Use these gardening instructions to learn how to grow cauliflower this summer.
How to Grow Cauliflower
While cauliflower can be a challenge to grow, it can yield a very useful plant full of ways to use it in so many recipes. It has recently become very popular as a substitute for everything from rice to pizza crust. If you are growing some of your own this year, here are some tips for growing cauliflower as well as how to protect cauliflower from pests and how to harvest cauliflower as well.
Tips for Growing Cauliflower
Keep the seedlings moist during the first couple of weeks after transplanting them to ensure fast growth and strong plants. It is especially important for this seedling because it makes the difference in the beginning on how hearty your plants will end up.
You will want to water your cauliflower even with rainfall in the Spring. Your cauliflower needs to stay moist. Adding mulch at the base of your plants can help hold in moisture.
How and Why to Blanch Your Cauliflower
Blanching your cauliflower once the heads form will help protect it so larger heads with less bitter flavor can grow. To do this, you will want to take a peek at your plants about a month after you did the transplanting of your seedlings. When the head is about 2-3 inches across in size, your cauliflower is ready to blanch.
To do this, get some rubber bands. You will want to do this during the dry part of the day, not after you just watered as you don’t want to encourage mold or fungus growth. Take the surrounding leaves of your cauliflower near the head and loosely rubber band them over the small head.
While not all plants will need you to do this, check your plants daily for those that do.
How to Avoid Pests When Growing Cauliflower
Common pests of cauliflower include aphids and cabbage root flies. Here are some ways to keep these pests away.
Aphids are little green bugs and can be kept away and treated with a simple neem oil spray. You can also just spray them with cold water if you find them on your plants. The Farmer’s Almanac has a good article on ways to prevent and treat aphids for more in depth information.
https://www.almanac.com/pest/aphids
Cabbage root flies are flies that lay their eggs at the base of many plants from cauliflower to cabbage and other similar vegetables. They can do damage as the larvae will eat your leaves very quickly. To discourage them from laying eggs, you can buy some guards called cabbage collars for the base of your plants. These really come in handy. You can also simply make your own from cardboard.
How to Harvest Cauliflower
Depending on the variety you grew, your cauliflower will be ready to harvest in about 50-70 days. Your heads should be around 8 inches in diameter.
You will know it is ready when the head (often called the ‘curds’) are hard, rich in color (or white for the standard white variety.) and very compact.
To harvest cauliflower, grab a knife and simply cut the head off. Make sure you leave a couple of leaves with it if you do not plan on eating it right away. This will preserve the taste and keep if from getting bitter too quickly.
For More Information on Growing Cauliflower
How to Grow Cauliflower from Seed
How to Grow Cauliflower
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