Why choose to grow your own Cauliflower Seeds?
Cauliflowers are a regular visitor to our vegetable gardens and sits in the family of Brassica with Broccoli and Cabbage too. Cauliflower is a versatile cooking ingredient, enjoy roasted, boiled or made into a rice alternative. They are rich in nutrients and packed full of vitamins, particularly a good source of fibre.
Dobies has a range of Cauliflower varieties on offer, choose a classic white head like ‘Snowball’, or try something different with a purple head like ‘Di Sicilia Violetto’. However, if you’re after an entirely new look in your plot, emerging as a popular variety the spiky ‘Romanesco’ has a large pyramid-shaped head with an apple green colour.
How to grow Cauliflowers from seed
- Cauliflowers work well when sown in a seed bed. Prepare a cold frame with forked and raked in soil from April to May. You can sow late summer & overwinter in a cold frame too. Cauliflower seeds take around 20 to 26 weeks to reach maturity.
- Broadcast the seed over the seedbed (to sow seed, stand with your back to the breeze and flick the seed out at waist height) Sow about ¾ inch deep (2cm), taking care to spread them evenly.
- Transplant your Cauliflowers when big enough to handle or to prevent Slug damage, grow them on until there are around six leaved small plants.
- For their final growing spot, dig in some good organic matter / Well-rotted manure into the planting area. Sprinkle a few Comfrey pellets.
- Give them good Spacing, they need room to grow and like most veg enjoy the sunshine so avoid planting to near trees or hedges.
- It’s important to consolidate Cauliflowers well so make sure you firm the freshly planted soil well around the plant. Water in thoroughly.
Looking after your Cauliflowers:
Caterpillars and pigeons are some of the pests which will try to sabotage your crops. Keep an eye out or use a decent net or cage for additional protection and precaution. Alternatively, scarecrow will work too, and the build is a great family activity down the allotment.
It’s good to pick over any dead or yellowing leaves. Timing of harvest is important, keep a close eye and before Florets start to uncurl use a sharp knife to cut through the stem below the flower.
Buy Cauliflower Seeds UK from Dobies
