Cauliflower requires a substantial amount of nutrients throughout its growing season, particularly during the head formation stage, which lasts 25 – 35 days, during which the plant absorbs 3/4 of its total nutrient requirements from the soil.
Soil Preparation for Cauliflower
For early spring planting, basic soil preparation along with starter fertilization with increased amounts of phosphorus and potassium is done in the autumn.
It is beneficial to prepare raised beds in the autumn so that the soil dries and warms up more quickly in the spring. Before planting, the soil is treated with herbicides for this purpose. A biodegradable transparent film mulch can also be used to promote soil warming. If black PE film is used, herbicides are not necessary.
When planting in late spring or summer, cauliflower usually follows a previous crop, so after removing the preceding crop residues, the soil should be tilled to create a granular layer suitable for planting and successful seedling rooting. Before planting, it is important to moisten the soil to a depth of 30 cm to 70 – 80% of the field capacity for water.
Fertilization of Cauliflower
During the growth of the stem and leaves, plants require larger amounts of nitrogen (N), while in the stage of forming the flower heads, they need more phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O).
Cauliflower responds very well to fertilization with manure and compost. The best yields and quality are achieved with a combination of organic and mineral fertilizers. There is a calculation indicating that for every 1000 kg of cauliflower heads, the following amounts of pure nutrients are needed: nitrogen (N) = 40 kg, phosphorus (P2O5) = 16 kg, potassium (K2O) = 50 kg.
Basic soil preparation involves incorporating 40 – 50 t/ha of manure, along with NPK 7 – 20 – 30 or NPK 8 – 26 – 26 at a rate of 10 to 15 dkg/m² (1 – 1.5 t/ha).
Cauliflower is fertilized 1 – 3 times during the growing season with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) at a rate of 100 kg/ha.
