Cauliflower
Cauliflower today come in a range of options.
Traditional White Cauliflower with a large white 'Curd' as it is known
Orange, green and purple Curds.
Romanesque cauliflower with its interesting curd shape
And many more as there are hundreds of varieties world wide.
Cauliflower is a great vegetable and in today's world chefs have a range of cooking options to temp you to use more cauliflower. Check out the internet.
They can be a bit more difficult to grow than cabbages but still relatively easy.
In the home garden planting needs to be staggered for a steady supply.
One option is to sow 2 seeds in each cell of a 6 cell punnet. (See Image). Not every seed will grow so having 2 seeds per cell will give you more than 6 plants and they will be easily divided when it’s time to plant them out. Keep them well watered and use some slug bait or similar to prevent them being eaten.
While the seeds are growing prepare the ground for the plants ensuing it has compost and nutrients in it.
Planting the growing plants is interesting as often people plant them too far apart or too close together.
Generally planted too far apart will lead to much larger cauliflower. While too close together they don’t grow very well. Research suggests that about 30 cm x 60cm is about right for a good crop but not the heads not so big as to be wasted. Mind though you can always give half of one away.
Plant in two rows at this spacing and then leave a wider gap between the next planting.
In autumn and winter once the curds form and before they are ready for picking bend over and snap (not off) several longer large leaves to cover the curd to protect form frost or very hot sun.
Keep weed free to reduce competition for nutrients.
Watch out for the following pests
Cutting Cauliflower. Cut as soon as it is of the right size for you. You don’t have to wait until they are big. Usually those planted at the same time will be ready almost together.
Cauliflower do not keep as well as cabbage in the fridge. If there is too much give some away as you will have more coming on.
Traditional White Cauliflower with a large white 'Curd' as it is known
Orange, green and purple Curds.
Romanesque cauliflower with its interesting curd shape
And many more as there are hundreds of varieties world wide.
Cauliflower is a great vegetable and in today's world chefs have a range of cooking options to temp you to use more cauliflower. Check out the internet.
They can be a bit more difficult to grow than cabbages but still relatively easy.
In the home garden planting needs to be staggered for a steady supply.
One option is to sow 2 seeds in each cell of a 6 cell punnet. (See Image). Not every seed will grow so having 2 seeds per cell will give you more than 6 plants and they will be easily divided when it’s time to plant them out. Keep them well watered and use some slug bait or similar to prevent them being eaten.
While the seeds are growing prepare the ground for the plants ensuing it has compost and nutrients in it.
Planting the growing plants is interesting as often people plant them too far apart or too close together.
Generally planted too far apart will lead to much larger cauliflower. While too close together they don’t grow very well. Research suggests that about 30 cm x 60cm is about right for a good crop but not the heads not so big as to be wasted. Mind though you can always give half of one away.
Plant in two rows at this spacing and then leave a wider gap between the next planting.
In autumn and winter once the curds form and before they are ready for picking bend over and snap (not off) several longer large leaves to cover the curd to protect form frost or very hot sun.
Keep weed free to reduce competition for nutrients.
Watch out for the following pests
- Slugs Use slug pellets or an organic option
- Caterpillars. Use an insect spray or organic option. If white butterflies are still around try covering the plants with frost cloth.
- Aphids. Use and insect spray or organic option.
Cutting Cauliflower. Cut as soon as it is of the right size for you. You don’t have to wait until they are big. Usually those planted at the same time will be ready almost together.
Cauliflower do not keep as well as cabbage in the fridge. If there is too much give some away as you will have more coming on.