Cauliflower All Year Round

Cauliflower All Year Round is an open pollinated variety that is popular with older growers, many who have used this variety for years. It is suitable for March-May sowings, however make successional sowings for staggered cropping
A foolproof way to grow healthy cauliflower seedlings is to sow them in module seed trays – sow one or two seeds in each module 1.5cm deep. Thin out the weaker seedling. They will germinate in about a week and will be ready for planting about three weeks later (when 5cm tall). Make sure to harden off early sowings carefully. For a steady supply of cauliflower, sow a few plants in March, May and June. Spacing will determine the size of the curds – between 60-70cm is about right. The more space you can give them, the healthier the plants will be. As with cabbages, cauliflowers should be planted in to firm, fertile, free-draining ground – the root and stem will eventually have to support a very heavy head! Water plants well before sowing – create a hole with a dibber, pop the seedling in and then firm in very well. Include cauliflower in your brassica rotation – do not plant them where there have been brassicas for at least 3-4 years previously.

Keep plants free of weeds and water regularly – if they dry out they are inclined to bolt. Late sowings can be given a feed of an organic liquid feed to encourage growth. You can protect curds from sun and frost damage by folding some of the surrounding leaves over the curd and tying with a rubber band or some twine.

Harvest while curds are white, packed firm and tight. Remove the plant from the soil and cut the head from the stem. Wash carefully (slugs can make their home in the base of the curds).