White apple spring cauliflower
Green leaves white head cauliflower spring
Spring cauliflower green leaves
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Spring cauliflower, a white head for sunny days
Contents
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
Scientific classification
Family
Brassicaceae
Type
Brassica
Species
Brassica oleracea
Hardy spring cauliflowers(Brassica oleracea) withstand the rigors of winter to offer us fresh vegetables as soon as the swallows return. A strategic choice for gardeners who want to keep their gardens busy during the quieter months and enjoy the fruits of their labours early.
How to recognize spring cauliflower(Brassica oleracea)?
Spring cauliflower(Brassica oleracea) is a biennial vegetable. Bushy and compact, it reaches a height of 80 cm and spreads 50 to 60 cm over the ground.
Its enveloping foliage consists of a collar of upright, bluish-green, slightly wavy leaves.
The white apple, also known as the head, appears at the heart of the foliage. Botanically speaking, this is a floral meristem. It's a collection of dividing cell tissues that form a fascinating natural geometry. Each tiny bouquet faithfully reproduces the overall shape of the vegetable.
Without any intervention on the part of the gardener, the apple opens up to reveal a floral spike. The flowers are small, four-petaled and pale yellow or cream in color.
Which spring cauliflower varieties to plant in the garden?
Among the must-have varieties are :
- 'Armado': a particularly hardy selection that withstands winter frost very well to offer a heavy, compact white head from early spring;
- tardif d'Angers': an old local variety, appreciated for its creamy-white heads that can weigh a kilo;
- 'Précoce de Toscane': an early early cabbage, ideal for mild-climate regions, with a medium-sized white head;
- winter Aalsmeer':a white-headed, slow-growing cauliflower that tolerates the cold extremely well.
Is spring cauliflower toxic?
The head of the cauliflower, like its leaves, is not toxic. They are even edible. However, this cruciferous vegetable, which is very rich in fiber and sulfur, can be difficult to digest for some sensitive individuals.
Our maintenance tips
Sunlight causes the apple to turn yellow. To keep it white, pinch off two to three leaves above the growing tip when it measures 5 to 8 cm.
Watering
Keep the soil cool and moist, but not soggy.
Water, preferably with rainwater, at the foot of your Brassica oleracea.
Harvest
When the head of your Spring cauliflower is well compacted, you can harvest.
Cut the top off flush with the soil using a knife. Keeping a ring of leaves around the fruit helps it stay fresh longer spring cauliflower.
Plantation
Choose a sunny location. If you live in a region where summers are very hot, prefer semi-shade. Spring cauliflower do not tolerate heat well.
Two weeks before planting, work the soil with a grelinette or spading fork. Decompact and aerate the soil. Add compost or manure to enrich the substrate.
Dig a hole the size of the root ball. Plant your Brassica oleracea plants in a line, at least 50 cm apart. If your soil retains water, form a mound and plant at the top. This will allow excess water to run off more easily.
Water to encourage rooting. You can also mulch to keep the plants cool and prevent weeds from appearing.
Seedling
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, you can sow your Spring cauliflower seeds.
Sow your Spring cauliflower seeds in a nursery: reservea small space for themin your garden or vegetable patch. You can then transplant them to their final location. This technique saves space.
Dig a furrow about 2 cm deep. If you are planting several rows, leave at least 4 cm between rows.
Plant your sheaths. Space them 4 cm apart. Cover them with one or two centimetres of soil.
Water lightly and protect your seedlings with a plastic tunnel or cloche.
As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, you can sow your Spring cauliflower seeds.
Fill a bowl or cups with potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Moisten the soil.
Plant your seeds, spacing them 4 cm apart and covering them with one to two centimetres of substrate.
Water regularly to keep the soil moist. Place your seedlings away from the cold, in a greenhouse or indoors for example.
Frequently asked questions
Cauliflower goes well with celery, bush beans, potatoes or tomatoes. However, avoid planting it near turnips or radishes. Cauliflower attracts pests that are particularly harmful to these species. And don't plant your cabbage with other cabbages. Plants in the same family consume the same nutrients and attract the same diseases.
Harvesting takes place between 4 and 7 months after sowing, depending on the variety. Cauliflower is harvested when the head is firm and compact.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Lifecycle | Biennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposures | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting method |
Open ground |
| Category |
Vegetable |
| Tags |
Soiffarde Edible vegetable |
| Origin |
Southern Europe |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 9b (-3.9°C ≤ T° < -1.1°C) |
| Leaf color |
|
| Flower colors |
|
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