The oldest record of cauliflower dates back to the 6th 100 BCE . A member of the pelf household , the word “ Brassica oleracea botrytis ” comes from the Latincaulis , meaning “ cabbage ” , andfloris , meaning “ flower ” . They are grown for their thick , undeveloped bloom and flower stalking , not for their leaf .
Of all the brassicas , Brassica oleracea botrytis is the most difficult to produce , which is why it tends to be more expensive at the greengrocer . Aim for at least six time of day of full sun each twenty-four hours for your cauliflower — though the more the in force , really .
Cauliflower Label
vulgar name : CauliflowerBotanical name : Brassica oleraceaevar.botrytisFamily : BrassicaceaeAspect and soil : Sun ; abstruse , welldrained soilBest climate : All , but get in the cooler part of the yearHabit : Biennial veg grow as an annualPropagation : semen , seedlingDifficulty : Difficult
PROPAGATION
Prepare the patch by digging constitutive matter through the soil , which should be rich , moist and freely enfeeble with apH of 6–6.5 ( the payoff will be reduced if the soil pH is below 6 ) .
Grow Brassica oleracea botrytis from seedlings bought at your local glasshouse if you have a small vegie patch , as the plants require a lot of space . If you want to grow your own from semen , sow the germ in seedling trays at the start of summertime for transplant into the patch six week subsequently .
WATERING
Because cauliflower is a wintertime crop , most of the irrigation will be supplied by Mother Nature . However , if dry weather occurs , H2O every 10 day and apply enough to good wet the root geographical zone .
Keep the soil moist but not soak . Cauliflower plants must never be water stressed , especially as young plants , or they will bolt to seed and not form a dense flower .
MULCHING
Mulch helps dirt continue moisture , controls widow’s weeds and order soil temperatures . If you choose not to mulch , you will have tohoe the weeds . Cauliflowers have shallow root word , so be measured not to damage the roots if you do .
FEEDING
Cauliflowers do well in very fertile soil . shape the soil with well - decompose animate being manure or compost before planting . Once the plants are grow well , apply seaweed selection every couple of weeks .
BLANCHING
When the cauliflower head can be easily watch , it is quick to pale . This process preclude sunlight from extend to the head , keeping it prissy and white rather than letting it become a yellow green .
wed or peg down the outer leaves over the head to protect it from the sunlight . The question should be quick to harvest a couple of week after blanching .
PRUNING
As the plant raise , remove any honest-to-god leaves that have started to release yellow and put them in the compost .
POLLINATION
Cauliflower requires crown of thorns - pollenation if you desire to save cum . Its small jaundiced flush are pollinate by worm
PESTS AND PROBLEMS
Caterpillars are ill-famed pests on brassicas and cabbage white moths are the main offenders . see out for caterpillars on the leaves , or the holes and droppings they allow behind .
Slugscan be a problem , chewing through seedlings and fledged flora leaves likewise , peculiarly during wet season , and aphid also cause havoc for brassica crops . assay planting marigolds , or other plant from the Tagetes genus , among the crop as a repellent .
HARVESTING AND STORAGE
Start harvesting when the head are firm ; once the floret start to separate , it is too later , though they are still comestible .
Cauliflower heads can be stored in the electric refrigerator for two weeks or more .
HOW TO CONTROL CATERPILLARS
Pick the caterpillars off the industrial plant ( it ’s worth wearing gloves if you do n’t hump what type of caterpillar it is ) and drown them in a pail of soapy weewee ; or if you have chickens , provide them as an after - dinner snack — the chooks will make out you for it . cat are diffuse - bodied and therefore a best-loved treat for birds and small mammals .
apply a mathematical product shout Bt , or Bacillus thuringiensis . Bt is also look up to as Dipel . It is an constitutive insecticidal bacterium that kills only caterpillars and is good to use on edibles . It take about 24 60 minutes to have an effect but works a delicacy .
Use a Allium sativum or max spray .
Barbarea vulgaris , also make out as wintertime cress , and Barbarea verna , or land cress , both contain a natural chemical called glucosinolate that play as a toxin . Apparently the white cabbage moth will go crazy for it and position its eggs all over it . When the immature caterpillars hatch and eat it they will swag over .
I mean the good organic method of command is covering the temporary hookup or crops of susceptible vegies with very fine netting . This turn back the butterflies and moths from landing on the plants to consist their eggs . The downside is that the gauze can limit access for other insects , which is a trouble if there are plants in the patch that necessitate pollenation . If this is the case you may hand - pollinate .
