The cauliflower is the "diva" in the cabbage family. Sensitive and nutrient-hungry, cauliflower needs a lot of attention from a young age. You can sow the early varieties as early as January/February in the greenhouse or in a protected cold frame.
Basic information on sowing
Not every garden has enough space to grow the seeds in a bag in the same year. 1 gram of cauliflower seeds will grow into around 150 plants. The cauliflower seed retains its germination capacity for about 4 years. So you can easily use leftover seeds next year. In addition to the common white cauliflower varieties, varieties with purple and yellow heads are also available on the market. A high-yielding white early variety is the "Erfurter Zwerg", for example the varieties Synergy F1 Incrusaat or Clapton F1 are suitable for the entire outdoor season.
Early sowing
Cauliflower is sensitive - the use of potting soil is therefore advisable. Cover the seeds very lightly (about 2mm) with soil. A bright location is important for the preculture. If no greenhouse or cold frame is available, you can also grow the cauliflower in planters.
Four to six days after sowing, the first leaves appear. The seedlings should not be too warm and humid. When the seedlings are big enough, they need to be pricked out to give them enough space to develop. After about six to eight weeks, it's time to move the strongest seedlings to the cold frame or outdoors.
Sow directly outdoors
soil preparation
The successful cultivation of cauliflower requires a sunny to partially shaded location in the garden. The ground must be dug deeply before cultivation. Cauliflower is one of the heavy feeders and - like all types of cabbage - one of the deep-rooters. It thrives best in high to very high PH soils. Loamy or loamy soils with a high humus content are ideal for cauliflower. If necessary, the soil must be enriched with lime. In the case of light sandy soils, nutrient optimization with mature compost and horse manure is required. However, the soil then needs a longer period of rest before it can be sown.
Sow in the bed
You can sow the cauliflower directly outdoors from mid-April to the beginning of June. However, the little plants must then be protected from night frosts with a fleece or foil at night.
After the ice saints - from mid-May to early June - there is no longer a threat of frost: you now have optimal conditions for sowing directly into the bed. For one square meter you need about 1 g of cauliflower seeds.
tips and tricks
Cabbage must never be sown or planted in a location where cabbage has previously been: risk of disease and pest infestation!