What do I need to know to grow cauliflower?

b54red · April 10, 2019

I just cut the largest cauliflower I have grown in forty years of growing them. It is a Bishop which is one of the varieties I grow each year. It usually makes larger plants and heads than others I grow and is a bit later; but I have never had one turn out like this. It is not uncommon growing far smaller than normal broccoli and cauliflower down here because sudden warm spells cause early heading. I will try to post a picture soon. The only thing I did different this spring was sprinkle a generous handful of ashes from my charcoal grill around the plants and water it in with Urban Farms Vegetable formula which I regularly fertilize with.

Bill

April 23, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

I just cut the largest cauliflower I have grown in forty years of growing them. It is a Bishop which is one of the varieties I grow each year. It usually makes larger plants and heads than others I grow and is a bit later; but I have never had one turn out like this. It is not uncommon growing far smaller than normal broccoli and cauliflower down here because sudden warm spells cause early heading. I will try to post a picture soon. The only thing I did different this spring was sprinkle a generous handful of ashes from my charcoal grill around the plants and water it in with Urban Farms Vegetable formula which I regularly fertilize with.

Bill

Interesting. When do you set out your cauliflower seedlings, Bill?

GoDawgs · April 30, 2019

I want to thank those who recommended 'Amazing' cauliflower. After many tries with many varieties both spring and fall, I have finally had success! That's amazing as is the fact that they haven't melted in this heat yet. Just to be on the safe side, earlier I pulled several leaves up over the head and clipped them together with a clothespin. Looks like it worked.

We cut the first one today and will be having it with lunch.

I can't wait to try this again in the fall when the temps are better and on a larger scale than this small trial. Woo hoo!

b54red · May 2, 2019

I usually set out cauliflower plants two or three times starting in the fall as soon as it is cool enough and then again a month or so later and then again in late December or early February. I use plastic tunnels to cover them during freezing nights as they are more sensitive to freezing than cabbage or even broccoli for me. Some plant outs don't deliver any decent cauliflower sometimes and other times they will do great; it all depends on the weather which down here is constantly changing during what are the so called cold months.

Bill

April 30, 2019	#3
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	SUCCESS! I want to thank those who recommended 'Amazing' cauliflower. After many tries with many varieties both spring and fall, I have finally had success! That's amazing as is the fact that they haven't melted in this heat yet. Just to be on the safe side, earlier I pulled several leaves up over the head and clipped them together with a clothespin. Looks like it worked. We cut the first one today and will be having it with lunch. I can't wait to try this again in the fall when the temps are better and on a larger scale than this small trial. Woo hoo!

April 10, 2019	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I just cut the largest cauliflower I have grown in forty years of growing them. It is a Bishop which is one of the varieties I grow each year. It usually makes larger plants and heads than others I grow and is a bit later; but I have never had one turn out like this. It is not uncommon growing far smaller than normal broccoli and cauliflower down here because sudden warm spells cause early heading. I will try to post a picture soon. The only thing I did different this spring was sprinkle a generous handful of ashes from my charcoal grill around the plants and water it in with Urban Farms Vegetable formula which I regularly fertilize with. Bill

May 2, 2019	#4
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I usually set out cauliflower plants two or three times starting in the fall as soon as it is cool enough and then again a month or so later and then again in late December or early February. I use plastic tunnels to cover them during freezing nights as they are more sensitive to freezing than cabbage or even broccoli for me. Some plant outs don't deliver any decent cauliflower sometimes and other times they will do great; it all depends on the weather which down here is constantly changing during what are the so called cold months. Bill