Cauliflower Alpha

Cauliflower Alpha is an early ripening high-yielding variety that has an excellent presentation. Due to its excellent taste and high content of nutrients, it is widely used for cooking.

Cauliflower Alpha

Characteristic

Alpha is an annual spring plant belonging to the cruciferous family. According to the description, it has a short ripening period ia (75-90 days). Average productivity from 1 sq. m – from 3.5 to 5 kg. Plant height reaches 30-50 cm. It has a high content of sugars, vitamins, folic and ascorbic acid, potassium, carotene.

Alpha cauliflower is cold-resistant and resistant to black legs and keel. According to the characteristics, it is possible to grow in seedlings and direct sowing in open ground. Harvest of this variety can be harvested from early spring to late autumn.

Description of the head

Cauliflower Alpha has a compact head with medium-sized inflorescences. Large dark green leaves protect the head from external influences.

Description and structure of the head:

• the shape is flat-round;
• the surface is round-hilly;
• average weight – 1 , 2-1.5 kg;
• high density;
• white.

Use of the vegetable

Cabbage Alpha is grown for commercial sale and home use. The vegetable is universal in use.

Cultivation and care

Cauliflower should not be grown in the area where radishes, radishes, turnips and other cruciferous plants used to grow. Vegetable crops can not be grown in the same place for 3-4 years. Good predecessors for it are onions, legumes and pumpkins, cucumbers, root crops.

Sowing

Growing cauliflower Alpha is possible in several ways:

• Sowing seeds for seedlings – mid-March, further replanting in open ground until the end of April.
• Greenhouse cultivation – sowing April 15 -25, replanting in May.
• Sowing in open ground under film shelter – from the third decade of April to the first decade of May.
• Sowing in open ground without shelter – from the beginning of May.

Seedlings after the appearance of 2-3 full sheets are planted in the soil in the beds. To improve the condition of the soil and obtain a better crop, the land allocated for planting vegetables is prepared in advance: humus, superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, and potassium sulfate are added.Seedlings are planted at a distance of 40-50 cm from each other to a depth of 2 cm.

At the beginning of ripening, the heads of cabbage are shaded. To do this, break several top sheets and tie into a bundle. This preserves the white color and dense structure of the inflorescence.

Watering and loosening

Plants need to be loosened

Alpha is a moisture-loving vegetable crop. Watering depends on weather conditions. In the first half of the growing season, water consumption is 20-30 liters per 1 sq. Km. m, in the second – 30-40 liters. Plants in time loosen and spud. As a rule, this is carried out after watering.

Feeding

Recommend regular feeding and treatment of diseases and pests. During the growing season, vegetable crops need top dressing, especially if the soil is not rich in micronutrients. The first top dressing is carried out 10 days after the seedlings are transplanted into the open ground, nitrogen fertilizer is used: 25 g per 1 sq. m. The second – in the same manner, 2 weeks after the first. The third – at the beginning of head maturation, fertilizers based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are used.

Harvesting and storage

60 days pass from planting seedlings to harvesting a full crop. Harvesting an early variety of cauliflower takes place from the third decade of July and lasts until the end of August. The heads are cut off as they mature, removed together with 3-4 protective sheets.If you overdo the plants in the garden, they will decay into inflorescences.

A healthy and strong plant after cutting a head of cabbage can give a second crop. On young shoots and axillary buds, new heads are formed. Of the young shoots, 1-2 of the largest are left, the rest are removed. They are also watered and fed. The heads of the second crop reach a mass of 300-350 g.

You can store cabbage for up to 3 weeks, for this it is collected together with the root structure, the peeled roots are hung down with their heads in a cool place. Cut heads are kept in the refrigerator for a week.

Pests and diseases

The most common pests are cabbage fly, aphids, moths, and dustpan. In the fight against insects, biological preparations, as well as a mixture of tobacco dust and wood ash, help. It is necessary to remove weeds and plant debris after harvesting in time and observe crop rotation rules.

Alpha is resistant to the black leg and keel. The greatest harm to the vegetable culture is caused by vascular bacteriosis – a dangerous bacterial disease. Bacteria infect cabbage at all stages of development, from seedlings to maturation of the head of a head of cabbage. In order to protect plants from such a disease, pre-sowing seed treatment is carried out: seeds are poured with hot water (50 ° C) for 20 minutes, and then dipped in cold water for 5 minutes After transplanting seedlings in open ground (after 20-25 days), seedlings are treated with planriz.