A Complete Guide to the Key Points of Overwintering Cauliflower Cultivation Techniques

Planting cauliflower in winter is a popular method of growing cauliflower now, so do you know the overwintering cauliflower cultivation techniques?

1. Overwintering cauliflower cultivation techniques

1. Select excellent varieties

For overwintering cauliflower, choose varieties with strong cold resistance and disease resistance, generally at low temperatures of 4 to -12°C, without any protective measures, they can overwinter safely. Currently relatively excellent varieties on the market include Donghua 240, Donghua Overwintering King, Aoxue No. 1, etc.

2. Sow at the appropriate time

Choose a suitable sowing time according to local climatic conditions and variety characteristics. The reference sowing period for Henan Province is July 25 to August 5. Other regions should, based on differences in soil conditions and climate types, first conduct variety introduction trials before large-scale planting. For 667 sq m, the seed amount for raising seedlings is 25 to 45 g, requiring 30 sq m of seedbed.

3. Cultivate strong seedlings

Three days after emergence, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, use a single layer of shade net for shading or sprinkle water to cool down and prevent sunburn damage to the seedlings. When the seedling cotyledons unfold, shading may be stopped.

Pay attention to thinning. When the seedlings have one true leaf and one heart leaf, carry out the first thinning with a seedling spacing of 4 cm; when the seedlings have three true leaves and one heart leaf, final thinning can be done, with a seedling spacing of 10 cm square.

During seedling growth, if it does not rain, water once a week; do not water too heavily. If heavy rain occurs and water accumulates in the seedling bed, drain it immediately to prevent flooding the seedlings; if the soil becomes compacted, loosen the soil once with a small hoe; remove weeds promptly; in addition, pay special attention to pest and disease control, generally treating insects once a week.

4. Finely prepare the soil and transplant at the appropriate time and reasonably

Choose a plot that has not grown cruciferous vegetables that year and has convenient drainage and irrigation. Generally, apply 4000-5000 kg of thoroughly decomposed high-quality organic fertilizer, 100 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ternary compound fertilizer, and 2 kg of boron fertilizer per 667 sq m. Deep plow 26 cm, level and harrow thoroughly and finely, mark lines and form ridges at a double-row spacing of 100 cm, and transplant 2 rows of cauliflower on both sides of the ridge at 3/1 of the height.

The most suitable transplanting time in the Huang-Huai region is late August. The seedling age is 25-30 days. When the seedlings grow to 4-6 true leaves, they can be transplanted. The transplanting row spacing is 60 cm and the plant spacing is 50 cm, with about 1800 to about 2200 plants per 667 sq m.

5. Field management

(1) Watering: Water immediately after transplanting, and water again 3 days later. During the growth period, watering depends on soil moisture conditions, keeping the soil alternately dry and wet. Before winter, properly control water to harden the seedlings, so that the leaves are dark green and the stems are sturdy. In mid-to-late November, water with freezing water, and water sufficiently and thoroughly; during the overwintering period, if it does not snow and the plants wilt with lower leaves turning yellow, when the soil and plants thaw, water in the morning, and the water should be able to infiltrate before 3 p.m., so that no water remains on the bed surface. When the weather warms up in spring, water early. After the curd appears, water once a week to ensure the needs of curd growth. If water is lacking during curd growth, the curd will loosen early and yield will be low.

(2) Fertilizing: After transplanting and seedling recovery, apply a seedling-promoting fertilizer once, 15 kg of urea per mu; before the plants close the rows, fertilize once, applying 50 kg of ammonium bicarbonate or 30 kg of urea per mu; when the weather warms up in spring, apply 20 kg of urea per mu together with watering; during curd growth, no further topdressing is needed.

(3) Cultivation and weeding: There is a lot of rain in autumn and weeds grow quickly, so weed frequently. After seedling recovery, carry out the first cultivation and weeding; before the plants close the rows, carry out the second cultivation and weeding, and earth up together with cultivation, which can provide protection in winter.

(4) Root freeze protection: After the rows close, cultivation can no longer be carried out, but if there are weeds, pull them out promptly.

Field management before winter should be carried out according to plant growth conditions, ensuring 15-18 leaves before overwintering in mid-November. The stems should be sturdy and the leaves dark green, so that the plants can overwinter safely.