Cauliflower Autumn Giant Primus - Brassica oleracea

Sowing

The germination temperature is around 12°C (53.6°F) and takes about 14 days.

It can be sown from March to June for a harvest from September to December.

You can either directly sow it in place or prepare seedlings that will later be planted in their final position in the garden.

Seedling preparation

Sow at home or in a heated greenhouse, from late autumn to late spring. Alternatively, sow in a cold greenhouse or nursery for the rest of the year. Sow the cauliflower seeds to a depth of 1cm in a tray filled with good seed compost. Cover lightly with compost or vermiculite. Cover with the transparent lid of the tray or plastic film until germination. Keep the substrate moist but not waterlogged.

When the young plants appear strong enough to handle, transplant them into pots. For seedlings in a heated greenhouse, gradually acclimatise them to cooler temperatures before transplanting them to the garden, when there is no longer any risk of frost.

Direct sowing

In properly amended and finely worked soil, make furrows about 1cm deep, spaced 60cm (24in) apart. Sow the seeds and cover them with a thin layer of fine soil. When the seedlings are developed, thin them out, leaving one plant every 60cm (24in) or so.

Cultivation

Cauliflower is a demanding vegetable that requires fertilised soil that is rich in nitrogen and potash. In autumn, apply well-rotted compost (approximately 3 kg per m²) by raking it into the soil to a depth of 5cm (2in), after having loosened the soil. Soil pH should be between 5.6 and 6.5. In acidic soil, it is necessary to gradually raise the pH by adding calcium in the form of dolomite or lime.

Cauliflower, like all brassicas, is quite susceptible to diseases such as clubroot. Pests can also be a problem (cabbage white butterfly, cabbage fly, flea beetle, onion fly). It is very important to pay attention to crop rotations.

It is beneficial to plant cauliflower with other plants, such as tomatoes and lettuce. However, avoid planting it near other brassicas, courgettes, fennel, lamb's lettuce, leeks, and strawberries.