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How to Grow Cauliflower
Cauliflower belongs to the species Brassica oleracea , which also includes broccoli , Brassica oleracea acephala , Brussels sprouts , and cabbage . Like other Brassica crops , Brassica oleracea botrytis necessitate a generous amount of space in the garden to grow , peculiarly in its 2nd year of growth .
When to Plant Cauliflower
Figuring out the best time to start cauliflower plant can be challenging . Plants prefer coherent , nerveless weather ( 60 grade F is ideal ) and will not produce a full head if temperatures are too high .
twenty-four hours to maturity date can also vary greatly from 55 - 100 daytime . Cauliflower plant are on a regular basis pop out in flatbed and after transplanted to the garden . originate seedlings indoors at least 4 - 6 calendar week before your expect transplant date .
Spacing Requirements
Sow cauliflower germ ¼ inch rich . place cauliflower 24 inch apart in the garden .
Time to Germination
3 - 10 days
Special Considerations when Growing Cauliflower
northerly gardener may graft seedlings to the garden in the former springiness after risk of hard Robert Lee Frost has passed , or try a tardy summer planting for a fall harvest .
Southern gardeners will find success growing plants anytime in the drop and wintertime when hard frost can be avoided and temperature are systematically coolheaded .
Common Pests and Diseases of Cauliflower
Cabbage butterfly , Brassica oleracea measuring worm , and flea beetles are common garden pests for cauliflower . Cauliflower can also suffer from fluffy mildew , black rot , and several other diseases . Cauliflower , like broccoli and other Brassica crops , can be protect with rowing cover to preclude early damage from pests such as flea beetles .
When and How to Harvest Cauliflower
cut back cauliflower question from the industrial plant when they are large and firm . If will too long on the flora , cauliflower head can become off - colored and mushy . Blanching , or wrapping the train chief with the plant ’s own leaves , can help keep discoloration .
Eating Cauliflower
Cauliflower can be enjoyed tonic , steamed , roast , stir fried , and pureed . It is an implausibly various veggie that is also great to blanch , freeze , and store for winter .
Storing
Fresh Brassica oleracea botrytis heads will store in the refrigerator for several weeks after harvest .
How to Save Cauliflower Seeds
Cauliflower go to the Brassica oleracea species , which include many other craw types , like broccoli , Brussels burgeon forth , and collards . Because of this , closing off needs to be managed thoughtfully , but because most are biennials that will not blossom until their second season , a gardener can grow multiple varieties for exhaust while simultaneously growing one variety for seeded player saving .
Life Cycle
two-year
Recommended Isolation Distance
disjoined varieties by 800 feet – ½ mile in their second year of growth .
Recommended Population Sizes
To ensure viable seeds , economise seed from at least 5 plants . When maintaining a change over many propagation , preserve seeded player from 20 - 50 plant . If you ’re saving seeds for genetical saving of a rare variety , save seeds from 80 plant .
Cauliflower Vernalization
If your region does not regularly receive temperature below 35 degrees atomic number 9 , try winter cauliflower outside in the ground . In this causa , sentence planting so that plant life have only work little , loose head when the growing season ends .
When plants can not be successfully overwintered in the garden , they can be vernalized in storage . First , clip planting so that plants have fully formed heads at the clock time of lifting . Take care to dig up the entire plant , roots and all . Then , prune off loose leafage , but be certain to leave the head intact . garnish plants should be replanted into container fulfill with slightly moist pot mix or sand for storage .
The optimum depot conditions for cauliflower vernalization rate from 34 - 39 degrees F and 80 - 95 % relative humidity . A traditional root wine cellar is idealistic for this , but service department , shed , and other unheated structure process well in some climates .
In the springtime , when the land can be worked , replant cauliflower in your garden , taking care to give them a caboodle of elbow room to resume growing and to flower . In their 2nd year , increase Brassica spacing to 18 - 24 inches in rows that are at least 36 inches apart . stake the plants is recommended .
Assessing Cauliflower Seed Maturity
After flowering in their 2d year of increase , mature seed pod become dry and turn brownish as the seminal fluid inside also fledged and dark-brown . As with many of the Brassica crops , the windowpane of time for an optimum harvest may be shortsighted as fledged seedcase will get to shatter and bird depredation can become a problem .
Harvesting Cauliflower Seeds
Branches of fledged fruit can be thrash by rub the cod between one ’s hands or by hitting the brittle pod against any surface that will have yield to break open . If the seedcase are dry , they will release their seeds easy when thrash about .
Cauliflower Seed Storage and Viability
computer storage cauliflower seeds in cool , morose , and dry places and always keep them in an airtight container to keep out moisture and humidity . in good order stored Brassica oleracea botrytis come will continue viable for several year .
understand more about seed storage .
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