Space plants 45 - 60cm apart in all directions.
Space mini-cauliflowers 15cm apart in rows 25cm apart.
There are different cauliflower varieties for different seasons. The closer they are, the smaller they will become. Romanesco cauliflowers have interesting heads with spirals of florets.
Soil Preparation
Grow cauliflowers on land that has not had cabbage, sprouts or other brassicas for at least 3 years.
Dig plenty of farmyard manure or garden compost into the ground. Work the soil so that it is fine and crumbly. Level it off and firm it down. Walk over it several times because cauliflower grows best in very firm soil.
Plant Out
Cauliflower is ready to plant out when the plants are 10-15cm tall and have at least four true leaves. The tiny cotyledons, seed leaves, don’t count.
Harden the plants off by putting the pot outside during the day and bringing it in at night for a week. This will help to get them acclimatised to the conditions outdoors.
Soak the pot of plants with water the night before planting out.
Take the plants out of the pot by placing a hand over the plants and tipping the pot upside down. The soil ball will fall out of the pot into your hand.
Turn the ball the right way up and gently tease the roots apart to separate out one plant. Take great care not to disturb the roots.
Make a hole in the ground that is slightly deeper than the roots are long. Place the plant in the hole so that the bottom leaves are almost at soil level. Gently push the soil around the roots to fill in the hole.
Hold the leaves to keep the plant vertical whilst firming the soil down. Cauliflower responds to very firm conditions.
Water
When all the plants are in, water them well. Keep the soil damp for a week or so, until the plants look well established.
Water once a week or whenever the soil dries out but do not overwater or the soil will become waterlogged. It is particularly important to water cauliflowers when the curds (heads) begin to form.
Weeds Pull weeds out as they appear. This will remove any competition for water and nutrients.
Protect the plants with mesh to keep insects and birds off the leaves. Cabbage white butterflies and pigeons can be a particular nuisance.
Fertilise with nitrogen fertiliser when the plant is about 20cm high. Continue feeding with this nitrogen fertiliser every two weeks.
Harvest
Cauliflowers will be ready to harvest from 2 to 4 months after planting out, depending on variety. Cut the whole head (curd), together with a few leaves, from the stalk with a sharp knife. Cut them when they are still firm and before the heads begin to loosen. As all the cauliflowers in one batch will be ready at the same time, cut the first one early, when it is about 10-12cm wide. The others will keep growing but you should catch them before the heads start to open up and discolour.
If several cauliflowers are ready at the same time, it is better to cut them, wrap them in cling film and keep them in the fridge, rather than let them loosen up or turn yellow.
Varieties
To spread the harvest, and to ensure a constant supply of cauliflowers, stagger plantings over a few weeks and grow different varieties.
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