moonGROW - Organic gardening by the moon and zodiac signs

Vegetable Planting Guide - Planting, cultivating and harvesting your favorite vegetables.

CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea)

Full Sun
Requires six hours or more
of strong, direct sun per day.

Part Shade
Requires two to six hours
of direct sun per day.

Cauliflower

To produce the circular head of pure white curds that give this vegetable the deserved name of "flower," plenty of attention is needed. Of first importance is the soil.

Soil requirements

This should be deeply dug, pulverized, rich in organic fertilizer, and above all, contain a high percentage of nitrogen. A shortage of nitrogen will cause leaves to droop and die and the head to be stunted and turn yellow.

See: Soil - The growing medium of plants

Use compost

In preparing space for the cauliflower do not forget that a rapid, vigorous growth is necessary for its development. So, in addition to maintaining organic matter in the earth by plowing under green manure crops, feed the ground generously with compost. If your soil is very acid, give it a medium application of lime well in advance of planting time.

See: Composting - Recycling organic waste into soil building humus

Planting Cauliflower

Set cauliflowers in rows of furrows dug two feet apart. Place the large, late varieties two feet apart, and early, smaller ones 15 inches from each other. Make a shallow furrow between the rows, and use this for watering when the weather is dry.

See: Seeds and Transplants - How to plant seeds and set transplants in your home garden

Watering in your plants

Some successful gardeners run a stream of water through the planting rows, and allow it to soak in before setting the plants. Others plant them in dry soil and water them generously immediately after setting in the ground. Either method gives the added advantage of settling the soil firmly around the roots.

See: Water Requirements - Providing the proper amount of moisture to your plants

Seasonal planting of cauliflower

In most of the home gardens in the East, cauliflower is grown either in the spring or the late fall. The last few days in May will be the spring planting date, the tenth of July the approximate one for fall. The spring seeding is started in flats in the house.

Sowing and transplanting seed

Sow the seeds sparsely here, so as to give the small plants plenty of room to develop. When these have four leaves apiece, thin them, leaving a full two inches between them. If the spring weather is mild enough to allow planting the seeds directly in the ground, put three or four of these in the place where one is to be left standing. In this case you will have to thin the plants as soon as possible to avoid their crowding each other.

Only when mild weather has come to stay should the early crop be planted directly in the ground. A late frost will stunt the plants and cause a premature growth of the head bereft of all leaves.

See: Seeds - The choice, care and handling of seeds

Culture

When the head first pushes itself above the level of the ground, small incurving leaves close around it and protect it from the sun. As the head enlarges, however, these leaves are forced apart and away from it, and human hands are needed for further care. The gardener must then shield the head from the sun by bringing the largest leaves up over it and tying them in an upright position with soft tape, raffia or string.

Moon Phase Planting of Cauliflower

Cauliflower should be planted when the moon is in the 2nd Quarter (i.e. waxing) and in one of the following Zodiac Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra

See: Gardening by Moon Phases - Timing your planting and garden activities

See: Zodiac Gardening Basics - Gardening by the signs of the zodiac

Do not allow Cauliflower to overdevelop

Even after the leaves are tied watchfulness should still be the order of the day, for you must make sure that the heads do not overdevelop. It will be better to cut cauliflower a little too early than too late. The weather will help you decide when to harvest. If it is warm, a cauliflower will be ready to cut in from three to five days after its leaves have been tied. If the weather is cool, as much as two weeks may pass before it reaches the accepted size for cutting.

Harvesting Cauliflower

The general rules for cutting are: Cut when the head is six inches in diameter, and while its curds are compact, not after they begin to separate and resemble grains of rice.

See: Harvesting and Preservation - Harvest and preserve your bounty

When the time comes for harvesting, cut the plant with a sharp knife, leaving one or more whorls of leaves around the head to keep it from breaking.

Varieties

Early Snowball is a 60-day maturer, with small- to medium-sized heads. Purple Head matures in 85 days and has a taste similar to broccoli. Snow King Hybrid is hardy and heat tolerant, as is Danish Giant.

Nutrient Value

One serving of cauliflower contains 66 mg. of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), which exceeds the amount suggested as the Recommended Daily Allowance.


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