Growing Cauliflower

Cauliflower prefers cool weather to grow. Plant in the early spring for summer or early fall harvest and early summer for late fall harvesting. These vegetables are best transplanted as they get more growth before the heat of summer.

Botanical Family - Brassicaeae/Mustard Family

Location - Cool, moist, well drained, open.

Soil - Rich, moist, easily crumbled loam with neutral pH (6.0-6.8.

Soil Preparation - Grows well after a green manure crop. Dig in a few inches of compost or aged manure, shredded leaves and lime (5lbs per 50’ bed) before planting. Use compost or manure tea at bud formation time.

Seed Info -

• Seed spacing - 18 inches apart
• Germinate in soil temperature of 10 – 30 C
• Days to Maturity - 45 days to several months

Planting times - Sow April to mid July; transplants at 6-8 weeks. Set out before they reach 6-8 leaf stage. Succession plant every 2 weeks.

Planting Instruction - Seeds need to be covered when seeded in propagating mix (use large cells). Add a handful of compost in the hole when transplanting. Water it well an firm down.

Companion Planting

• Positive affects: bean, beet, dill nasturtium, onion, potato, oregano
• Negative affects: tomato, strawberry, lettuce

Watering - Water regularly once a week at the base of the plants.

Weeding - Keep weeded while plants are small.

Disease & Insects -

• Root maggot-to prevention grow after green manure.
• Cabbage worm – pick off, cover with remay or mulch with sawdust around the plant.
• Club root – to prevent use rotation

Harvest - Pick the head when it is 5-8 inches and before the segments begin to separate.

Storage - Cool as soon as you harvest. This vegetable will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks.