Cauliflower is a tasty and healthy vegetable used, including in baby food, for example in Gerber. This garden beauty certainly has its own peculiarities of growing, but mastering them is not difficult.
A small cauliflower head is a real storehouse of the most useful and easily digestible trace elements. A nutritious vegetable can form the basis of a dietary food, it is also indispensable as one of the very first complementary foods for young children.
In order not to disappoint the harvest, it is necessary to know not only about proper care, but also to be able to choose from the variety of varieties the most suitable.
The importance of proper selection of seeds
In order to figure out which cauliflower variety is more appropriate, many factors should be taken into account. For example, the climatic conditions of the southern regions are specific, which means the varieties adapted to them may not yield in the northern lands. And vice versa. The choice of variety is influenced by the composition of the soil, the length of the day, the amount of precipitation, and the temperature regime. etc.
Fundamental rules
When choosing a cauliflower variety, first of all it is necessary to take into account the state of the soil, climatic conditions. Susceptible to soil composition varieties will require a lot of effort on depleted or acidic soil and may disappoint with the crop. For such land, more suitable species that do not require fertilizer.
Besides, the purpose of growing is important. If the cabbage is intended for sale, you should pay attention to the varieties that preserve the presentation during transportation. For freezing and preservation will suit those that are easily divided into inflorescences.
The most popular varieties are intended for open ground with early ripeness. This cauliflower is suitable for growing in virtually any climatic zone and ensures yield.
For the southern regions, varieties of varying degrees of ripeness are suitable, including later ones, but here you should pay attention to the heat resistance of the species.
When choosing planting material should pay attention to some of the main factors:
- seeds and hybrids that are bred in a planting region will be the best option;
- for varieties that have been bred by foreign breeders, the planting date will need to be changed to the appropriate climatic zone, the time of ripening, therefore, will also change;
- In order to get a guaranteed harvest, you can plant varieties that differ in ripening speed.
Where can one buy?
Cauliflower seeds can be purchased in specialized stores and departments, as well as at various fairs and exhibitions of agricultural direction. In addition, there is a fairly large number of online stores where the goods ordered online will be brought to your home.
Factors shaping vegetable varieties
Gestation period
Cauliflower varieties are distinguished by the degree of ripening:
- ultra early: Solis F1, Livingstone F1, Cool F1;
- early: Amerigo F1, Alpha, Cortes F1, Pioneer F1, Snowball F1;
- medium ripening: Snow globe, Robert, Purple, Movir-74, Snowdrift;
- later: Universal, Konsista, Sochi, Autumn giant.
Place of selection
Cauliflower of foreign selection, despite the inconsistency of climatic conditions of growth, has proven itself in Russia. The best seeds from Europe:
- Dutch selection: Vinson F1, Goodman F1, Opal, Fargo F1, Fremont F1;
- German selection: Alpha, Berdergruss, Yako.
Soil composition
The planting region has its soil composition, so when choosing a variety, you should pay attention to it. Recommended for boarding:
- in Moscow region: Alpha, Gribovskaya 1355, Skorospelka, Goodman;
- in the Urals: White Castle, Dachnitsa, Two Sisters;
- in Siberia: Emerald ball, Purple ball, Coquette.
Hybrids
Especially popular are hybrids, such as:
- Amerigo F1;
- Warranty;
- Cortes F1;
- Movir-74 F1;
- Snowball.
Description of species with names and photos
Goat Dereza (Egoza)
Early ripe variety. Gray-green leaves of medium size, with a waxy coating. The head is dense, medium tuberosity, the average weight is about 800 grams. Growing varieties Goat Dereza does not require special care.
Benefits:
- good ovary of heads, resistance to cold;
- high yield with ripening;
- has good taste, suitable for preservation and storage;
- used in different climatic zones.
Snowball 123 (Snowball)
Sredneranny, has rounded flattened heads of white color with dense texture, weighing from 500 to 1500 gr.
Features:
- cold-resistant;
- high resistance to major diseases;
- requires timely feeding boron and molybdenum;
- maintains long storage, including in the frozen look.
Alpha
Hybrid variety of early ripening, the average weight of the head 1500 gr, high-yielding.
Features:
- pure white head color;
- high sugar content;
- resistant to major diseases.
Vinson
The hybrid of the first generation, the mass of the head from 1.5 to 3 kg, germinating leaves are absent, good taste.
Character traits:
- united maturation, strong growth;
- disease resistance;
- the ability to maintain appearance during transportation and storage;
- requires feeding molybdenum.
Malimba
A solid dense head with a weight of about 1 kg, half-upright leaves, well covering the head, can be grown in different regions.
Advantages and disadvantages:
- good transportability;
- disease resistance;
- good set of inflorescences;
- demands for special care: watering, soil composition, loosening, feeding;
- grows poorly on acidic soils.
Romanesco
The leaves are large, blue-green in color, the plant reaches a height of 1 m, the average head weight is 0.5 kg. Head color is green.
Features grade:
- tender texture similar to broccoli;
- characteristic for cauliflower bitterness is absent, the taste is nut-creamy;
- the form of inflorescences is similar to a fractal spiral, consisting of a large number of buds of this form;
- preferred soil is black soil;
- growing Romanesco requires timely feeding and constant care;
- for storage must be frozen.
Goodman
The medium early variety, the weight of the head from 1 to 1.5 kg. Demanding feedings. The need for shading. Does not tolerate acidic soil.
Virtues:
- tolerates transportation and storage;
- heat resistant due to strong root system;
- It has a high resistance to disease and microbial damage.
Warranty
Early ripe, head white-yellow or white with a cream shade, weighing from 0.5 to 1.2 kg.
Properties:
- resistant to bacteriosis;
- suitable for cultivation in the greenhouse and in the open field;
- resistant to tsvetushnosti, cracking and disintegration of the head;
- adapted for the conditions of Siberia and the Far East.
Whitaxel
A hybrid with leaves of gray-green color, which tightly cover an absolutely white head. Heading out by weight reaches 2.5 kg. The soil prefers loamy, sub sandy.
The advantages of the variety:
- resistant to sudden drops in temperature;
- not afraid of increasing humidity, rainy seasons;
- tolerates spring frosts;
- preserves the presentation;
- suitable for growing in different climatic zones.
Synergie
Mid-season grade, leaves of the average size, a head whitish, weighing up to 2 kg, high-yielding.
Features:
- good taste;
- preservation of the presentation during transportation;
- unpretentiousness to agricultural technology.
Freedom F1
Hybrid variety for open ground. The leaves are dark green, with a gray tint, cover the head of a snow-white color. Head weight 1.5 - 1.8 kg. Medium early recommended for any climate zone.
Virtues:
- suitable for preservation and freezing;
- does not require the introduction of additional nitrogen fertilizers;
- it is steady against various differences of temperatures, humidity, changes of weather.
Movir 74
The head is small, white and yellow, weighing from 0.4 to 1.4 kg. It is grown in open ground and in greenhouses. Tastes are high.
Characteristics of a variety:
- cold-resistant;
- resistant to cracking;
- transportable;
- suitable for preparation of blanks;
- heat-tolerant;
- Recommended for different regions, including Siberia and the Urals.
Unibotra
Early variety, compact white head with a weight of about 2 kg, well closed with leaves, does not require shading.
Features:
- high resistance to hot temperatures;
- requires special care and fertile soil;
- preserves the presentation during transportation.
Fortaleza
Medium early hybrid for open ground, the head is well protected by leaves, reaches a weight of 2.5 kg, inflorescences are dense.
Virtues:
- heat resistance;
- grown in different climatic zones;
- suitable for freezing, because easily spreads on inflorescences;
- not afraid of thickening.
Cortez
Late maturity high-yielding variety. The head is well covered with leaves and reaches a weight of 2.5 kg.
Characteristic properties:
- resistant to high temperatures;
- suitable for any kind of processing;
- not afraid of frost;
- possible cultivation in different regions;
- Demanding on soil composition and care.
Berdergrus
Late-ripening variety with a dense head of 0.5 to 1 kg, has excellent taste.
Features:
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- high yield;
- suitable for all types of processing;
- needs fertile soil.
Conclusion
A large number of cauliflower varieties allows you to choose the best option that most closely matches all requirements. Having carefully studied the description, you can easily find, for example, which of the early varieties from Holland has good qualities for use in conservation and which will please the crop and will not require intensive care or special conditions not characteristic of the planting zone.
