Today we would like to introduce you to something very special: picking cauliflower. You can grow it e.g. on the balcony. Read how to do this here.
After the need for balcony plants and terrace plants has increased enormously in recent years, the resourceful specialist garden trade creates many a cultivated form of traditional plants.
This now also includes picking cauliflower, the small florets of which thrive in multiples, so to speak in portions on each vine. And this with absolutely minimal maintenance!
Of course, the practical cauliflower can also be planted at any time in the greenhouse or in outdoor beds (link tip: planting vegetables in the greenhouse - the crop rotation is important). We'll tell you how to do it here.
Growing cauliflower - Here's how it's done
Plant picking cauliflower
The picking cauliflower prefers a constantly sunny to slightly semi-shady location, which you can optimally ensure by sowing the seed in flower pots. As early as February you can grow the seeds on a sunny window sill at temperatures of up to a maximum of 20 degrees - ideally under glass. To do this, you should only lightly press the individual seeds into a seed soil that is as rich in nutrients as possible, then cover them loosely with soil and let them germinate in the pots for about 2 weeks.
Tip:
The seed can be sown until June - also directly on the balcony or terrace, i.e. outdoors. This in turn has the advantage that the cauliflower can be available freshly harvested for longer during the season.
Care for Picking Cauliflower
» casting:
Pick cauliflowers only need to be watered moderately when necessary. However, you have to be careful that no waterlogging forms in the pots. The picking cauliflower should always be slightly dry, as this promotes cabbage formation!
» Fertilize:
Furthermore, the cauliflower needs a complete fertilizer once or twice during the first growth phase. It is best to use a liquid fertilizer for this.
» Remove discolored leaves:
Be around theIf cauliflower leaves are pale or brownish, you should cut them off immediately so as not to impair the further growth of the cabbage plant.
» Fight pests:
Unfortunately, picking cauliflower can also be infested by all the typical cabbage pests. The cabbage whitelings in particular cause him trouble from time to time (rather rarely) (Link tip: Fighting pests - 5 natural ways to fight them). As soon as an infestation of the individual pot is recognizable, you should carefully strip off the eggs that have been laid. You should then protect all cabbage heads with a fine insect net to prevent any pests that are still present from spreading.
Harvesting cauliflowers
You can then harvest your cauliflowers from around the end of June to sometimes even the beginning of October (depending on the weather). You should remove the individual cabbage florets from the mother plant with a knife.
Tip:
If you start early with the first harvest cut, the picking cauliflower will sprout more fresh side shoots.
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