with a high humus content are optimal for cauliflower. Possibly. The soil must be enriched with lime. For light sandy soils, nutrient optimization through mature compost and horse manure is required. However, the soil then needs a longer rest before it can be sown.
Sow in the bed
From mid-April to early June you can sow the cauliflower directly into the field. However, the plantlets must then be protected at night with a fleece or foil before night frosts.
After the Eisheiligen - from mid-May to early June - threatening no more frost: Now you have optimal conditions for sowing directly into the bed. For a square meter you need about 1 g of cauliflower seeds.
Tips & Tricks
Cabbage should never be sown or planted in a location where cabbage used to be: danger of disease and pest infestation!