The Brassicaceae family, sometimes known as the mustard family, includes the vegetable cauliflower. It is another "cole crop," which is a type of Brassica oleracea grown for food purposes. Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, collards, kale, and kohlrabi are some more typical cole crops. From the Latin caulis and floris, which mean "cabbage flower," we get the word "cauliflower." Cauliflower is found in vegetable and decorative gardens. It is nutritious and comes in a variety of colours, including purple, orange, yellow-green, and white. It tastes mild, moderately sweet, and faintly nutty, regardless of colour.
Cauliflower Planting Guide
Here's how you can grow cauliflowers in your backyard:
Suitable Planting Spot And Spacing
Pick a spot that gets plenty of midday shade or full sun. Rich, fertile, and well-draining soil is ideal. As per the guidelines for crop rotation, avoid planting in the same location where other cole crop family members were produced during the previous two years, if possible.
Plant the cauliflower seedlings in rows 2 to 3 feet apart, spacing them 18 to 20 inches apart.
Full Light And Soil Quality
Although moderate afternoon shade helps avoid sunburn in hot regions, cauliflower plants require full light. A pH of 6.5 to 7.5 and a high organic matter content are ideal for growing cauliflower. An important aspect is good drainage.
Sufficient Watering
Cauliflower requires a lot of moisture, given consistently. If the heads don't get enough water, they will become stunted and bitter. Make sure the water is soaking 6 to 8 inches into the soil by applying at least 1 to 2 inches of water every week.
In dry conditions, a lack of moisture will allow the buds to slightly expand, resulting in gritty or ricey heads instead of tightly curdling. Another flaw known as buttoning is caused by insufficient water; it results in deformed, extremely tiny flower heads rather than a single huge head.
Ideal Temperature
Although cauliflower is susceptible to frost, it enjoys cold temperatures. It is usually planted in the spring or autumn and picked either before or after the warmest days of summer since it becomes poor at temperatures higher than 27 degrees Celsius. When planting, cover the soil with mulch to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
Organic Fertiliser
One of the heavy feeders is cauliflower. Apply kelp or fish emulsion, or use an organic all-purpose vegetable fertiliser, every two to four weeks. For the avoidance of nitrogen burn, organic fertilisers are preferred.
Harvesting
It takes two or three months for cauliflower to get fully grown. While the buds are still tight and the heads are at the appropriate size, harvest them. Take care not to let the plants go too long without harvesting them. The cauliflower is best harvested when it is fully grown and frozen for later use.
Hanging the plant whole, with roots and stem intact, in a cool, dry, well-ventilated spot away from excessive light is another traditional technique of storing plants. This involves shaking off the dirt. Daily misting is recommended to keep the plants from drying out. Cauliflower retains up to a month when stored in this way.