Cauliflowers are a hungry crop, they need extremely fertile soil which is well draining to grow well. Cauliflowers can be a little temperamental so they may need a little extra attention in order to get a good crop of cauliflowers.

Soil Preparation

Soil preparation is everything when growing cauliflowers, dig the area where you plan to plant your cauliflowers in autumn incorporating lots of well rotted manure as you dig.

Avoid growing cauliflowers in extremely cold areas that are prone to late frosts as this can destroy a crop, cauliflowers like being in a warm location while they first start growing.

Sowing and Planting

When growing cauliflowers I prefer to sow them indoors under glass as this gives them an early start. I begin sowing indoors in March for transplanting outdoors in April.

You should sow several seeds in a three inch round pot. Pulling out the weakest seedlings and leaving only the strongest. This will make sure you only have the best seedlings and improving your chances of success.

The cauliflower seedlings are ready for transplanting once they have four or five strong leaves. Plant them in rows which are one and a half foot apart being careful not to damage the roots.

Looking After the Plants

Keep the plants well watered as cauliflowers are thirsty plants and need extra water to grow well. It is also good if you can hoe around the plants regularly to ensure weeds do not grow in and around your crops.

When growing summer varieties you could bend some of the outer leaves over the curd to protect it from the summer sun. Cauliflowers are also prone to disease so you should watch out for signs of disease.

Harvesting

Cut the cauliflower heads once the heads are large and are white in the centre, you can begin harvesting early in the season to make sure you don’t end up with an end of season glut.

Cut the cauliflowers near to the ground with a sharp knife and take into the kitchen to be used. Simple!