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You can plant cauliflower seedlings in 2024 from the end of February until the last days of April. The specific timing depends on the climate of the region, as well as on the variety. For example, late varieties can be planted even at the end of May. When choosing a date, you can also rely on the lunar calendar.
Dates for planting cauliflower seedlings in 2024
To grow cauliflower from seeds, you need to decide on a planting date. First of all, the climatic features of the area and the dates of the lunar calendar are taken into account. The period also depends on the characteristics of the variety:
- early ripening - end of February;
- mid-season - mid, second half of March;
- late - the third ten days of April - the first ten days of May.
According to the lunar calendar in 2024
When choosing the date for planting seedlings, many summer residents rely on the lunar calendar. Favorable and unfavorable days from February to June 2024 are presented in the table.
Depending on the region
Seeds for seedlings are sown 40-50 days before the intended transfer to open ground. Transplantation is planned in warm weather, when the threat of return frosts is minimized. In most of Russia, this is the first half of May. To properly organize the cultivation of cauliflower through seedlings, take into account the climatic characteristics of a particular region:
- In the middle zone, work begins in the first half of March.
- In the Urals and the North-West of the country, seeds are sown after March 15.
- In Siberia and the Far East, this should be done in the first ten days of April, planning a transplant in the middle - second half of May.
- In the Krasnodar Territory, the North Caucasus and other southern regions, planting cauliflower seedlings can be planned as early as the end of February, followed by a postponement in the second half of April.
Seed sowing begins in mid-March
How to plant cauliflower seedlings at home
To grow healthy cauliflower seedlings (as in the photo), it is necessary not only to provide proper care, but also to prepare the soil, containers, and the seeds themselves. How to do this is described in detail below.
Seed preparation
First of all, the seeds for seedlings need to be sorted, choosing only the largest ones, without mechanical damage. The day before planting, they need to be prepared:
- Pour not very hot water at a temperature of 50-55 degrees into a container and heat the grains in it for 20 minutes.
- Prepare a pink solution of potassium permanganate (not very saturated).Planting material is placed for eight hours.
- Next, they are transferred to the soil and planted at a shallow depth. It is not necessary to pre-germinate, but you can soak it for several hours in a solution of a growth stimulator, for example, Epin or Heteroauxin.
Soil selection and preparation
To grow strong cauliflower seedlings, you need to prepare fertile and fairly loose soil with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction pH = 6.0-7.0. The soil mixture can be purchased at the store or prepared in advance based on three components:
- turf land;
- peat;
- humus.
The composition of the soil for seedlings may be different (ratio 3:1:1):
- peat;
- rotted sawdust;
- turf soil.
You can also combine peat with humus in a 3:1 ratio. Proper soil preparation for cauliflower seedlings consists of the following steps:
- Take the surface layer of soil in the garden and sift it.
- Mix with equal amounts of humus and peat.
- If the soil contains a lot of clay, add a few pinches of sand.
- Disinfect by keeping in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 130 degrees. Instead, you can put it in the freezer for several days or pickle it with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.
Universal soil is suitable for growing seedlings
Selection of capacity
To grow healthy cauliflower seedlings, seeds are planted in boxes or containers. They should not be very deep - 10 cm is enough, but at the same time wide. This can be wooden or plastic containers.The main condition is that there should be several drainage holes at the bottom, since due to stagnation of water, the seedlings develop poorly and may even die. If you are not sure, the box should also be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.
You can also sow in peat pots or tablets. This method is more convenient because it eliminates the need for picking. But you need to sow 2-3 grains at once, and after sprouting, leave the strongest sprout, pinching off all the others.
Scheme for sowing cauliflower seedlings
The planting scheme for cauliflower seedlings is quite simple:
- groove depth – no more than 1 cm;
- the distance between the recesses is 3 cm;
- the interval between seeds is 3 cm.
Sequencing:
- Place small stones or perlite up to 3 cm high on the bottom.
- Pour soil, not reaching the edge 2 cm.
- Moisturize it.
- Make several grooves 0.5 cm deep.
- Plant prepared cauliflower seeds for seedlings.
- Sprinkle with a small layer of dry sand.
- Cover with film with holes and place in a warm place (room temperature).
What does cauliflower seedlings look like?
Cauliflower seedlings initially produce bright green leaves. They are heart-shaped and resemble butterfly wings. The shoots are initially thin, of the same light color.
Over time, the foliage begins to darken and takes on an oval shape, the shoots become stronger
Seedling care
When growing cauliflower from seeds at home, it is necessary to ensure stable heat, good lighting and constant humidity. It is equally important to take care of fertilizing. Basic rules of care are described below.
Picking
Gardeners have two approaches regarding picking.Some believe that it is better not to replant seedlings at all, immediately sowing the grains in separate containers. An alternative point of view is to grow cauliflower seedlings from seeds in the traditional way with picking. You can use either one or the other option. Moreover, it is worth remembering that replanting increases the growing time by about 10 days.
Picking begins 10-12 days after mass shoots appear.
The sequence of actions during a pick is as follows:
- Water the soil thoroughly and wait two hours.
- Prepare peat pots or cups and add soil.
- Carefully remove the shoots, grabbing a large lump of earth (the roots of the seedlings grow in width, not depth).
- Replant in a new location, sprinkle with soil up to the first pair of leaves and water.
Top dressing
Planting and growing cauliflower from seeds is quite simple if you provide normal care. One of the important rules is timely application of fertilizing. It is recommended to do this several times (the amount is given per 10 liters of water):
- 10 days after transplantation or 20 days after emergence - superphosphate (20 g), potassium chloride (10 g) and ammonium nitrate (20 g).
- After the formation of the third sheet - superphosphate (5 g), potassium chloride (15 g), ammonium nitrate (20 g).
- After the appearance of the fifth leaf - ammonium nitrate (20 g), potassium chloride (10 g) and superphosphate (50 g).
- A few days before transplanting into the ground - superphosphate (40 g), potassium chloride (20 g).
All components are dissolved in water at room temperature, mixed and watering begins. Consumption rate – 150 ml for each seedling.
Temperature and watering
The temperature when growing cauliflower seedlings must be changed depending on the stage:
- Before the appearance of mass shoots - room temperature (20-22 degrees).
- After this, it is reduced to +7 within a week (in this case, the film must be removed).
- The remaining days until transplanting into the ground, cauliflower seedlings are grown at +15°C.
Seedlings are grown in moderately cool conditions
It is not always possible to maintain such a temperature regime. Therefore, it can be grown at normal room temperature. But two weeks before transplanting into the ground, it is necessary to begin hardening.
Watering should be regular - it is important to ensure that the soil is always slightly moist. At the first stage, water is sprayed from a spray bottle, then poured in a thin stream under the root. It is first left to stand for several hours at room temperature.
Hardening
Growing cauliflower from seeds in the last stages requires a mandatory hardening procedure. It should be started 10 days before the transplant. The seedlings are taken out into the open air, onto the balcony, first for 15-20 minutes, then gradually increase the time to several hours. Two days before the transplant, they are placed outside for the entire time.
Planting cauliflower seedlings in open ground
The transfer of seedlings to open ground is planned for the first or second ten days of May. Sequencing:
- Water the seedlings well.
- Mark furrows 5 cm deep in the bed.
- Remove the seedlings from the containers using the transfer method, preserving the earthen lump.
- Plant at a distance of 30 cm (the interval between rows is the same).
- Water and lay mulch.
Conclusion
You can plant cauliflower seedlings in 2024 in mid-March. This is a standard period that is suitable for most regions. Seedlings are grown in cool conditions, and the seedlings must be hardened off two weeks before being transferred to the ground.This increases plant resistance to unfavorable factors and ensures good productivity.
