Cauliflower: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow cauliflower under cover?
Sow cauliflower under cover at the time recommended for the variety and intended harvest season. Use individual modules filled with moist seed compost and sow about 1.5 cm deep. Keep the containers in good light at around 12 to 22 °C.
Keep the compost moist without waterlogging it. Transplant when the young plants are well rooted, after gradually hardening them off. Adjust outdoor protection to the variety and weather. Use suitable insect-proof mesh against relevant pests rather than presenting garlic or neem sprays as a universal solution.
Place one seed in each module to reduce later root disturbance. Germination often takes about two weeks, although temperature affects the timing. Once shoots appear, provide good light so the stems remain short and sturdy. Check the compost by touch: a surface that is still damp does not automatically need more water. The roots should fill the module before planting out, often at around six weeks, without remaining cramped for a long period. Sow several small batches instead of one large batch, as heads from a single sowing often become ready to harvest together.
How do you sow cauliflower outdoors?
Sow cauliflower outdoors from mid-spring onwards, following the dates for the variety. Choose fertile, well-drained soil that retains moisture. Sow thinly in a nursery bed about 1.5 to 2 cm deep, then water gently.
Keep the soil moist without waterlogging it and thin crowded seedlings. Move well-rooted young plants to their final position, using the spacing recommended on the seed packet. Distinguish nursery spacing from the final spacing of mature plants. Protect seedlings from slugs and use insect-proof mesh where needed.
Prepare a fine, level surface over firm soil. In a nursery bed, leave about 10 to 15 cm between seedlings and at least 15 cm between rows: these distances apply only while the plants are young. If the bottom of the drill is dry, moisten it before placing the seeds. Cover them and water with a fine rose so they are not washed away. Label each row with the variety and sowing date. After emergence, monitor moisture and damage carefully; early interruptions to growth can compromise the formation of good heads later on.
How do you plant cauliflower?
Plant cauliflower in a sunny spot with fertile, firm, well-drained soil that retains moisture. Choose the planting season according to the variety: summer, autumn and winter or spring crops do not share a single schedule. Gradually harden off plants raised under cover.
Keep the root balls intact and follow the variety's recommended spacing, as mini cauliflowers need less room than large winter types. Firm gently and water thoroughly. Mulch can retain moisture and limit weeds. Do not rely on nearby mint or chives alone to prevent pests or diseases.
Choose sturdy plants about 10 to 15 cm tall and water them before moving them. Set the root ball deeply enough for the lowest leaves to sit at soil level, then firm the surrounding soil. As a guide, summer and autumn varieties often need 45 to 60 cm between plants and 60 cm between rows; large winter varieties may need 70 cm in both directions. Always adapt these distances to your variety. After planting, monitor moisture near the roots and use suitable protective mesh to keep insects and birds away from the crop.
How to care for this plant
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Maintain the mulch
Once the plants are established and the soil has warmed, check the mulch and top up bare patches if needed. Keep the stem bases clear and remove weeds before covering them.
How do you harvest cauliflower?
Harvest your cauliflower when the head is well formed and still compact, before the florets start to separate. The season depends on the variety and sowing time, rather than being limited to autumn. Cut with a clean knife, leaving a few surrounding leaves to protect the head.
Refrigerate the harvest and use it soon for the best quality. For longer storage, you can freeze prepared florets after blanching and cooling them. If you make vinegar pickles or fermented cauliflower, follow a recipe suited to the chosen method: preserving in vinegar and fermentation are different processes.
Check the heads regularly as soon as they become visible: several plants from one sowing may be ready almost together. You can begin with a few smaller heads to spread out eating the crop instead of waiting for maximum size. Mini cauliflowers are ready at about tennis-ball size. With white varieties, do not wait for yellowing; for coloured varieties, judge readiness mainly by firmness and tightly packed florets. Support the head while cutting so it does not fall or become bruised, then move it promptly to a cool place rather than leaving it in the sun.
Cauliflower
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Leafy vegetables
- Botanical Family : Brassicaceae (cruciferous)
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Medium
- Mature height : 60 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 1 cm
- Plant Spacing : 50 cm
- Row Spacing : 60 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Moderate
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Other characteristics
- Soil Type : Mixed
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing