Growing cauliflower can be a bit of a challenge in the home garden as it is extremely sensitive to changes in temperature. However, growing cauliflower is not difficult once you know its likes and dislikes!
With some loving care, cultivating cauliflower is more than worth the effort. Read on for helpful planting and growing tips to make this year’s cauliflower crop an outstanding success.
Plant Description
Cauliflower is an annual edible plant that reproduces by seed. It is an incredibly versatile and highly nutritious, low-calorie cruciferous vegetable in theBrassica oleraceagenus (or mustard family) which also includes Brussels sprouts, collard greens, bok choy, kale, kohlrabi, cabbage, turnips, rutabaga, and broccoli.
The mounded, dense head of cauliflower plants is called the curd or flowering stalk of the plant. The edible stage occurs before the flowers open.
Planting Location
Cauliflower plants love the sun, but cauliflower is a cool weather, temperature-sensitive crop, requiring specific conditions in order to flourish. Cauliflower requires anywhere from 6 to 8 hours of daily sunshine.
Plant cauliflower where you have not grown related cole crops (collards, kale, mustard, rutabaga, cabbage, turnips, or Brussels sprouts) in the past four years.
Cauliflower is a moderately slow-growing vegetable, with a relatively long growing season. Cauliflower is ready to harvest within 2 to 3 months from planting (dependent on the variety).
Preparing the Soil
Cauliflower grows best in nutrient-rich, loose fertile soil that’s friable enough to retain moisture. Cauliflower requires rich, moist soil without drought stress. To prepare a large planting area, till the soil to a depth of at least 12 inches and work the soil well to remove rocks, roots, and weeds.
Improve the nutrient content of the soil by covering the planting area with a generous application of well-aged herbivore manure (cow, sheep, goat, horse, or llama). Work the manure thoroughly into the soil, breaking up lumps and dirt clods.
为了提高土壤中的水分保持性,添加有机物作为覆盖物(剪草、树叶、稻草、泥炭苔藓或未经处理的木屑)。重新修整土壤,使其覆盖地膜。
A Note on Soil pH
When you’re growing cauliflower, you’ll want to avoid acidic soil. Cauliflower grows best in soil with a pH level of 6.0 to 6.8. Maintaining the soil within this pH range encourages nutrient availability and discourages clubroot which is a plant disease found in cauliflower grown in acidic soils with a pH lower than 6.0.
Cauliflower transplants may evidence a boron deficiency if soil pH is greater than 7.0. To correct the deficiency, apply .05 ounces of boron per 1000 square feet.
Savvy gardens use a soil test to determine the soil fertility and pH needs of the soil. Soil pH test kits are available at plant nurseries or local home and garden centers.
Planting Cauliflower Seeds and Starts
One of the biggest challenges in bringing cauliflower to fruition is knowing the best time to plant and the optimum time to harvest.
Cauliflower is either started from seed or introduced to the garden plot as transplants. Seed should be started in trays or peat pots filled with soilless planting media.
When it comes to successfully growing cauliflower from seed, you should plan to start seeds as early as mid-February (early spring) with transplants ready for spring planting by mid-April.
When starting seeds indoors for spring planting, keep in mind that they must be conditioned or “toughened up” before you expose the plants to chilly outdoor weather. Place seed trays outdoors for a few hours daily to expose the plants to cooler outdoor conditions.
For fall plantings, young plants should be seeded in from early June to late July for transplant to the garden no later than mid-August. Make sure transplants have a minimum of 4 to 5 leaves developed at the time of transplanting.
Transplanting to the Garden
Sow cauliflower seeds or transplants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 26 to 48 inches apart. Grow cauliflower on black plastic mulch to warm cold soil in the spring and on white plastic to cool soil in the fall.
Water cauliflower transplants immediately after planting. Watering daily during the first week helps get the crop well established. Continue to irrigate cauliflower seedlings every 3 to 5 days as needed to keep the newly planted transplants healthy. Soaker hoses or drip irrigation are the best way to water as they conserve moisture and keep the foliage dry.
Experience has proven that sequential plantings made weekly through May, help ensure a bountiful fall harvest, even if one or more of the plantings fail.
Weed Control
Control pesky weeks that invade the garden and harbor insects and disease by mulching with pine straw, organic aged wood chips, or dried leaves.
Related Post:How to Mulch for a Beautiful, Weed-Free Garden
A thick layer of mulch (2 to 3 inches deep) around the base of the plants not only helps control weeds, it also conserves vital moisture in the soil.
Blanching
Whitehead varieties of cauliflower must be blanched during the growing cycle for the best white color, texture, and flavor. When the cauliflower curd is about the size of a baseball (3 to 4 inches), tie a layer of leaves around the cauliflower head with a rubber band or look for self-blanching varieties.
橙色和紫色的花椰菜不应该焯水,因为它们需要充分的阳光照射才能形成鲜艳的颜色。有些品种会在头部周围自己形成叶子,保持白色、坚硬和风味。
Stresses Affecting Cauliflower
Chilly temperatures or overly cold soil in the spring, summer heat, disease, insect damage, root-bound plants, nutrient-depleted soil, or lack of adequate irrigation are the biggest obstacles when it comes to successfully growing cauliflower.
As a rule of thumb, consider choosing cauliflower varieties that mature quickly and are thus, less susceptible to stress than those that require a longer growing period.
Temperature
作为一种低温蔬菜,花椰菜比其他园艺作物对热量更敏感。干旱或长时间的高温会导致花椰菜凝乳发育不良或过早开花(bolt)。粘稠可口的凝乳在50到70华氏度的低温下生长最好。
Common Diseases
Unfortunately, a wide range of diseases can affect cauliflower growth: Blackleg, black rot, clubroot, downy mildew, andAlternarialeaf spot are common garden challenges. To reduce disease problems, implement good cultural control practices.
The disease may arrive on infected seed. Purchase clean, non-GMO, disease-free seed from a reputable grower. Remove all diseased plant material from the garden area.
Common Pests and Predators
Slugs, snails, rabbits, rats, deer, cabbage root maggots, aphids, cutworms, flea beetles, cabbage loopers, and cabbage worms love to feast on cauliflower.
Our family has big cauliflower fans, and we manage the garden through organic gardening methods. It is a big challenge, but I rest easy knowing we are not exposed to noxious chemicals found in commercial herbicides and pesticides.
疾病,讨厌的昆虫,鹿和兔子可以通过花园围栏控制,使用合理的花园做法,只有在必要时喷洒有机化学品。如果您遇到问题,请联系您当地的县推广办公室,以获得最适合您当地的正确诊断和控制建议。
Harvesting Cauliflower
当凝乳或头部成熟时,它往往会变色,并因暴露在阳光下而尝起来苦。为了避免变色和保留甜度,花椰菜应该焯一下,防止凝乳被太阳晒伤。
When the curd reaches the size of a tennis ball, pull up 3 to 4 of the outer leaves and fasten or tie loosely around the cauliflower head. Cauliflower grows quickly once the blanching process begins and will be ready for harvest in 7 to 10 days.
Cauliflower Varieties
While there are some cauliflower varieties suited to spring planting, growing rapidly and producing flavorful curds before hot summer weather sets in, the majority are best as a midsummer planting for fall harvest.
There are hundreds of cauliflower varieties cultivated worldwide. Choose cauliflower cultivars suitable for your local conditions.
If you don’t know which are best suited for your soil and growing conditions, consult your local county extension office or the friendly gardener guy at a local home and garden shop.
Popular early maturing varieties include Montana, Fremont, Snow Crown, Early White, Minuteman, and Cheddar — a delicious orange dense head variety.
For midseason planting, experienced gardeners suggest Candid Charm, White Passion, Amazing, White Sails, Apex, Rushmore, Graffiti, and Violet Queen — my personal favorite purple cauliflower.
Snow Crown
雪冠是增长最快的花椰菜品种之一,距采收只有50天。呈现坚实,圆形,密集的白色头部,雪冠生长直径7至8英寸。
Cheddar
The Cheddar variety, with its bright yellow head or curd, requires 68 days to mature.
Graffiti and Violet Queen
Did I mention I love purple cauliflower? I am confident that if you have not tried it, you will love it too! Graffiti and Violet Queen both require 75 to 80 days to reach maturity, and produce firm, intensely purple heads.
Green Romanesco Cauliflower
With a relatively small head and a bright, vibrant green color, the green romanesco cauliflower is sure to add a bright pop of color and someFibonacci sequence感觉你的花园。
Ornamental Cauliflower Varieties
Ornamental cauliflower cultivars, with their bold rosettes of red, purple, pink, or white leaves, make a brilliant colorful splash in the home garden.
To reduce ornamental cauliflower’s bitter taste, boil, discard the water, and then either boil again or sauté the cauliflower buds in olive oil prior to serving.
While all varieties of ornamental cauliflower are edible, they are primarily valued as a culinary garnish.
Enjoying Your Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be eaten raw, fermented, boiled, baked, grilled, or incorporated in stews, sauces, and stir fry dishes.
If you love kale and cauliflower, you will most definitely lovethis scrumptious spicy stir fry.
It’s perfect for a busy weeknight, family supper or as a side dish at your next cookout. Find the recipe atPioneer Woman.
References
- Growing Cauliflower in the Home Garden, University of Minnesota Extension
- Growing Cauliflower in the Home Garden, University of Ohio Extension
- Decorative Cabbage and Kale, Wisconsin Horticulture
- Growing Home Cauliflower, The University of Georgia Extension
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