How To Grow Cauliflower | 7 Tips to Avoid the Small Curds

I am sitting here laughing because many of you may associate curds with souring milk.  Maybe little Miss Muffet who sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey.  I can assure you Little Miss Muffet was not learning how to grow cauliflower.

The curd is the fancy word for the dense brassica head that you get when you successfully grow cauliflower.  It is the white stuff on the cauliflower that you roast up or you cook to eat.  The bigger the better is really the essence of how to grow cauliflower.

Grow cauliflower is probably not the first vegetable to start your gardening adventure because it can be challenging to grow.  You definitely need a game plan and a strategy to grow cauliflower successfully but don’t fret because the tips here will serve to help you grow some big ass curds.

Tip#1 | Time it Right to Grow Cauliflower

Tip #2 | Moisture Requirements for Planting Cauliflower

Another key lesson that you need to know about growing cauliflower successfully is to ensure that it has proper watering.  One of the signals that mother nature endowed plants is to know when its time to check out.  Dry soil conditions seem to be one of those triggers.

Make sure that you keep your moisture levels in check with cauliflower especially as it starts to warm up for your spring crop.  Cauliflower requires about 1 inch of water each week in order to grow successfully

Tip #3 | Feeding your Big Curds | Cauliflower Plant Nutrition

It is true that cauliflower needs to eat too.  Cauliflower really needs a ton of nutrients to grow.  You need to make sure that you maximize your chances of growing big curds by starting things off right.

Boost your soil before you actually transplant or start your cauliflower seeds.  This is a key step to perfecting the art of how to grow cauliflower.  You really should get this right if you want to grow any vegetable for that matter.

Make sure that the soil has a good complete amount of NPK in the form of compost or any other organic matters added to it.  Blood meal, Bone meal and rock dust are all good organic sources that you can use.  We prefer good old worm castings too.

Now, that you have the soil loaded with good amounts of fertilizers you want to pay attention to supplemental feeding schedules for cauliflower.  Your organic fertilizers may need some time to break down, so don’t be afraid to give it a boost when you first plant with some liquid fertilizers.

Give your cauliflower plants another supplemental feeding and a side dressing of compost about every month and you should be golden until you harvest.

Tip #6 | Cauliflower Curd Problems

You may encounter some foes along with the ways of growing cauliflower.  In fact, learning how to grow cauliflower includes learning about techniques to identify the common issues before they happen.  Aphids and caterpillars always seem to show up to our garden patch during the spring.

The best way to know what is going on with your cauliflower is to check them often.  Get out there and examine them closely should you notice any issues creeping out before they get out of hand.

Another tip is to make sure you rotate your cauliflower crops each year.  This is an overall good practice to do with all of your vegetables.  Crop rotation helps with the prevention of many diseases that can affect your cauliflower.

Tip # 7 | Harvesting Cauliflower

You made it to the finish line.  Don’t worry if your cauliflower curd is not as big as you wanted it to be.  Growing cauliflower is one of the more challenging vegetables to grow.  Learning how to grow cauliflower makes you an expert in applying sunscreen and adding force field around your plant.

Well, it is not that bad.  You will know that cauliflower is mature when the size of the head is about 8-12 inches across.  You want to make sure the buds are nice and tight and not open.  Use a sharp knife and cut them just below the head.

Unfortunately, cauliflower does not develop side shoots after they are cut as their cousin broccoli does.  You can just pull up the plant after you cut them.  Another option to allow you to store it longer is to pull up the entire plant and hang it in your storage cellar.

More Info | Cauliflower Closure

Following these 7 tips will teach how to grow cauliflower in no time so you can impress your friends without small curds.  That was a mouth full.  Get out there and get your hands dirty.   You can always learn more about growing cauliflower.  Check out our mega guide here.

Additional Questions

• How to Grow Cauliflower from seed? – Cauliflower can definitely be grown from seed.  Growing cauliflower from seed will also give you a better selection of varieties than in the garden centers.  You should look for seeds that have a high germination rate and start the seeds in seed flats.
• Can Cauliflower be grown in containers or pots? – Yes, cauliflowers can be grown from containers or pots.  Be aware that you will need to ensure that it has good access to soil nutrients and that you keep the soil evenly moist throughout its growing cycle.
• How long does it take cauliflower to grow? – Cauliflower takes about 14 weeks from seed to harvest.