How to Successfully Grow Cauliflower Organically in Your Garden

How to Grow Cauliflower

Would you like to learn how to grow cauliflower organically?

It is almost time to start planting our cold season crops like cauliflower. While growing most of the cold season crops is fairly easy, cauliflower is a bit more temperamental. Today, we would like to share with you why and how to fix it.

The cool weather loving vegetable is part of the Brassicaceae family (Brassica oleracea) that includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards and kale. Cauliflower is reportedly a descendant of the cabbage and is packed with nutritional benefits including Vitamin C, Vitamin B-6 and Magnesium. An entire head of cauliflower is only 100 calories and it is cholesterol free.

Why Cauliflower is Temperamental

One of the first thing to realize when learning how to grow cauliflower is that it is going to challenge for most gardeners no matter how long you have been gardening. In fact, according to Bonnieplants.com, three quarters of the commercially grown cauliflower is grown in California.

The Challenge to Growing Cauliflower

The main challenge to growing cauliflower is the weather. The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that you will need cool temperatures in the 60 degree range.

If you can get the timing right and make sure the plant gets enough water, you will have a successful harvest of fresh cauliflower.

Tips on Planting Cauliflower

  • Select a spot in your garden that gets 6 hours of sun light.
  • For best results, your soil’s pH should be between 6.5 and 6.8.
  • Transplant seedlings into your garden about 2-4 weeks before the last frost in the spring and 6-8 weeks before the last frost in the fall. If you are growing from seedlings, The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends:
    • Starting the seeds 4 to 5 weeks before the plants are needed.
    • Plant the seeds in rows 3 to 6 inches apart and 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch deep.
    • Water the seeds during their germination and growth.
    • Once they become seedlings, transplant them to their permanent place in the garden.
  • Plant the transplants 18 inches apart with 25 inches between rows.
  • Install Rootsticks. The cauliflower plants needs at least about 1 – 1.5 inches of water each week. Rootsticks can ensure that you get the right amount of water as well as the nutrients and oxygen the root zone needs for plants to thrive.

Summary

This cool weather vegetable can be challenging to grow in you garden. With the right temperatures and timing combined with these growing tips on how to grow Cauliflower, you will be able to successfully grow organically in your garden.

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