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| Introduction |
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Cauliflower's are grown as Annuals or biennials,
they form curds about 8ins across, the plants
vary in height according to variety from
18-24 ins they can spread up to 3 ft, gardeners
and seed catalogues classify them by there
season of use IE: Early Summer, Summer/
Autumn and Winter, with a distinction of
those that will stand frosty
conditions and those that need a frost free
area. |
Most cauliflower's have white or creamy
curds, but there are those that have green
or purple curds. There are mini cauliflower's
with curds 2 in in diameter grown from early
summer cultivars.
Cauliflower's are a cool season crop and
don't grow well in high summer temperatures,
there are several cultivars that are frost
hardy. But you can only harvest Cauliflower's
all year round if you live in a frost free
area. On where to site Cauliflower's look
at Western Brassicas, over wintering Cauliflower's
need a sheltered site, I myself surround
the plants with a windbreak of plastic netting
as used by road repairers. But don't tell
anybody or I may have the local road repairers
down on my plot looking for their netting.
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Preparing
the bed for cauliflower's |
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Cauliflower's need a well consolidated soil,
so the rule is leave several months between
digging and planting, when digging work
in plenty of well rotted manure or compost,
lime later if necessary. In spring apply
a general fertiliser, use a protective disc
if cabbage root fly is a problem, tread
down surface, rake lightly remove any rubbish
off the surface. |
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Sowing
and planting |
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You can sow in a seed bed, but I prefer
sowing in pan's under glass, and transplanting
to 2in pots, then plant out then there are
5-6 leaves transplanting into pots then
planting out gives the young plant a good
start in life and helps to combat many diseases.
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Looking
after the crop |
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Never let the plants dry out, hoe regularly
and put up some kind of netting against
the dreaded Pigeon's. Feed occasionally
with Nitro-Chalk, Cauliflower's are a hungry
crop. With Summer varieties bend over the
leaves to protect the curd from the Sun
and the same goes for Winter varieties to
protect from Snow & Frost. |
| Harvesting
the crop |
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Cut Curds in the morning while there is
still dew on them, but in frosty weather
leave till midday, if you want to keep them
for up to 3 weeks before use dig up the
whole plant shake off any soil off the roots
and hang upside down in a cool shed, mist
the heads occasionally.
Tomatoes
Kale
Leeks
Garlic
What are Western Brassicas ?
Month by month diary on jobs to do
Allotment Preparation
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