What Is Colocynthis?

Cauliflower, also known as cauliflower, cauliflower or broccoli flower, cauliflower is an annual plant of the genus Brassicaceae, also known as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage flower, broccoli, and broccoli. Native to the eastern Mediterranean coast, it was introduced to China around the beginning of the 19th century. Cauliflower is a very popular vegetable. It is delicious, nutritious, and highly medicinal. Vitamin C is very rich in content and has anti-cancer effects. The average nutritional value and disease prevention effect far exceed other vegetables.

Biennial herb, 60-90 cm tall, frosted. Stems erect, stout, branched. Basal leaves and lower leaves are oblong to elliptic, 2-3.5 cm long, gray-green, apical round, spreading, uncentered, entire or fine-toothed, sometimes with leaves extending downward, with several small lobes, And winged; petiole length 2-3 cm; middle and upper leaves of stem are small and sessile, oblong to lanceolate, embracing stem. The top of the stem has a milky white fleshy head with densely integrated pedicels, pedicels and undeveloped flower buds; the inflorescences are terminal and axillary; the flowers are pale yellow and later become white. Long-horned fruit cylindrical, 3-4 cm long, with 1 midvein, thick thick upper part of the lower part of the beak, 10-12 mm long. Seeds broadly elliptic, nearly 2 mm long, brown. Flowering in April and fruit in May.

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Root: The root system of cauliflower is not very developed compared to that of cabbage, and it is not as strong as cabbage, and it is relatively shallow. The main root cluster is in the cultivation layer within 30cm, which requires higher fertilizer and water. It is necessary to prevent both drought and waterlogging during growth. It requires soil to be loose and fertile, and it must be deep and high. However, broccoli has many fibrous roots, forming an extremely dense reticulate cone, and has a strong regeneration ability, so it is suitable for seedling transplanting. In order to achieve high yields, it is necessary to carry out fake planting for a period of time when raising seedlings. Part of the reason is to promote strong root growth and easy survival after planting.

Stem: Cauliflower plants in our province have a short and compact plant type, so the stem axis is generally shorter than the stem axis of varieties introduced in Shanghai and other places, which makes the plant appear compact and shorter, commonly known as high-footed and short-footed varieties. The length of the stem axis is related to the cauliflower's ball at the top of the stem.

Leaves: Cauliflower leaves are divided into two types: outer and inner leaves. The outer leaves open from the outside to the inside, and the leaves gradually increase from small to have petioles. After flower buds differentiate, they no longer grow. The leaves are larger, especially the width of the leaves. The inner leaves have no petioles and are covered with flower bulbs. From the outside to the inside, the leaves gradually shrink, while the outer leaflets are upright. The leaf number, leaf shape, color and size of cauliflower vary according to the variety. From the first true leaf to the inner leaf outside the flower ball, the total number of leaves is about 18 to 40, and generally 18 to 20 early maturing seeds 25 to 30 pieces of medium-ripening seeds, 30 to 40 pieces of late-ripening seeds. The leaf shape includes oval, oblong, oval, oblong, and long lanceolate. Leaf colors are light green, green, gray green, and dark green. Wax powder is also attached to the leaves, which is the secretion of leaf epidermal cells, which can reduce the evaporation of water. The amount of wax powder varies depending on the climate and growing environment.

Flower ball: It is a product that reflects the main economic value of the whole cauliflower. It is a spherical storage organ composed of a shortened succulent flower stem system. It is composed of a fatty shaft and many fleshy pedicels and a bulbous flower branch. The top includes many differentiations into inflorescences. The flower bud primordium is polymerized at different stages. The flower ball is a nutrient storage organ of cauliflower. It stores a large amount of nutrients and is a part of people's food. It is observed that there are about 50-60 small flower balls on the main axis of a flower ball, the small flower ball at the base is 2 ~ 3cm thick, and the small flower ball in the center is less than 1cm. Cauliflower's flower ball tissue is very dense, and the flower buds that continue to differentiate on the top of the flowering branch can flower very few. The normal flower ball is hemispherical, the spherical surface is regular left-handed radial wheel arrangement, the surface is granular, and the texture is dense. As a marketed product, the flower ball is clean and well-balanced, and has no fluff on the surface, which can create better economic benefits. In bad weather or unsuitable cultivation environment, the flower ball will appear anomalies such as blue flowers, hair flowers and purple flowers. The phenomenon has affected the listing. ^[3]

The climate difference between North and South of China is huge, and there are obvious differences among different varieties. The types of cauliflower are divided into very early varieties, early varieties, middle varieties and late varieties according to their maturity.

(1) Very early varieties

This type of cauliflower is suitable for high temperature cultivation, with early flower bud differentiation, heat resistance, high humidity resistance, short growth period, and 30 to 40 days from planting to harvest. The plant is short, the yield is low, the flower ball is small, and the single ball weighs 0.3 to 0.5 kg, which is suitable for summer sowing and autumn harvest. Representative varieties are: Fuzhou 30 days, Fuzhou 40 days, Huli 40 days, summer flowers 40 days, Thailand heat-resistant 40 days, summer snow 40 and other varieties. Very early maturing varieties are weak in winter and prone to early flowering. Cultivation must be large in water and fat, mainly to promote.

(2) Early maturing varieties

This type of cauliflower has strong heat and humidity resistance. It usually takes 50 to 60 days from planting to harvest. The flower ball is medium in size and the single ball weighs 0.5 to 1.0 kg, which is suitable for summer sowing and autumn harvest. The representative varieties are: Baifeng, Low Feet 59 days, Fuzhou 60 days, Fenghua 60, Jinpin 60, Longfeng 60, Xiahua 60 days, Quanzhou 60 days, Tongan 60 days, Wenzhou Jiefeng 60 days and other varieties. The cultivation and management of early-maturing varieties must be adequate with water and fertilizers, and the cultivation of huge vegetative bodies is the key to high yield.

(3) Medium-maturing varieties

The flower buds of these varieties have a late differentiation, are less heat resistant, and are more resistant to low temperatures. From 70 to 90 days from planting to harvest, the plant has a strong growth potential, and the flower ball is dense, compact and large. Generally, the single ball weighs 1.0 to 2.0 kg, which is suitable for summer and autumn sowing and autumn and winter harvesting. Representative varieties are: Fuzhou 80 days, Wenzhou 80 days, Yunshan, Tanabe 80 days, Longfeng 80 days, Shenhua No. 3, Generation 80, Jinxue 88 and other varieties. Medium-maturing varieties are required to avoid the high temperature season during the sowing period, to prevent abnormalities such as pod leaves and purple hairs from occurring in the flower ball.

(4) Late-maturing varieties

These varieties are not heat-resistant, have late flower bud differentiation, are resistant to low temperatures, and enjoy a cold and cool climate. It takes more than 90 days from planting to harvesting. It has strong growth potential, large plants, dense and compact flower bulbs, large flower bulbs, and a single ball weight of more than 2.0kg. It is suitable for autumn sowing and autumn and winter harvesting. Representative varieties are: Fuzhou 100 days, Aoxue, Dengfeng 100 days, Jufeng 130 days, Holland 83, Qilian Baixue and other varieties. Most late-maturing varieties can be used for spring and autumn cultivation, and abnormal phenomena such as pod leaves and purple hair are prone to occur in high-temperature summer cultivation.

The types of cauliflower can be divided into spherical, semi-circular, oblate and arched according to the shape of the flower ball; according to the color of the flower ball, it can be divided into white, milky white, milky yellow, withered yellow and purple. According to the distribution area, it can be divided into Fujian cauliflower type, Zhejiang Wenzhou cauliflower type, Shanghai cauliflower type and Guangzhou cauliflower type. ^[1]

1. Conventional breed selection

Cauliflower breeding has gone through a development process from yield to resistance to commerciality and quality. Before the 1980s, cauliflower breeding was mainly a conventional cauliflower variety that was bred by single-line pedigree breeding, and formed a rich variety of local varieties.

2. Heterosis utilization

The use of heterosis is the most important technical method for cauliflower breeding. About 90% of the new varieties promoted at home and abroad are formulated with self-incompatible lines. Jiang Pingping introduced the cytoplasmic male sterility line NY7842A and maintainer line NY7642B from the United States in 1987. After 3 years of backcross purification, he has obtained stable sterility with a sterility rate of over 98%. The hybrids of the cultivar were tested and bred, and two hybrid generations of "Ronghua No.1" and "Ronghua No.2" were initially bred, and their heterosis was obvious. Since then, Tianjin Kerun Vegetable Research Institute, Wenzhou Vegetable Institute and other units have successively carried out research on the utilization of cauliflower heterosis, cultivated a series of cauliflower hybrid varieties, and promoted them all over the country.

Cauliflower is harmless

Timely sowing

According to many years of cultivation experience, the first batch of Pingnan area is generally sown in early May (early summer) and harvested and listed on the market from the end of July to early August. This coincides with the off-season sales, rising prices and high economic benefits. The last batch should be sown at the end of July (Great Summer) and harvested before the frost.

Sowing methods and management

In the high temperature season, in order to overcome the disadvantages of dead seedlings, two methods of nutrient block and nutrition bag nursery are often used in production.

1.Nutritional block breeding method

Fertilize 150kg of sifted farm manure and 0.5kg of 45% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer per 10m ² seedbed, then plow the ground and rake, mash the soil to make 1.3m wide, 7-8m long, and leave 30 between 35cm wide drainage ditch, flatten the concrete surface, and irrigate the soil with the soil treatment agent (see Pest and Disease Control) to make the soil water content saturated. Use a six-tooth rake to shave the topsoil back and forth, and then flatten the concrete surface with a mallet. Cover film is stuffy after 2 weeks. When sowing, draw a square on the seedbed according to the 8-10cm square, and use your fingers (or sticks, bamboo poles, etc.) to pierce the eyes in the center of the square. The depth should not exceed 0.5cm. 3 seeds), cover the sieved clean soil with a thickness of about 0.3cm after sowing, cover the seedbed with a layer of grass moisturizing, and then water it once. In case of dry weather, increase the watering frequency appropriately. 2 to 3 days after sowing, when most of the young shoots are arched, the grasshopper cover should be removed in time. In order to prevent the adverse effects of heavy rain and scorching sun, cover the canopy in time on the seedbed. Cover the top with a sunshade net to cover the shade. The height should be about 1m from the seedbed, so that the seedlings can be illuminated by oblique light in the morning and evening to avoid the occurrence of tall feet. ; Cover a plastic film under the shade net to make a small arch shed to prevent rainstorms; pay attention to the surroundings of the bottom of the shed should be 20 ~ 30cm from the ground to ventilate and cool down, so as not to burn the seedlings due to high temperature, the film is generally temporarily covered in rainy days. At the same time, the shade net on the small arch shed should be lifted in time. Generally, it is covered at about 10 am in the sunny day and opened in the afternoon at 4 pm, and it is not covered on a cloudy day. As the seedling age increases, the shading time is gradually reduced every day until before transplanting. One week, without covering at all, adaptive seedlings were carried out. After the seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, weeds in the seedbed should be removed in time, and the humus fine soil should be covered around the roots and stems of the seedlings 1 or 2 times to prevent the roots from being exposed to prevent lodging, and it should also be protected. Ditch drainage in time. Watering the seedlings during the growth of the seedlings, but the watering should not be too much, so as to prevent the seedlings from growing too long due to hot weather. Topdressing depends on the growth of vegetable seedlings. Generally, thin human feces or urea is applied one or two times. However, the topdressing of urea should be washed with clear water to wash the fertilizer on the leaves.

2. Nutrition bag breeding method

Use a nutrition bag with a size of 6.5cm × 6.5cm. The nutritional soil formula ratio is 5: 1, that is, 500kg of soil with 100kg of rotten cooked farm manure and 2.0 2.5kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, combined with soil treatment agents (see Pest Control) After mixing the soil and fertilizer for 2 weeks, it should be used in bags. Note that the moisture content of the nutrient soil in the bag should reach about 80%, that is, the hands can be formed into a mass and the ground can be scattered to facilitate germination and emergence. Then arrange the nutrition bags neatly on the seedbed for seeding, and cover the nutrition bags with grasshoppers to moisturize. Within 2 days after sowing, watering with a fine sprinkler should be carried out to maintain humidity. After emergence, the seedlings should be managed with nutrient blocks.

Field cultivation management

1. Land selection

Cauliflower should choose deep loam, fertile loam, middle loam or light loam, as well as land with high land and good irrigation and drainage conditions. Avoid continuous cropping or replanting with cruciferous vegetables, otherwise serious pests and diseases will occur.

2. Fine land preparation, lower foot basal fertilizer

Most of the summer and autumn broccoli varieties are mainly early-middle-maturity, with a short overall growth period, early nutrient absorption in the vegetative growth period, and large demand, so the base fertilizer should be mainly rotten farm manure, manure and urine, and fast-acting nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. Generally apply 30 ~ 45m ³ / hm ^{2 of} cooked organic fertilizer, 375-450kg / hm ^{2 of} 45% NPK compound fertilizer, 37.5 45.0kg / hm ^{2 of} agricultural borax, then plough and harrow, cut the soil block, press The ditch is 1.3m wide and 10m long to make trenches. The width of the remaining drainage ditch between 30m and 35cm, and the ditch depth is 15-25cm. The low-lying land should be deeper and the high-dry land should be shallower. If the previous crop is dry farming or acidic soil, 900 ~ 1 800 kg / hm ^{2 of} quicklime is applied 7 to 10 days before base fertilizer application, and ploughing into the soil can play a role in sterilization and reconcile the pH, which can effectively eliminate the influence of normal growth of plants in the soil Disadvantages.

3. Reasonable dense planting, good transplanting

Dense planting specifications are determined by differences in soil quality, fertilization level, and variety characteristics. Generally, there are 2 rows of seedlings per plant, with a plant spacing of 50 to 55 cm, a row spacing of 50 to 60 cm, and about ²² to 25,500 plants / hm ^{2 are} planted. Smaller plant types can be more dense, taller plants can be less dense. After the planting holes were excavated, the bio-organic fertilizer and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer were mixed in a ratio of 3: 1, and the bottom of each hole was applied with 0.1 to 0.2 kg. The soil fertilizer had a better planting effect after mixing well. Due to the high temperature and high humidity environment, the plant grows quickly, and the seedlings are a bit longer. It is easy to pull out early flowers in the seedbed. The seedlings should be strictly controlled within 20 days. When the true leaves of the seedlings reach 4 to 5 pieces, they can be transplanted and transplanted. The front seedbed should be drenched with water (referring to the nursery of nutrient block), so that the soil will be lifted when transplanting. Care should be taken when raising the seedlings. In order to prevent freshly planted seedlings from being hurt by the noon sun and high temperature, it should be planted in the evening or cloudy. Immediately after planting, the root water (thin human feces and urine) should be poured to promote root survival. In case of dry weather, water every 2 to 3 days to keep the soil moist and speed up seedling development.

Strengthening field management

1. Water management

Because its plants are growing vigorously, they need more water. After the seedlings survive, the water supply during the seedling-promoting period is combined with topdressing to exert fertilizer effect, keep the moist surface moist, prevent water accumulation in the furrows, and promote deep root spread. In the early stage, the seedlings are small. In case of typhoon rain or continuous rain, it is necessary to maintain smooth communication and timely discharge and prevent waterlogging. In the rosette stage and early flower bud stage, more water and fertilizer are required. In case of dry weather, furrow irrigation, that is, horse race water, should be carried out to keep the soil on the surface moist. In short, the whole growth period should avoid flooding and stagnant water to affect the normal growth of the root system.

2. Reasonable fertilization

Edible value

It has anti-cancer and anti-cancer effects. According to the American Cancer Society, broccoli and Chinese cabbage have the best anti-cancer effect among many fruits and vegetables. Cauliflower contains isothiocyanate compounds and trace elements, and has antioxidant effects. Long-term consumption of cauliflower can reduce the incidence of cancers such as rectal cancer, breast cancer and gastric cancer. Contains flavonoids to protect the cardiovascular system. Flavonoids can prevent infections and are the best blood vessel cleaning agents. They can prevent cholesterol from oxidizing, prevent platelets from clotting and reduce thrombosis, which can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. The mortality rate of coronary heart disease is low. Cauliflower is one of the most flavonoid-containing vegetables.

Has rich vitamin k. Prevent internal bleeding and hemorrhoids, reduce heavy bleeding during the physiological period, and promote normal blood coagulation. Some people are not easily affected by small bumps and injuries because of a lack of vitamin K in their bodies. Cauliflower contains rich vitamin K, which is not found in most vegetables.

Cauliflower is rich in Vc, 85-100 mg of Vc per 100 grams of cauliflower, which is 4 times higher than that of Chinese cabbage. It has the effect of detoxifying the liver. Eating more cauliflower also thickens the walls of the blood vessels and makes them less likely to rupture. Vc can enhance the detoxification ability of the liver, improve the body's immunity, and prevent the occurrence of colds and scurvy. Cauliflower is rich in selenium and Vc, and also rich in carotene, which has a certain inhibitory effect on preventing precancerous cell lesions.

There are abundant biologically active substances. Cauliflower also contains a variety of indole derivative active substances, which can reduce estrogen levels and reduce the risk of breast cancer. Cauliflower also contains carprogenin, which can increase the activity of carcinogen detoxifying enzymes and prevent cancer. In addition, cauliflower also contains dithiophenol thione, which can whiten the skin and reduce the enzyme that forms melanin And prevent the formation of skin pigmentation, regular consumption can also smooth and appetizing. Cauliflower has a high water content. Its water content is over 90% and its calories are low, so for people who want to lose weight, it can fill their stomachs without being obese. ^[1]