Cauliflower

Cauliflower Care

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

What is the plant

Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea in the genus Brassica. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head is eaten – the edible white flesh sometimes called "curd".

Cauliflower is one of the many cabbage related cole crops that revel in cool weather. Mark Twain called it "A cabbage with a college education.", but we don't think it's just cabbage with airs. Cauliflower has a very distinct nuttiness, closer to broccoli in flavor. The main edible part of both cauliflower and broccoli is the flower bud, making them both edible flowers. Cauliflower is not the easiest vegetable to grow, because it is very sensitive to temperature changes, however with a little TLC, it can be a very rewarding vegetable for your garden. The white varieties need to be blanched, by covering the head with its leaves. The purple varieties get their color from anthocyanin, an antioxidant. Unfortunately, both the color and the benefits disappear with cooking. And a happy accident leads to the orange cauliflowers, which have a higher percentage of beta-carotene.

If you’ve recognized any mistakes feel free to notify us about it. This would help us to provide only the best-quality information.

Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

7°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

min 9b

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Cauliflower likes water, so don't let the soil dry out. this can interrupt the growth of the head. mulching can help you achieve consistent moisture levels. aim to provide 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week.
Pruning
Make judicious cuts to encourage new growth. Cut just before a leaf node. Or when cutting back larger stems, cut as close to the main stem as possible.
Fertilizer
Cacti fertilizer requirements are pretty simple. Any good houseplant food (diluted to half) that's higher in phosphorus than nitrogen is a good choice. A 5-10-5 solution can work well.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Sunlight
This plant needs a lot of sunlight, but it has to be protected from the strongest rays of the sun.
Soil
A loam soil contains a nice balance of silt, sand, and clay along with humus.
Temperature
If you seed, start 4 to 5 weeks before the last spring frost date. Transplant seedlings (or small nursery plants) 2 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost date, no sooner and not much later. In early spring, be ready to protect plants from frost by covering them with old milk jugs, if necessary. Extreme cold can halt growth and/or form buttons. Plant a fall crop 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost date but after daytime temperatures are regularly below 75°F.

Ease your plant care routine with PlantIn's personalized system.

Container
Ceramic pots are the most popular type of containers for houseplants today. You'll find them in all kinds of styles, colors, and sizes. At one time, the clay pot was the most common container for indoor plants. When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 2.5-5 cm (1-2”) larger than the current size.
Popularity
979 people already have this plant 155 people have added this plant to their wishlists