Cauliflower is a beautiful vegetable that is often overlooked, which is unfortunate, because it’s so versatile and satisfying to grow! If you’re looking for a challenge in your garden this year, consider growing cauliflower. Keep reading to learn more about how to grow cauliflower and some of the best tips for harvesting this delicious vegetable.
Cauliflower is a vegetable in the Brassica oleracea species in the Brassica genus. It’s an annual plant that reproduces by seed, and typically only the head is eaten. Cauliflower heads resemble broccoli, but broccoli differs in having flower buds as the edible portion. Brassica oleracea also includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, and kale, collectively called “cole” crops, though they are of different cultivar groups.
How to grow cauliflower
Cauliflower is a delicious and nutritious vegetable addition to the home garden. I’m going to share all my tips and tricks you need to know in order to grow your own yummy cauliflower. From deciding if you have the ideal climate for growing cauliflower to how to care for your young tender plants. Let’s also touch on the common problems that you’re likely to encounter growing cauliflower and how to avoid it happening to you.
Cauliflowers are a member of the cabbage family (Brassicas). They look a lot like regular white cabbage, only they have smaller heads and narrower leaves. The best way to cook them is steaming until they are soft or it’s quite popular to grill them as steaks or bake them.
The Ideal Climate for Growing Cauliflowers
Cauliflower is a cool season crop that needs full sun and well-drained soil to grow successfully. The ideal temperature for growing cauliflowers is between 18 and 24 degrees Celsius.
The Basics of Growing Cauliflower
Cauliflowers are a bit more difficult to grow than their close cousins the cabbage. Cool weather is needed for these plants to form good heads. Cauliflower plants are relatively easy to grow and establish, but there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First of all, cauliflower needs full sun to grow properly. They should be planted in well-drained soil and fertilized regularly with a good balanced fertilizer.
Cauliflower Varieties
There are many good varieties of cauliflower available, but for the vegetable plot choose both early and late varieties for your home garden. If you live in an area with hot summers, plant varieties like Snow Crown, Amazing, Cheddar and Graffiti, which can handle a little heat. Cauliflowers are susceptible to club root, I recommend you purchase clubroot resistant varieties if this is a problem in your area.
The oldest record mention of the cauliflower was in the 6th century BC, and it’s also mentioned by Pliny in the 2nd century AD. European writers in the 16th century recorded the cauliflower had been grown in Turkey and Egypt for 1500 to 2000 years.
There are many different types of cauliflower available on the market today, so it is important to choose one that is suited to your climate. Make sure to read up on each variety before selecting it, as this will help you get the best results.
For most home gardeners I recommend the small types such as Early Snowball as they can be grown close together and the whole cauliflower can be used for one meal.
Some of the most popular varieties include, White Icicle, and Snowball. All of these varieties have unique characteristics that make them appealing to gardeners.
There are also fun colorful cauliflowers in purple and orange which can really appeal to children or structural looking Romanesco which can really glam up your veggie patch!
How to Prepare the Soil for Planting Cauliflowers
Soil preparation is one of the secrets of successful cauliflower growing. Cauliflowers require a deeply-worked, good, rich soil, prepared as recommended for Cabbages.
Dig the soil and autumn or early winter and incorporate as much organic matter as you possibly can. Lime if necessary, let the ground settle until just before planting time. Cauliflower needs fertile soil in order to thrive they do not grow well in very acid soils.
Cauliflowers are heavy feeders and require good soil and fertilizing in order to grow well. You can amend your soil with compost or organic matter before planting, make sure to your organic matter to the soil several months prior to planting, and then continue adding fertilizer every week or two during growth until harvest. Avoid over-fertilizing as this can cause excessive growth and blooms in your plants, which can be visually undesirable.
When Is the Best Time to Plant Cauliflowers
Sow early varieties, such as Extra Early Eclipse, the plants being transplanted out to their permanent position from Spring; under normal conditions, they will be ready to cut in about twelve weeks after planting out. You can plant cauliflower from seed all year round except harsh mid-winter.
You can buy cauliflower seedlings from a garden center or raise them yourself in seed boxes or pots. Make sure you have enough space to allow plants to spread out at least 60cm (2 feet) in each direction.
Seeds will store for around three years so don’t sow too many seeds at one time just a row for your family every few weeks.
Large Varieties 24 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart.
Small Varieties 12 inches to 15 inches apart
Outside sow 6 mm deep or if you’re using a seed box 2 inches / 5 cm apart. The little seedlings will germinate in 7 – 12 days with heat but will take longer without.
Sow seeds of Late varieties, such as Late Eclipse, don’t attempt to sow seed too late in the season. Cauliflower plants, like other members of the Brassica tribe, must be raised in pots or seed bed and planted out. After sowing the seed keep the young seedlings shaded from the hot sun or cool frosts as per your climate. Should the seedlings come up too thickly thin them out, the young plants shouldn’t crowd each other, as this would result in long drawn-up spindly growth. The young seedlings should be regularly and plentifully watered, or they will become stunted.
Make continuous sowings for regular supply nearly all year round.
Transplant the seedlings when they are 4 inches / 10 cm high and space them 20 inches apart / 50 – 60 cm apart.
Choose a dull day or late in the afternoon. Make sure not to plant them too deeply as this can lead to rot later on down the line. Should the soil be too dry when planting out, the roots may be dipped in a mixture of cow dung, blood manure, or superphosphate and water, made up to the consistency of thick paste. This will considerably lessen wilting. Water regularly throughout growth; however do not overdo it as overwatering can also cause problems later on down the line.
Once you’ve planted your cauliflowers, be patient! They will take around 12 weeks to reach maturity. During this time, you will need to keep an eye out for pests and diseases – both of which can damage your plants.
How to Care for Cauliflower Plants
Once planted, be prepared for sporadic rainfall or irrigation which can cause shock during early growth stages (cauliflowers do not like standing water).
Cauliflowers likes a lot of water, so make sure the soil is moist at all times and water regularly throughout the growing season, especially during dry periods.
During the growing period keep all weed growth down hoe carefully until the crop is large enough to suppress weeds and give the growing plants liquid manure feed every couple of weeks.
Blanching and Harvesting Cauliflowers
The process of shading a cauliflower head helps keep the head bright white. To blanch cauliflower heads, while the head is small, wrap the leaves around the head of the plant and secure them with soft natural twine. Occasionally do a peek test to check for pests and to see how the plant is blanching. Exposure to sunlight discolors the cauliflower head making them look a sick shade of yellow and it can actually also spoil the flavor.
The heads will grow rapidly as they are maturing and they need to be checked every day or two to ensure the heads are protected.
Spring Varieties time between sowing and harvesting is 35 weeks
Summer and Winter Varieties time between sowing and harvesting is 20 – 35 weeks
Once your cauliflowers have reached maturity (typically around three to six months), it’s time to harvest them. Harvesting your homegrown cauliflowers can be a fun experience as well as rewarding, cutting off the heads with a sharp knife.
Begin cutting cauliflowers while they are still quite small, rather than waiting for when they are mature all at once. In this way you can prolong the harvesting season. Cut in the morning when the heads still have dew on them, but in frosty weather. Wait until noon. If you want to keep the heads for a week or two before use, just lift the plants and hang them upside down in a cool shed or other cool place until you are ready to use them in cooking or decoration.
Having trouble getting good heads? Who not let your caulis become caulilini? What is caulilini I hear you say, well, like broccolini, caulilini has long stems, but it’s “blonde” in color just like cauliflower and you eat the entire veggie, from stem to florets.
Once all vegetables have been harvested gently remove any dead vegetation using a garden rake ready for the next crop.
Common Problems When Growing Cauliflowers and How to Solve Them
It is important to deal with pests and diseases that might affect your plants before they become too serious.
Cauliflowers are also susceptible to clubroot, cabbage root fly, caterpillars, slugs and birds. Caterpillars will eat the leaves and slugs to climb the stem to eat away the surface of the curds leaving brown holes.
One of the most common cauliflower diseases is black rot, which is caused by a soil-borne fungus. It appears as yellow spots on the cauliflower leaves, which eventually turn black and rot away. To prevent this disease, make sure to rotate your cauliflowers with other vegetables in a 3-year cycle, as well as avoid overhead irrigation.
Aphids are also a common cauliflower pest. These small insects feed on the cauliflower’s sap and can cause damage to the cauliflower plants. To get rid of them, use a natural insecticide or introduce beneficial predators like ladybugs into the garden.
Powdery mildew is another cauliflower disease that you should watch out for. It appears as white powdery spots on cauliflower leaves, so make sure to keep cauliflowers well-ventilated and spaced out to reduce the risk of infection.
Cauliflower worms can also cause damage to cauliflower plants. These small caterpillars feed on cauliflower leaves, so you should pick them off by hand or use natural insecticides to get rid of them.
If you notice any problems with your cauliflower crop (such as aphids), there are various insecticidal compounds that you can use to control them without harming other beneficial insects such as bees or butterflies which rely on these pests for food (insecticide labels will indicate if such chemicals are safe for these predators).
Tips For Growing Beautiful And Delicious Cauliflowers
Cauliflowers are a versatile vegetable, with an array of delicious flavors and textures. They can be used in recipes from soups to salads, and make tasty additions to stir-fries. Growing your own cauliflowers is easy and rewarding – here are my top tips for cultivating the best crop!
1. Cauliflowers require plenty of sun and water, so make sure you plant them in an area with access to at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. If the weather is hot, be sure to water your Cauliflowers regularly to keep them cool and hydrated.
2. Cauliflowers need nutrient-rich soil, so incorporate compost or other organic matter into the soil before planting to give your Cauliflowers a good start.
3. Plant Cauliflower seedlings in beds that are well spaced apart; this will allow for better air circulation which helps prevent disease and rot from occurring on the plants.
4. Add a layer of mulch around Cauliflower plants to help keep the soil moist and suppress weeds.
5. Cauliflowers can be susceptible to pests, so it’s a good idea to check your Cauliflowers regularly for signs of insects or other damage. If you notice any signs of pest activity, treat the affected Cauliflower plants immediately with an appropriate insecticide.
6. Crop rotation is important for Cauliflowers as it helps reduce disease pressure. Try planting them in a different bed each season, or try alternating between crops like tomatoes and peppers that aren’t susceptible to the same diseases as Cauliflowers.
7. Cauliflowers form heads when the temperature drops, so it’s important to try and keep Cauliflowers in a cooler environment or protect them from extreme temperatures if necessary.
8. Cauliflowers can be harvested when the heads are firm and full. If left on the plant too long, Cauliflowers will begin to form seedpods which can make them taste bitter.
9. Cauliflowers can be cooked in many different ways such as steaming, boiling, stir-frying or roasting; these methods all preserve more of the Cauliflower’s nutrients than boiling does.
10. To ensure maximum flavor and nutrition, use Cauliflower within a few days of harvesting; Cauliflower can also be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
Now that you know all about growing cauliflowers, it’s time to get out there and start growing your own! Follow my tips and tricks and you’ll be well on your way to success. Just remember to choose the right variety for your climate, prepare the soil properly, fertilize regularly, and monitor for pests and diseases. With a little care and attention, you’ll be able to grow delicious and nutritious cauliflowers that will add beauty to your garden.
