How to Grow Snowball Cauliflower

Snowball cauliflowers can ripen in under two months.

The head of a healthy cauliflower plant often resembles a fluffy white snowball, which is how one variety of the plant got its name. Snowball cauliflowers are generally ready for harvest within 60 days after planting, making them an ideal choice for many home gardeners looking to provide their families with healthy vegetables straight from the ground. However, cauliflowers require vigilant management of growing conditions and must be carefully monitored to ensure a good harvest.

Things You'll Need

• Soil tiller
• Seeds
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Till the soil to a depth of 10 inches in an area of your garden that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. Layer the soil with 1 part organic soil amendment, such as peat moss, compost or aged manure, for every 3 parts soil and till this in. These amendments help the soil drain away excess water and increase the nutrients available in the soil.

2. Sow seeds 1 inch below the surface of the soil, spaced at least 15 inches apart. If you plant multiple rows, allow at least 24 inches between rows.

3. Feed the seeds with a balanced organic fertilizer, diluted with water to half strength. Apply this fertilizer every two weeks until the cauliflower is ready for harvest.

4. Water the cauliflowers anytime the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Water directly into the soil from the base of the plants; overhead watering can lead to sunburn issues or attract mold or fungus. Continue to apply fertilizer and water until the cauliflower is ready for harvest.

Tips & Warnings

• Plant cauliflower seeds in mid-autumn (September or October) for a winter harvest or in early spring (March or April) for a spring or early summer harvest.

• You can also start snowball cauliflower from transplants from other gardens, but transplanted vegetables are susceptible to fungal disease that can come from another garden. It is safer to plant your own seeds.

• Cauliflowers can sometimes attract insects, including beetles, cabbage worms and aphids. Check your cauliflowers at least twice a week for insects or for signs of infestation, including holes in leaves or dark spots. Treat infections as necessary with pest-specific chemicals.

References

• Planet Natural: Cauliflower
• West Virginia University Extension Service; Growing Cauliflower; John Jett