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Cauliflower
(Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group)
Cauliflowers have a reputation of being tricky to grow due to
their fussy requirements which if not met can cause the plant to
bolt; choosing the right cultivar and growing conditions however
can bring a certain degree of success.
Cauliflowers are separated into types that can be grown at different times of the year and in different areas. Choosing a cultivar to grow will depend on the climate your garden experiences and the time of year you wish to have a crop. Cauliflowers do not grow well in areas where the temperature rises a lot in summer and many prefer the winters to be frost free.
Soil
& pH
- To grow cauliflowers effectively your soil must be able to retain water and have medium nitrogen levels. Heavy soil in a sunny site that has been manured early on the previous autumn or has previously held peas and beans
in the crop
rotation is ideal. An ideal pH is between 6.8 to
7.5
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| Sowing
- Seed can be sown into a seedbed or into seed trays in a greenhouse or cloches, water thoroughly and when the first two leaves have grown prick out into pots or into the site you have chosen outside. When transplanting cauliflowers into pots or outside ensure that you take as much of the soil with the roots as possible and don’t put them in any deeper than they were in the seed trays or beds.
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Sowing times vary from type to type:
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In frost free winter areas – sow late spring – plant in summer
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In winter – sow late spring – plant in summer
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Early summer – sow autumn/early spring under glass – plant in spring
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Summer/autumn – sow mid to late spring – plant in early
summer
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| Cauliflower
Requirements |
| Seed
Depth: 1/4 inch (7mm) |
| Germination
Temperature: 27°C
(80°F) |
| Soil
Temperature: 16-21°C
(60-70°F) |
| Sow
Indoors: 4 - 6 weeks before last
frost |
| Sow
Outdoors: After late frost to late
spring |
| pH
Tolerance: 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Light
requirements: Full sun to light
shade |
| Nutrients:
N=High / P=High / K=High |
| Crop
rotation: Precede with a nitrogen
fixing crop of beans or peas. |
| Companion
planting: Carrot, beetroot,
celery, dill, dwarf bean, lettuce,
onion, sage |
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Take care if choosing winter varieties as they will only do well in frost free areas.
Ensure to use the information on the seed packets to plant to correct depths and maintain adequate
spacings.
Keep the plants well watered during the entire growing process.
Harvesting can occur from 16 weeks after sowing to 40 weeks after sowing depending on the variety used, mini cauliflowers take approx 15 weeks and need harvesting immediately before they turn.
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Cauliflower
Seeds and Plants...
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Click
Here for more.. |
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Recommended
Varieties... |
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Cauliflower 'Clapton' F1 Hybrid |
| (Late Summer/Autumn) |
| Clubroot
resistant |
| Over 18
years of conventional breeding have been invested in this
clubroot resistant variety. Cauliflower ‘Clapton’ is the
first cauliflower with resistance to this devastating brassica
disease. Depending on its sowing time this versatile variety
matures from late summer to late autumn, producing large,
excellent flavoured, solid, deep white heads of uniform
quality. Height: 45cm (18”). Spread: 60cm (24”). |
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Cauliflower
'Chassiron' F1 Hybrid |
| (Summer/Autumn) |
| Tolerates
hot weather |
| With
ongoing climate changes, Cauliflower Chassiron has been
especially bred for the July to late-October cutting period.
This variety has proven excellent quality when grown during
heatwaves and drought, as well as in cooler, wetter summers
and autumns. Plants have good leaf cover protecting the deep,
pure-white, smooth curds, preventing any discoloration. |
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Cauliflower 'Walcheren Winter Pilgrim' |
| (Spring) |
| Winter
hardy |
| A superb,
high quality cauliflower which is totally winter hardy. The
deep creamy white curds of Cauliflower Walcheren Winter
Pilgrim are compact and freely produced, giving you an
outstanding variety which is the result of intense modern
breeding. Heavy cropper. |
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Cauliflower 'All The Year Round' |
| (Spring/Summer/Autumn) |
| Easy
to grow |
| A very
useful, very white, dwarf variety that can be sown and
harvested at most of the cauliflower harvesting periods of the
year. Cauliflower All The Year Round will make very large,
tight heads and is one of the easiest to grow as well. A very
useful cauliflower for frame culture and succession sowings.
Prefers a moist, rich well drained soil for optimum heads. |
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Cauliflower
'Clarify' |
| (Summer/Autumn) |
| Clubroot
resistant / Good flavour |
| This
variety gives excellent resistance to clubroot and its erect
growth means it takes up less space in the vegetable patch.
Clarfiy gives an early harvest of dense white curds which are
well protected and is ideal for successional sowing. |
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