Cauliflower is trickier to grow than its relatives because it doesn’t like it too hot… or too cold. Learn how to successfully grow cauliflower and enjoy harvesting this delicious and versatile vegetable.
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How to Successfully Grow Cauliflower
To grow cauliflower successfully, it needs at least 2 months of cool weather (60 degrees is ideal) to mature.
Cauliflower is a cool weather crop in the Brassica family. (Brassicas include collards, kale, kohlrabi, broccoli and Brussels sprouts).
How to plant cauliflower
- Cauliflower varieties to plant that do well in the low desert of Arizona are Snowball, Snow Queen and Snow Prince.
- Try purple or colored varieties such as ‘Violetta’.
- Plant seeds in Maricopa County starting August 15th.
- Set out transplants beginning in September if temperatures are cool enough.
- Continue planting seeds and transplants until January.
- Plant seeds up to ¼ inch deep in compost-rich soil and keep moist.
- When choosing transplants at the nursery, avoid ‘leggy’ transplants. Instead, look for compact green leaves on a short stem.
How to take care of cauliflower plants
- Water carefully around plants, and avoid wetting leaves.
- Cauliflower likes a steady supply of moisture; do not let beds dry out between waterings.
- Soak plants to a depth of 6 inches for large tender heads.
- Adding a thick layer of compost will help garden beds retain moisture.
- Do not disturb roots.
- Cauliflower responds well to a monthly or bi-weekly feeding with an all-purpose fertilizer.
Is it necessary to blanch heads?
Cauliflower heads in some varieties can discolor if they are exposed to sunlight. To prevent this discoloration, try blanching (it’s not as hard as it sounds).
When head is visible and about 2 inches wide, clip outer leaves together with a clothespin to cover head and keep out of sunlight. Clip loosely and check occasionally for pests and growth, or to let the head dry out after a rain.
Harvest cauliflower at the correct time
- When the head is about 6 inches across and buds are tight and unopened, it is time to harvest. Cut off below head with a sharp knife.
- Unlike broccoli, cauliflower doesn’t usually produce side stems after main head is harvested, so remove remaining plant from bed.
- Cauliflower will store for several weeks in the refrigerator.
For ideas to make the most of your home-grown cauliflower, check out this post.
If you’ve tried growing cauliflower before without success and you are wondering what went wrong, check out this post.
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