How many cauliflower heads per plant

How long you must wait to harvest cauliflower also depends on how you grow it. If you use nursery transplants, which is the most reliable way to grow cauliflower, you'll harvest the heads earlier than if you sow seeds directly in the ground.

Cauliflower's head curd develops rapidly in good growing conditions, according to the University of Illinois Extension. It will grow 6 to 8 inches or more in diameter, and the mature heads should be compact, firm and white. Cauliflower is more finicky to grow than broccoli or cabbage.

One of the problems with growing cauliflower is its lack of cold tolerance. Cauliflower is damaged easily in freezing weather. It also bolts quickly or fails to produce a head when temperatures soar. It grows best in areas with long, cool growing seasons, rather than unpredictable periods of hot and cold temperatures. Plant cauliflower in full sun, in rich, well-draining soil that has been amended with 2 to 4 inches of compost or manure.

However, once the Cauliflower has been picked you can induce the cauliflower plant to create secondary heads by removing the leaves of the plant.

The secondary heads will be much smaller in size, usually only 3 inches 7 cm in diameter. The secondary heads typically appear around 7 to 8 weeks after the primary head is removed. In the right conditions, this can be a useful way to get a second crop.

However, Cauliflower is one of the more sensitive crops to heat and light so waiting for a second crop with summer approaching is unlikely to produce high-quality florets. They have a tendency to yellow and go to flower really quickly in warm conditions. It is best to cauliflower in the cooler months of the year which is through Autumn, Spring, and even winter if the winters are mild enough.

As the maturity time of Cauliflower is around 4 months it means that Cauliflower seeds need to be started in late Winter to get a crop in late Spring crop or mid to late summer to get an Autumn crop. However, if you live in a region with mild winters the availability of harvests can be extended into winter by correctly timing the sowing of the cauliflower.

To have cauliflower available to harvest the plant needs to be close to maturity at the start of the cold weather. To calculate when to plant it click here. The other alternative is to plant seeds in early-Autumn. This will result in the plant sitting in the ground until the weather warms up the following spring. This will provide an early spring harvest to increase the availability of fresh cauliflower throughout the year. The Cauliflower is one of the more challenging plants to grow in the Brassica family which includes Cabbage , Kohlrabi, and Brussel Sprouts , with its nearest relative being Broccoli.

This is due to its lack of tolerance of heat which really spoils the quality of the head and causes yellowing of the florets. To establish Cauliflower seeds can be sown directly into the soil or into seed trays. I personally prefer to use seed trays for a couple of reasons.

The first reason is that planting in trays allows you to protection to the seedlings from pests such as snails and slugs. The second reason is that in winter you can start the seeds off earlier which means that you can get an earlier crop. If you live in a very cold climate you may consider using a heated propagation tray because it is easier to control the temperature.

The units are relatively cheap and can be purchased from Amazon, the unit we recommended is the iPower Heated Propagation Tray because it has a vented dome to help control humidity.

Click here to see the latest price. Once the plants are growing well, add 30g 1oz per square metre of high nitrogen fertiliser such as sulphate of ammonia to boost growth and curd formation. Roots become swollen and distorted, and leaves become pale and yellow and wilt easily. Plants may die. Birds, especially pigeons, can cause an array of problems including eating seedlings, buds, leaves, fruit and vegetables.

Protect the plants from birds by covering them with netting or fleece. Scarecrows and bird-scaring mechanisms work for a while, but the most reliable method of protection is to cover plants with horticultural fleece or mesh.

A number of caterpillars will feed on brassicas, but the most common are those of cabbage white butterflies. You will usually see the caterpillars, if not, you will see the holes they make in the leaves. They will also bore into the heart of cabbages.

In mild attacks, or if you have only a few plants, you may be able to pick the caterpillars off. Insect-proof mesh or fine netting mm mesh can prevent egg-laying. You can harvest cauliflowers throughout the year, depending on when you sow. They generally take three to five months from sowing to maturity, but growth rates vary according to the variety and weather conditions.

Different varieties mature at different sizes, so check the seed packet and harvest at the recommended size. White varieties should be harvested before they turn yellow. Cut the stem with a knife, taking the head and a few of the leaves beneath it. Buy now. Take action Why take action? Support us Donate Careers Commercial opportunities Leave a legacy.

Join the RHS today and support our charitable work Join now. Hot links Browse inspiration articles Buy plants online.

Buy tickets.