Growing Cauliflowers in the Back garden

Some people assume I have a huge plot or even an allotment to grow my organic Veg but I grow it in my Back Garden. And in this small space, I have grown a lot of great vegetables and one of them is Cauliflower.  I always pick Vegetables my family will eat and we love Cauliflowers.  I loved growing Cauliflowers in the back garden because you can grow it all year if you want.

Growing Cauliflowers in your Back Garden is not hard #growyourown #organicgardening

I had been told that cauliflower could be hard to grow but they seem to grow brilliantly in my back garden. As well as white varieties you can get yellow and purple one

If you are growing in a small space - Mini Cauliflowers are your best bet - they don't take up as much room as the standard Cauliflowers #

• Mini-cauliflowers are mainly summer varieties, grown at closer spacing to keep them small, and harvested at tennis-ball size. They are ideal if space is limited and can even be grown in containers. They are quick to mature, in as little as three months, and less prone to problems.

Varieties of Mini Cauliflower to try 

Growing Problems of Cauliflowers

Cauliflowers are very vulnerable to club root, however, some are now being bred with club root resistance. You combat that by crop rotation.

They are susceptible to cabbage root flies as well. Use Netting to deter them.

Caterpillars and slugs are the worst pests of cauliflowers. Caterpillars will eat the leaves and get into the curd and slugs to climb the stem to eat away the surface of the curds leaving brown trails.  Read my Post on Slugs here 

Growing Cauliflowers in Pots 

When it comes to growing cauliflower in containers, the first consideration is the container. A large pot with a width of 12 to 18 inches and a minimum depth of 8 to 12 inches is adequate for one plant.

If you have a larger pot, such as a half-whiskey barrel, you can grow up to three plants. Any type of container will work, but be sure it has good drainage holes in the bottom, as your cauliflower plants will rot quickly in the soggy soil.

Harvesting, Eating & Storing Your Cauliflower

Harvest when they are large enough they mature quickly and you don’t want them to split.

Cauliflowers can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 weeks wrapped tightly in cling film.  A glut can be frozen although they do tend to go a little soft and discolored.