If you really want to challenge yourself, you should grow cauliflower! This plant is a bit picky, but has amazing results that are well worth the effort. During the entire growing season, pay special attention to the temperature and irrigation. At harvest time you will be rewarded with beautiful white cauliflower heads or one of the many colors available!
Cauliflower is much more diverse than you think. Many species are vivid in color, from sunset orange to vivid purple. You can even find textures other than classic curd. In fact, cauliflower is often grown only for its ornamental value.
This vegetable is a harvest in cool weather, which is good news for you northerners. It likes temperatures around 60 ° F, so it usually grows in spring or autumn (or both!). When harvesting cauliflower, you can eat the stem and leaves, as well as the head. From a health perspective, this vegetable is becoming increasingly popular because of its many useful nutrients.
Once you master cauliflower, nothing will stop you from growing other cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli or kale. Testing your skills with cauliflower can only open up more opportunities for your garden. So let's learn everything about cauliflower, how to grow it and its unique properties.
Good products for growing cauliflower:
Brief instructions on care
Growing cauliflower in all shapes and sizes is fun and tasty! Source: letouj
| Common Name (s) | cauliflower |
| Scientific name | Brassica oleracea var.Botrytis |
| Days to harvest | 55-100 days depending on the variety |
| light | Full sun to partial shade |
| Water: | Consistent, 1 "per week |
| ground | Loamy, fertile soil, well-drained |
| fertilizer | Nitrogen-rich or balanced vegetable formula |
| Pests | Cabbage worms, cabbage grinders, army worms, aphids, thrips, flea beetles, cucumber beetles, snails, snails |
| Diseases | Club root, bacterial soft rot, mildew, downy mildew, cauliflower mosaic virus |
All about cauliflower
As soon as the leafy vegetables of the plant form, the small head begins in the middle. Source: grrrlgeek
That sounds like a superfluous question, but is cauliflower a flower? Yes! The name sounds true, unlike many other misleading names in the botanical world (I look at you, pineapple).
The edible, compacted head is actually a mass of undeveloped flower buds. There are large, lettuce-like leaves under the grapes or curd. Once large enough, gardeners often wrap and tie the leaves around their heads to protect them from full sun. If seeds are allowed to be planted, the cauliflower “shoots” and produces small, yellow flowers with seed pods.
Cauliflower is believed to come from the northeastern Mediterranean. It only became popular in the rest of Europe in the 18th century. In the 20th century, this vegetable finally prevailed in the United States, the third largest country in which it is grown.
You can probably say that cauliflower and broccoli are closely related, but what you may not know is that they and many other popular vegetables are actually the same type. Brassica oleracea is divided into numerous varieties, including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi and of course broccoli and cauliflower.
The botrytis group or variety includes cauliflowers in many colors and shapes. The light green Romanesco cauliflower (broccoflower) has a spiky shape that looks like an aerial view of a pine forest. The most typical cauliflower has a softer, cloud-like shape.
If you're looking for more color, there's not much that can beat the extravagant purple strains like the graffiti hybrid. You can also find these vegetables in yellow-orange, like the Cheddar variety, which contains much more nutrients than the original white one. Of course, this barely brushes the surface of all varieties out there. Have fun choosing the cauliflower to be planted!
Usually grown in the USA for one year, the cauliflower can serve as a delicate biennial in cooler climates. It requires warmer temperatures to bloom fully, which means late spring or early summer can cause a shower of bright yellow flowers.
Plant cauliflower
The first signs of a cauliflower head begin to form. Source: Br3nda
Perhaps the most important aspect when learning how to grow cauliflower plants is temperature. When and where you plant has a big impact on quality. So you have to plan it. Spring and autumn usually provide the ideal weather for cauliflower, while summer is too intense.
Start your cauliflower seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Plant them at least 7 weeks in advance if you live in an area with short springs. Choose a well drained and fertile soil and plant each seed 1/2 inch deep. Germination takes about 10 days. During this time, you should keep the floor moist and covered with plastic. When the seedlings appear, remove the cover and place the container in sunlight.
You can transplant your baby cauliflower plants 2-4 weeks before the last frost. If you buy starts instead of seeds, they can also be planted at this time. Whatever you choose, harden the seedlings first so they can get used to the temperature change. Place the containers outdoors for a long time every day. Do this for a week or more before permanently putting it outside. For cauliflower spaces, plant them 24 inches apart, with 2-3 feet between rows. To keep the soil moist, add some mulch.
Because they have shallow roots, you can easily grow cauliflower in pots instead of the bottom. Just make sure you plant them 24 inches apart and ½ inch deep and provide plenty of water.
If you want to grow a crop in the fall, start growing indoors indoors in early July. Transplant them in mid-August so they are ready to be harvested before frost begins. Choose a cool location to plant them so the late summer heat doesn't affect their growth.
maintenance
The long leaves can be used to naturally blanch the cauliflower head. Source: UnconventionalEmma
As a cauliflower holder, you are responsible for keeping your Brassica happy. Here you will find everything your cauliflower needs.
Sun and temperature
Full sun is best for cauliflower plants as long as the temperature is under control. Your plants need a stable temperature of around 60 ° F. Anything above 80 ° F can negatively affect growth. Conversely, constant temperatures around freezing can have a similar effect.
Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause the cauliflower head to turn brown-green and develop a strong taste. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can destroy your dreams of growing beautiful products. Any color of cauliflower can happen, although some varieties naturally protect their heads from light.
Fortunately, you can get the head color yourself by blanching the plant. All you have to do is wrap the outer leaves loosely around your head and secure them with a rubber band or string. Do this once the head is the size of an egg and keep it that way until harvest. Make sure the plant is dry before blanching it so you don't trap moisture.
Water and moisture
Cauliflower needs a lot of water, at least an inch a week. Pour it deep and often so that the soil doesn't dry out. Underwater leads to a smaller head and breaks up the even curd. Of course, these plants are not drought-resistant!
Try to water only the bottom and keep the leaves and head dry, especially after blanching. Water in the morning so the sun dries the water that gets on the plant. The use of watering hoses at the base of the plant also reduces the likelihood of water on the foliage. Mulching can help maintain soil moisture.
ground
Choose a soil that is loamy, fertile and has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. It has to hold the water well, but not so much that it drowns the roots. This can be achieved by adding organic soil improvements such as composted cow manure or horse manure. Worm castings can also be used to store moisture.
Fertilize
Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to promote the growth of the cauliflower heads. The first soil application should be done about a month after transplanting. Then apply side dressings at most every 2-4 weeks. If you can't find a good fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, opt for a balanced organic formula that is optimized for vegetables.
You can use a granular or liquid fertilizer and change the application schedule according to the instructions in the package. This can be heavy feed, especially with regard to nitrogen. It is therefore advantageous to start with rich soil.
Propagation
Cauliflower is typically propagated through seeds. Other methods of propagation are not practical.
Since we've already explained how to plant, let's go through the harvest of cauliflower seeds! It's not always guaranteed to be reliable, but since you're growing cauliflower anyway, it's worth trying.
As with most other plants, the most reliable seeds are those that have not been cross-pollinated with other strains. Unfortunately, this means that cauliflower and broccoli may have been pollinated on the same bed. The resulting seeds are often not type-appropriate and you run the risk of passing on a number of diseases.
When cauliflower is screwed together, all of these beautiful immature flower buds that make up the tasty head suddenly come to life. Long, tall shoots cause the head to explode as it grows outwards and yellow buds emerge from the buds. Assuming your local pollinators do their job well, you will be rewarded with a bunch of seed pods as soon as the flowers fade and die.
To harvest these seeds, let the pods on the plant dry for the most part. Then cut the pods and leave them somewhere to stop them drying out. You can then break open the pods to get the seeds. Store your seeds in a cool, dry and dark place until the planting time is reached.
Harvest and store
After harvesting, you can keep your cauliflower in the fridge or freeze it. Source: WordRidden
The cauliflower head grows faster than you think. So keep an eye on him (especially if he's blanched). Before you know it, you will harvest, store and enjoy this delicious flower.
harvest
Depending on the variety, cauliflower heads can be harvested 2-3 months after planting. You need to find the right timing so that you have the optimal size without the effects of aging. If the curd grows too long, it loosens and becomes grainy. The plants could also slip and if that happens you have lost your head!
The cauliflower head should be 6 to 8 inches in diameter and a good color to match its variety. Cut the cauliflower a few inches under the head with a sharp knife. The leaves protect the head during storage. If you want to eat the outer leaves, hold most of the stem. After harvesting, you can remove the decapitated plant and throw it away.
Immerse the entire head in water for 30 minutes to remove all insects living in the head. As a result, the pests are drowned or flee, which makes eating and storing safer.
storage
Cauliflower likes to be cold when stored and needs some moisture. The temperature should be 32-40 ° F, so the fridge is ideal. Unfortunately, refrigerators are also very dry, so you have to save moisture. Take a damp cloth or paper towel and wrap it and the cauliflower in plastic. When stored this way, it will last 2-4 weeks – a much longer shelf life than most products!
Cauliflower can also be frozen in pieces. Cut it into centimeters long and cook for 30-60 seconds, but do not fully cook it. This keeps their texture so that they can be fully cooked later. Stop cooking by placing your cauliflower florets in an ice water bath and pat dry after cooling. Transfer the cauliflower to an airtight bag or container and put it in the freezer. You will be able to eat well for a year.
Troubleshooting
Many insects find cauliflower delicious. Source: Mamichan
As with any plant, there are potential problems with growing cauliflower. Here's what to look out for.
Growing problems
Brassica oleracea is susceptible to cold weather Screw. This applies to all Cole crops that fall into this species, including kale, broccoli, and more. This is usually caused by the warming up of the weather. A few hot days and the plant will decide that its growing season is almost over and it's time to sow … and if so, you've lost your cauliflower. Harvest your heads before they slip!
Button is a growth problem that affects many Brassica vegetables. With cauliflower, the curd pieces break apart when the head is buttoned and grow irregularly. What was once a compact, white cauliflower is now a lumpy mess. Buttoning is caused by stress, and this is usually caused by irregular temperatures. This is also a sign that your head could soon slip.
Pests
Larvae and caterpillars are a common threat to the cauliflower plant. Cabbage worms and Cabbage grinder will live on and much through the leaves. The Army worm is another threat that can harm your beloved plants. BT sprays or powders are an effective control against these pests, as are spinosad and pyrethrin sprays. Diatomaceous earth that spreads on the dry leaves of the plant can also prevent them from moving in.
Leaf damage is something you will never want to see on your plants. However, if you notice Snails, Snails, Cucumber beetle, or Flea beetle can be to blame. Snails hide in foliage and soil during the day and come out to eat at night, chewing gaping holes through the leaves. Flea beetles and cucumber beetles eat tirelessly until only skeletonized leaves remain. Use an organic bait for snails and snails to lure them away from the plants and kill them. The beetles can be treated with spinosad or pyrethrin sprays, although neem oil can also be useful for prevention.
Aphids and Thrips are both bad beetles who simply cannot leave cauliflower alone. They suck out plant sap and take the livelihood of the plant with them. In addition, both can spread different plant diseases. Fortunately, there are a number of simple ways to combat these pests. Insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth and neem oil can work wonders when used correctly. And don't forget your useful insects like ladybugs and lacewings!
Diseases
Clubroot is caused by a soil pathogen that can survive in your soil for over 10 years. It spreads easily, so you need to get this under control immediately. Symptoms of the club root in your white cauliflower plants include yellowing, wilting, and stunted growth. The roots are deformed and swollen (club bed). Prevent these and other diseases by planting in sterile, disease-free soil. This fungus is extremely difficult to eradicate, so prevention is the best option. Planting certified disease-free seeds also prevents future spread.
Bacterial soft rot guarantees that your cauliflower plant will go from delicious to delicious. It makes the head and leaves mushy and excessively wet. You can even start to seep liquid that turns brown or black. As you can imagine, this bacterium is promoted by warm and humid conditions. It also spreads easily through garden tools. Unfortunately, there isn't much to do about this disease other than keeping your plants healthy enough to prevent them. Keep the soil and plants clean and avoid getting your head and leaves wet. You should also practice good crop rotation with your plants.
Most gardeners know the double threats of mildew and Wrong mildew. Both are common in crops and both are angry to solve. Neem oil can help reduce their formation, but when they do occur, a copper-based fungicide is the best choice to prevent further spread. Remove all infected material and treat it until there are no signs of further infection.
The Cauliflower mosaic virus is transmitted by sucking pests such as aphids and thrips. There are no treatments for mosaic virus types, and prevention is your only protection. Keep pests away from your plants to avoid this deadly plant disease.
frequently asked Questions
This cauliflower head is almost ready to harvest. Source: anna_gregory
Q: How long does it take to grow cauliflower?
A: Depending on the variety, you can harvest cauliflower 55-100 days after planting.
Q: How many cauliflower heads do you get from a plant?
A: You only get one head per plant. Unfortunately, the heads don't grow back after the harvest.
Q: Is it difficult to grow cauliflower?
A: It can be a demanding harvest, especially if you are fighting for good heads before the weather gets really warm. But it's a fast growing crop. As long as you keep them pest and disease free and opt for cooler seasons, it's pretty easy.
The green thumbs behind this article:
Rachel Garcia
Juicy fanatic
Lorin Nielsen
Lifetime gardener
