The best varieties of cauliflower: brief description and main characteristics

The beneficial properties of cauliflower are known to everyone. It contains a whole complex of vitamins and minerals necessary for the human body. That is why it is so in demand among vegetable growers. This article presents the advantages of an early ripening variety, its characteristics and description. Malimba F1 cauliflower is a hybrid bred by Dutch breeders. It has long established itself as a reliable and high-yielding product. This is the best option for early product implementation. It’s not for nothing that some manufacturers even call the hybrid ultra-early ripening. Approximately 100 days pass from germination to technical ripeness. Productivity can be up to 4 kg per 1 sq. m.

Detailed description

Malimba F1 cauliflower is a healthy, low-calorie product. It is recommended for regular consumption by both adults and children. It has a delicate taste and high nutritional value.

The head of the plant is hard. Its shape is flat, round and smooth. It has a milky white color. The average mass of specimens is 1-1.5 kg. The leaves are wide, semi-erect, and cover the head of the cabbage well.

The vegetable is intended for canning, pickling and use in salads. It can also be frozen. The snow-white, dense head of cabbage has excellent taste. Dishes based on Malimba cauliflower are tender and juicy.

Sometimes, in order to preserve the presentable presentation of cabbage, they use the technique of shading, otherwise - bleaching. To do this, large leaves broken off from the plant cover its head. This way it remains beautiful for a long time and does not lose its nutritional properties. Malimba F1 cauliflower does not require such a process and is a self-covering variety. Its leaves independently cover the head of cabbage.

The hybrid is flexible and can be grown under any conditions. Seed germination, like that of cauliflower Snowball 123, is high and amounts to 95%.

Advantages and disadvantages

The description of Malimba cauliflower deserves a detailed analysis of all the positive and negative aspects of cultivation. The main advantage of the hybrid is high yield, as well as

• good inflorescence setting;
• resistance to major types of diseases;
• good presentation;
• dense heads of cabbage;
• excellent taste;
• the heads are formed together;
• tolerates transportation calmly;
• cultivation is possible in any climate zone.

Among the disadvantages, the following points can be noted:

• the plant needs proper and timely watering throughout the entire growing period;
• demands on soil fertility, lighting and air temperature;
• need for fertilizing;
• procedures for weeding and loosening the soil are required.

The plant does not grow well in acidic soils. Ventilation and avoidance of waterlogging are required. In general, cauliflower is one of the most demanding types of cruciferous crops. But by following simple rules and proper care, you can grow an excellent product with excellent taste.

Rules and tips for caring for cauliflower in open ground

The crop is considered to be quite finicky, but taking into account all the intricacies of caring for the crop in the open ground, everyone, even a novice gardener, can cope with the cultivation and receive an excellent, healthy harvest.

Watering and loosening

Watering is extremely important when growing crops. You need to water once a week, but depending on weather conditions.

Excessive moisture stagnating in the soil leads to rapid growth of the cauliflower root system.

This consumes almost all the plant’s forces; there is no longer any left for the development of the head.

Also remember that excess moisture often causes many fungal diseases.

Water consumption should be 6-8 liters per 1 sq.m. As the seedlings grow, the amount of water is increased by 2-3 liters, but watering is rare.

After watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil, so it is saturated with oxygen. The seedlings begin to develop faster.

Feeding and fertilizers

Gardeners recommend applying fertilizers 3-4 times in one season:

1. The first application of fertilizers is carried out 21 days after planting the seedlings in the beds. The most useful substances at this stage are nitrogen-containing additives. For example, add mullein solution. It is diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10. 0.5 liters of the prepared solution is poured onto each seedling.
2. After 7-10 days I feed it a second time. They use the same recipe, only increase the consumption per plant to 1 liter.
3. In July, add 2 tbsp to the same 10 liter solution. l. nitrophoska. Fertilizer consumption is 6 liters per 1 sq.m.

Shading

Shading the seedlings is necessary to ensure that the cabbage heads are large and dense.

Excess sunlight and elevated temperatures lead to their looseness and shapelessness.

To prevent this from happening, experienced gardeners cover the heads with lower leaves.

The painstaking procedure is, in principle, uncomplicated.

The lower leaves are carefully lifted and tied together.

This creates a shadow over the head. Some people simply break out the leaves and place them directly on the inflorescences.

In a strong wind they can be blown away, so more often the leaves are tied above the heads of cabbage.

Caring for unopened inflorescences

When the ovaries begin to form, you need to be especially attentive to the plant.

Direct contact of water with the head is undesirable.

Direct sunlight also harms cabbage heads.

Cover the inflorescences when they grow to approximately 6 cm in diameter.

Shading will also help preserve the snow-white color of the head of cabbage.

Prevention and pest control

Like any other plant, cauliflower can be affected by many insect pests:

• cabbage fly;
• snails and slugs;
• whitefish;
• cabbage scoop.

Most pests will be repelled by dusting plants with tobacco dust. You can also sprinkle wood ash on the beds.

A solution made from onion peels, burdock, and tomato tops works well against slugs.

Diseases are much more difficult to cope with. The easiest way is to carefully choose a place to plant a plant and monitor its condition.

In the fight against diseases, various chemicals are used, which can be purchased in specialized stores.

Secrets of agricultural technology

Malimba F1 cauliflower is grown both by seedlings and without seedlings. To get early production at the end of June, you need to sow seeds for seedlings in mid-March. They need to be planted in two rows according to a 50x30 cm pattern. Moreover, there should be a distance of 30 cm between plants. Seed placement should be up to 2 cm. Seedlings enter open ground at the end of May to avoid possible frosts.

You can immediately sow Malimba F1 cabbage in a permanent place. The plant grows well if covered with film.

Potatoes and legumes can be considered the best predecessors. You can plant celery next to cauliflower to protect against various pests. Dill will repel caterpillars. Spicy herbs will save you from cabbage butterflies: sage, mint, thyme. It wouldn’t hurt to plant marigolds around the bed as well. They will not only protect the cauliflower from pests, but will also give the garden a festive look.

Recommendations for caring for home seedlings

Proper cultivation of cauliflower is associated with precise determination of sowing dates, preparation of seed material, and care for it.

You can grow strong, hardened seedlings if you follow all the rules listed below.

Deadlines

The timing of sowing cauliflower seedlings is influenced by the climate of the region and the crop variety. For example:

1. Early ripening varieties can be sown from March 10 to April 7.
2. Mid-season - from April 7 to May 10.
3. Late-ripening ones are sown in mid-May.

Gardeners who have been growing crops for a long time are advised to sow cabbage at intervals of 3-4 days. This allows you to get an almost continuous harvest.

Seed preparation

First of all, it is recommended to determine how much the seeds can germinate. To do this, 10 pieces are placed in damp gauze or a napkin and put in a warm place. After 5 days, the seeds should begin to germinate.

During this time, the most important thing is to maintain heat in the room and constantly moisten the napkin.

Step-by-step preparation of cauliflower seeds

After this, the cauliflower seeds are poured with hot water at a temperature of no more than 50°C. After 15 minutes they can be taken out.

Next, you need to prepare a container with cold water and place the seed there. This measure significantly increases the resistance of seeds.

To speed up germination, you can additionally treat the seeds with growth stimulants.

Then rinse thoroughly with cool, clean water and place in a cool place. The optimal room temperature is +2°C.

In this way, seed material becomes resistant to many diseases. After the procedures have been completed, the seeds are ready for sowing.

Sowing and care

If you decide to plant cauliflower as seedlings, you first need to prepare the ground for it.
You can do this at home yourself or purchase a ready-made substrate in the store.

At home, mix 1 part humus with 3 parts peat.

Containers for seedlings are also prepared. Plastic cups, wooden boxes or other containers. The bottom must be covered with drainage.

Sequence of actions of the sowing process:

1. The prepared substrate is poured into containers.
2. Make furrows and moisten the soil.
3. Place the seeds in the furrows.
4. Gently sprinkle earth on top.
5. Next, all containers are covered with film or glass and placed in a warm, shaded place. Temperature for germination + 20 °C.

The first shoots appear after about 4-5 days. After this, it is important to lower the temperature to +7°C. If this is not done, the seedlings will begin to stretch.

What to do if this does happen? First you need to determine the exact cause of the pulling.

This may be high temperature, insufficient lighting, dense plantings.

From the causes, identifying ways to solve the problem, including:

• temperature drop;
• installation of additional lamps for additional illumination of seedlings;
• picking into individual containers.

The temperature is maintained at +7°C for 5 days, then raised to +15°C. When the seedlings grow up and have 1-2 true leaves, they are picked:

• prepare containers, boxes, cups in advance;
• pour soil into them and water them;
• The seedlings are carefully removed from their original place of growth and placed in a separate container.

Note! It is not necessary to plant seedlings if you sow the seeds immediately in separate cups and not in a common container.

Next, you need to monitor the condition of the soil and water as necessary.

Remember that excessive watering is detrimental to seedlings; the roots may begin to rot.

Fertilizer for cauliflower seedlings

Growing cabbage seedlings is not complete without fertilizing.

You can fertilize the seedlings when approximately 10 days have passed after picking. The recipe for preparing top dressing looks like this:

1. Take 10 g of fertilizers containing potassium, 20 g of superphosphate.
2. Pour 10 liters of water into a bucket.
3. Place the prepared nutrients in water.
4. Water carefully at the root.

After 2-3 weeks you can feed with the same composition again.

How to properly harden seedlings and why?

This procedure is necessary so that the plant gains resistance to many diseases.

Also, the crop adapts faster after transplantation to a permanent place of growth and suffers less from temperature changes.

The seedlings begin to harden gradually. First, it is taken out to the veranda or closed balcony for several hours. Next, the time the seedlings stay in this place is gradually increased.

When it becomes warm outside, without frost, the seedlings are taken outside so that they get used to open space and sunlight.

Reviews of cauliflower Malimba F1

Anyone interested in Malimba F1 cauliflower reads reviews first. And it is right. After all, sometimes a popular variety or hybrid may not be as good as seed producers write about it. However, in the case of Malimba cabbage, studying reviews can be considered unnecessary. After all, this hybrid causes only delight among all summer residents and farmers.

Anna Nikolaevna, Truskavets

I love Dutch seeds. That’s why I only have cabbage and onions from the Netherlands. Regarding Malimbu F1 I can say the following:

1. Cabbage grows well and does not get sick. Even seedlings are well accepted if they are fed, watered and loosened on time.
2. Malimba is very tasty. There are sweetish pleasant notes. It is very good in soups, canned food, and main courses.
3. Despite the fact that this is an early hybrid, it stores well. I had it for almost a month before I started freezing it, and it didn’t become woody one bit.

In general, I recommend it to all summer residents. A very good hybrid.

Elena Petrovna, Balashikha

Malimba came to me by accident - a neighbor shared seedlings. Therefore, I can’t say what was written on the packet of seeds, but I liked the cabbage. It grew well and there was no need to tie the heads in the mornings and untie them in the evenings. The leaves perfectly covered the forks with frost and dried, even during last year's abnormal heat. I harvested cabbage at the end of July. All the forks were 500-700 g. Maybe I should have let it grow some more, but I was afraid that it would fade. The heads were dense, slightly creamy in color. We really liked the taste too. I froze up a full freezer. We eat now too. I recommend this variety to anyone who loves cauliflower.

Characteristics of the Malimba F1 hybrid

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The best varieties of cauliflower

When choosing a cauliflower variety, experienced gardeners must pay attention to the ripening period, which can range from 50 to 200 days. Also important:

• ability to endure adverse conditions;
• productivity;
• taste and commercial qualities of inflorescences.

Early

Early varieties of cauliflower are ready for harvesting within 50–100 days after germination (late June - early July). And residents of the southern regions, when planting such varieties, can receive several harvests per season. But early ripening cauliflower also has its disadvantages. Its heads of cabbage are not as large as those of the late one, and are stored much less quickly.

Varieties with a short ripening period include:

• Moscow Ultra;
• Guarantee;
• Polar Star;
• Movir 74;
• Tsendis;
• Express MS;
• Dereza goat;
• Francoise;
• Yarik.

Guarantee

A domestic variety obtained by specialists from the Vegetable Experimental Station named after V.I. Edelshtein of the Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and entered into the State Register for all regions of Russia in 1968. Reaches removable maturity 70–98 days after germination.

Guarantee is characterized by round, cream or yellowish colored heads with a fine-grained surface. Their weight ranges from 500 g to 1.2 kg. The taste of the heads is excellent. The guarantee is not prone to discoloration, overgrowth and cracking. It also has relative resistance to such a dangerous disease as bacteriosis. The variety ripens quite smoothly. From 1.5 to 3.8 kg of cauliflower is harvested from 1 m2 of plantings.

The diameter of heads of cabbage variety Guarantee can reach 26 cm

Dereza goat

Goat dereza is one of the most famous varieties of Russian selection. Harvesting begins 50–70 days after germination. The vertical rosette consists of gray-green, slightly bubbly leaves that partially cover the inflorescences. The heads are round, dense, white. The taste is good. The average weight of heads of cabbage is 600–800 g, but under favorable conditions it can increase to 2.5 kg.

The yield of the variety is 3.2 kg/m2. It is characterized by uniform ripening, which allows you to collect most of the heads in one go. The variety easily tolerates short-term temperature drops to -5°C. Rarely affected by diseases characteristic of members of the cruciferous family.

The Koza-dereza cauliflower variety, bred by specialists, is recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation

Video: personal experience of growing Koza-dereza cabbage

Francoise

Françoise ripens on the 90–100th day after germination. The heads are yellowish, rounded-flat, partially covered with gray-green leaves. They are not very dense, but have a very delicate texture. The weight of the heads of cabbage rarely exceeds 600 g. The average yield is about 3.2 kg/m2. The taste of the Françoise variety is assessed by experts as excellent. It is eaten fresh and subjected to all types of processing.

Mid-season

Mid-season varieties of cauliflower require 100 days and stable warm weather (above 20°C) to achieve harvestable maturity. Their main advantage is their long shelf life. Popular varieties of cauliflower with an average ripening period include:

• Summer resident;
• Purple ball;
• Purple;
• White head;
• Parisian;
• Clipper.

Summer resident

Dachnitsa is a variety that tolerates high humidity and sudden temperature changes and is recommended for cultivation in all regions of Russia. It is distinguished by an extended period of formation of inflorescences, thanks to which gardeners have the opportunity to harvest throughout the entire season. The variety forms a raised rosette of leaves with partially covered, flat-round, dense heads. Their color can vary from whitish to light cream. Average weight - 0.6–1 kg. The taste of the inflorescences received the highest ratings from experts. They are used for stewing, boiling and baking, fresh and after freezing.