How to grow Cauliflower?

Cauliflower is considered to be the most refined of the Brassicas, more of a delicacy than a staple. It isn't as nutritious as its cousin the broccoli, or as productive.

This isn't a very forgiving crop and is generally considered to be the most difficult of the Brassicas to grow. It must have exactly the right growing conditions or it won't do well. It doesn't like extreme heat or cold and doesn't like being too wet or too dry. Cauliflower is even harder to grow organically. It is vulnerable to the legion of pests that attack the Cabbages and can be quite a test of the organic growers skill. However, if you give it exactly what it wants, it usually isn't too hard to be successful.

Cauliflower History

Cauliflower was first grown in the Eastern Mediterranean. It was introduced and appeared on grand tables in France in the 1600s.

Soil Preference

PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.0
PH Ideal (min/max): 6.5 - 6.8

Cauliflower must have rapid and uninterrupted growth if it is to perform well. It isn't particular as to what type of soil it grows in, so long as the soil is fertile and moisture retentive with lots of organic matter. It is sensitive to a deficiency of micronutrients, especially molybdenum and boron. It doesn't like salt.

How to care for Cauliflower?

Cauliflower must have everything it needs for fast, uninterrupted growth without any checks, otherwise it may [bolt] prematurely.

Cauliflower absolutely must have constant moisture for good growth.

Like most Brassicas cauliflower is a fairly hungry crop and must have plenty of available nutrients for good growth.

Once the plants are established and growing well, feed them with a foliar feed of compost tea. Feed them again just before they start to head up. Cauliflower is one of the crops that is most susceptible to boron deficiency (which can be caused by acid soil).

Seed Viability: 5-10 years

Germination Percentage: 75.0

The process is much the same as for broccoli. Cauliflower will cross with cabbage, kale and any other Brassicas. This could have interesting results, but it's probably not what you want. To keep the seed pure, it must be the only variety of any Brassica oleracea species growing within a mile. Otherwise it is fairly easy to save the seed. To maintain some genetic variability, you should save seed from at least 6 plants. Take seed from the best slow-bolting plants.

Be aware that the curds of cauliflower are not flower buds, like those of broccoli, but mostly only fleshy receptacles that won't develop into flowers. In fact, flower development in cauliflower can be very erratic.

Sun: min. 6 hours daily

Cauliflower grows in the cooler part of the year so needs full sun.

Conditions:Cool

Season:Long Season

You can freeze cauliflower if you want to keep it for longer.

Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: 1 days

Cauliflower will stay in good condition for several weeks if stored in the refrigerator.

Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-14 days

Problems

Continuous growth

It is essential that cauliflower doesn't have any check in growth due to lack of water or nutrients.

Cauliflower Types

Fall

Fall Cauliflower varieties are slower growing and hardier than the spring types. Cauliflower grows best as a fall crop and in mild climates they can even be grown over the winter.

Spring

Spring Cauliflower varieties grow more quickly than the winter types and are grown in areas that don't have very hot summers. In warmer climates cauliflower isn't easy to grow as a spring crop as it often [bolts] when the weather warms up.

Spring or Fall

These cauliflowers do well planted in either spring or fall.

Pests

Cabbage Root Maggot
Deer
Cabbageworms
Gophers
Groundhog
Slugs and snails
Carrot Beetle
Aphids
Birds
Cutworms
Flea Beetle
Nematodes
Thrips

Diseases

Boron
Wirestem
Clubroot
Fusarium Wilt
Blackleg, Aerial Stem Rot
Damping Off
Downy Mildew

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