How to grow cauliflower in a greenhouse? When to plant and how to care for it?

Cauliflower is a valuable vegetable crop that is demanding of growing conditions. In a greenhouse, you can get a quality harvest regardless of weather conditions by controlling the temperature, humidity and nutritional value of the soil. However, for successful cultivation, it is important to take into account the characteristics of cauliflower, providing optimal conditions for growth and formation of dense heads.

Optimal conditions for growing cauliflower in a greenhouse

Temperature conditions

• Optimum temperature for growth: +16…+22°C.
• The minimum temperature for germination is +8°C.
• Critical threshold: above +25°C, cauliflower begins to bolt and the heads become loose.
• Frost: seedlings can withstand short-term cold spells down to -5°C, but adult plants are sensitive to sudden temperature changes.

Features of the greenhouse:

• For a stable temperature regime, it is recommended to use greenhouses with double polycarbonate (8–10 mm) or glass greenhouses with a ventilation system.
• Automatic vents will help avoid overheating in the summer.
• For winter cultivation, a heating system is required (infrared heaters, warm beds).

Humidity and watering

• Air humidity: 65–75%.
• Soil moisture: 70–80%.
• Irrigation methods:
  • Drip irrigation – maintains stable humidity without sudden changes.
  • Warm water (+18…+22°C) is used for watering to avoid shock cooling of the roots.
  • Watering at the roots helps prevent head rot.
• Humidity control system:
  • Using automatic humidity sensors.
  • Ventilation of the greenhouse to avoid condensation.

Lighting

• Duration of daylight: 12–14 hours.
• In winter, additional lighting with phytolamps is required (LED lamps with a cold spectrum, 6500K).
• With excessive light, the heads turn yellow, so they are protected with covering materials or by bending down the upper leaves.
• Summer protection against overheating:
  • Using shading net 30-40%.
  • Whitewashing greenhouse glass with lime solution.

Tip: In glass greenhouses, it is better to use automatic curtains to regulate the level of lighting.

Timing of planting cauliflower in a greenhouse

• Early varieties – sowing in February-March, transplanting in April, harvesting in May-June.
• Mid-season varieties – sowing in May, transplanting in June, harvesting in August.
• Late varieties – sowing in July-August, transplanting in September, harvesting in October-November.

Tip: To get a harvest all year round, use the conveyor method, sowing new batches of plants every 2 weeks.

Choosing a variety of cauliflower for a greenhouse

Type of cabbage	The best varieties for a greenhouse	Peculiarities
Early ripening	"Snowball", "Express F1", "Goodman"	They ripen in 60–80 days and are suitable for spring cultivation.
Mid-season	"Fremont F1", "Cortes F1", "Candis"	They ripen in 90–100 days, forming dense heads.
Late ripening	"Amethyst", "Amerigo F1", "Purple Queen"	They take longer to grow, but produce large, disease-resistant heads.

Tip: For year-round cultivation, combine early and late varieties.

Technology of planting cauliflower in a greenhouse

Soil preparation

Soil preparation in the greenhouse plays a key role in the growth of cauliflower. To obtain high yields, it is necessary to create a fertile and balanced substrate.

1. Digging the soil – is carried out to a depth of 30–35 cm. It is important to remove all weeds and their roots to avoid competition for nutrients.
2. Adding organic matter – humus or compost (6 kg per 1 m²) will provide nutrition and improve the soil structure.
3. Optimizing acidity – cauliflower grows best at a pH of 6.2–6.8. If the soil is acidic, add dolomite flour (400 g/m²) or lime.
4. Mineral fertilizers – before planting, it is recommended to add superphosphate (40 g/m²), potassium salt (20 g/m²), and magnesium sulfate (10 g/m²) to stimulate growth.
5. Soil disinfection - 10 days before planting, treat with Fitosporin, potassium permanganate or copper sulfate solution to destroy pathogens.
6. Drainage system – to prevent water stagnation in the greenhouse, it is recommended to make small ridges or raised beds.

Tip: Using agrofibre or mulching with straw will help retain moisture and reduce weeds.

Sowing and planting seedlings

• Seed preparation – before sowing, seeds are soaked in warm water (+50°C) for 15 minutes, then cooled at +10°C.
• Sowing in cassettes - seeds are deepened by 1–1.5 cm into a light substrate containing peat, sand and humus.
• Temperature conditions – maintained at +18…+22°C. After emergence, the temperature is reduced to +15°C.
• Picking is carried out after 10-14 days, when 2-3 true leaves appear.
• Hardening – 7 days before transplanting, the temperature is reduced to +10…+12°C, the greenhouse is ventilated and watering is reduced.

Planting scheme:

• Early varieties - 30x40 cm.
• Late varieties – 40×50 cm.

Tip: Plant seedlings in cloudy weather or in the evening to avoid overheating and sunburn.

Caring for cauliflower in a greenhouse

Watering

• The first phase (before the heads form) – watering once every 2–3 days, 3–4 liters per plant.
• Active growth phase – 1–2 times a week, 6–8 l per plant.
• Before harvesting - 10-14 days before, watering is reduced to improve the structure of the heads.

Tip: For uniform moisture, drip irrigation is best, which minimizes the risk of fungal diseases.

Top dressing

1. 3-4 leaf phase:
   • Nitrogen fertilizers – urea (10 g/10 l), mullein infusion (1:10).
   • Additionally: humates and biostimulants to accelerate growth.
2. Formation of heads:
   • Phosphorus-potassium fertilizers – superphosphate (20 g/10 l), ash (250 g/m²).
   • Additionally: boric acid (1 g/1 l of water) improves the density of the heads.
3. Before harvesting: stop fertilizing.

Tip: Alternate organic and mineral fertilizers for balanced nutrition.

Protection from diseases and pests

Main diseases and their prevention

• Clubroot - affects the root system, causing tumors.
  • Prevention: soil liming, crop rotation.
  • Treatment: remove diseased plants, add ash.
• Downy mildew (false powdery mildew) – yellow spots on leaves, damage to the head.
  • Prevention: moderate watering, treatment with Fitosporin.
  • Treatment: spraying with fungicides (Topaz, Ridomil Gold).
• Gray mold - affects leaves and heads.
  • Prevention: reduce humidity, regular ventilation.
  • Treatment: treatment with copper sulfate.

Main pests and methods of control

• Cabbage aphid - sucks the juice from the leaves, slowing growth.
  • Traditional methods: soap solution, garlic infusion.
  • Biological products: Actofit, Fitoverm.
• Cruciferous flea beetle – damages young plants.
  • Prevention: mulching, regular loosening of the soil.
  • Treatment: dusting with ash, treatment with insecticides.
• Cutworm caterpillars eat leaves and heads.
  • Traditional methods: wormwood infusion.
  • Biopreparations: Lepidocide, Bitoxibacillin.

Advice: Observe crop rotation – do not grow cabbage in the same place more than once every 3 years.

Harvesting and storage

• Early varieties – in 60–80 days.
• Mid-season and late varieties – in 90–110 days.
• The heads are cut off when they reach 10–15 cm in diameter.
• Storage temperature: 0…+2°C.
• Humidity: 90–95%.
• Shelf life: 2 weeks in the refrigerator, up to 6 months in the freezer.

Tip: To keep cauliflower longer, you can blanch and freeze it.

Growing cauliflower in a greenhouse

Growing cauliflower in a greenhouse is an opportunity to get a consistently high yield, regardless of weather conditions. However, for a successful result, it is important to maintain the temperature regime, properly organize watering, provide the plants with nutrients and protect them from pests.

To achieve maximum efficiency, not only agricultural practices are important, but also a high-quality greenhouse. Greenhouses from NovaTeplitsa are created taking into account all the needs of vegetable growers: they maintain an optimal microclimate, protect plants from negative external factors and allow you to control the growing conditions. Choose reliable designs and create ideal conditions for cauliflower with NovaTeplitsa. Check out the range and order a suitable model on our website - invest in a harvest that will not let you down!