Cauliflower

Amazing ($3,50) – 75 days, uniform, main season.  Amazing is as close to hybrid quality as we can find.  Strong plants with thick leaf jackets withstand summer heat, producing quality tight white curds.  Provide extra nitrogen when growing.  Recommended for fall harvests.

Brocoverde ($3.50)- 75 days, striking lime green heads, produces large dense – domed heads.  Excellent taste cooked or used as unusual color for dipping.  Holds green color when cooked.

Cauliflower is a cool season vegetable, easiest to grow for harvest in the late summer or fall.  Its success often depends on a slow steady growth that is difficult to achieve in mid summer.  Cauliflower does best in humus-rich, moist soil.

(Tip) Cauliflower: For early crops start indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out.  For fall crops plant in early to mid summer.  Transplant when soil is 50F (early May)  Soil- Cauliflower will grow in many types of soil, as long as it is not depleted of organic matter.  Fertility- Open-pollinated varieties use twice as much nitrogen as hybrid varieties.  Use moderate amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potash.  Germination – 7-10 days at 70F do not allow seedlings to get old in packs as this causes them to button up.  Only plant fresh stock.  Spacing – space rows 32” – 36” wide; 45cm / 18” between plants.  Pests- Same as broccoli and cabbage.