Winter cauliflower is a particularly beneficial crop that, in contrast to ordinary cauliflower, is much less susceptible to pest damage. This cauliflower overwinters in the bed so that it can be harvested in spring.
How to grow winter cauliflower?
Winter cauliflower is sown directlyfromJulyor brought forward, and then placed in nutrient-enriched soil in a sunny location in August/September to be planted out. In thespringof the following year, the winter cauliflower can beharvested after successfully overwintering outdoors.
When and how to sow winter cauliflower?
BetweenJulyandAugustWinter cauliflower can be sown directly outdoors. The seeds are placed1 cm deep in the soil. If the soil moisture is consistent, they will germinate within a week. You can also sow the seeds at home at a growing temperature of around 18 to 20 °C and prefer the cauliflower plants.
What is important when planting winter cauliflower?
If you prefer winter cauliflower at home, you should plant it outdoors at the end of August and ensure adistance of 50 cmbetween the individual specimens. Beforehand, it is advisable to loosen the soil and enrich it with nutrients, for example in the form ofcompost.
What location does winter cauliflower need?
When growing this cauliflower, asunnylocation is recommended. Very important: There should have beenno cabbage plants at the location several years ago. Therefore, pay attention to the crop rotation!
What should you pay attention to when caring for winter cauliflower?
Winter cauliflower should not dry out, but should be provided withplenty of water. Add fertilizerwhen planting, but do not fertilize after mid-September. This would make the winter cauliflower more sensitive to frost. Fertilization should only be carried out again inMarchto support the formation of a large flower head.
How much frost can winter cauliflower tolerate?
Winter cauliflower is frost-resistant up to-12 °C. However, long periods of frost put a strain on it. It is therefore advisable to equip it with winter protection. You can do this by piling it up in the fall. This also makes it stronger and gives it more stability. On the other hand, you can cover this cabbage plant with fleece, leaves or another layer of mulch in winter.
When is winter cauliflower ready to harvest?
After the winter cauliflower has survived the winter, it will not produce its flower head until March at the earliest and can finally be harvested inApril/May. To do this, grab a sharp knife and cut off the flower head and the leaves underneath.
Tip
Preventing pests on winter cauliflower
To minimize the risk of pest infestation, you can grow winter cauliflower in mixed culture. Good neighbors that keep pests such as the cabbage white butterfly away are tomatoes, celery and beans.
