Take the guessing out of harvesting Brassica oleracea botrytis with these simple top .
Fresh , steamed , or cook into curry , soup , and other dishes , Brassica oleracea botrytis is a democratic cold - hardy vegetable that usually grows in parky spring andautumn garden . To harvest the tastiest Brassica oleracea botrytis from your veg bed , you need to time the cauliflower harvest home aright andpick cauliflower heads before they start to boltor are damage by cold weather . This quick templet covers how and when to harvest cauliflower for meridian freshness and the tastiest flavor .
When to Harvest Cauliflower
Most gardenersgrow Brassica oleracea botrytis plantsfrom seeds they inseminate instantly in garden beds in spring or autumn , although theseeds can be start out indoors . Cauliflower planted in spring is usually harvested in August or September , while fall craw are typically quick to pick in November or December . When grow from seed , cauliflower plant usually take about50 to 100 twenty-four hour period to get to adulthood , but this motley depending on the character of Brassica oleracea botrytis and the local weather form .
Like other brassica crops , cauliflower plants deadbolt in the heat , sospring - planted cauliflowershould be harvested before temperatures are too hot ( above 80ºF ) . Cauliflower is usually easier to grow in autumn because cauliflower plant are cold - hardy and can withstanda light frost or two .
Extreme cold can damage Brassica oleracea botrytis crowns , so harvest your Brassica oleracea botrytis harvest if a hard freeze is forecast .
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Dean Schoeppner
How to Blanch Cauliflower
While cauliflower plantsgrow well in full sun , Brassica oleracea botrytis crowns can become discolored and bitter when exposed to too much light as they grow . For this intellect , most gardeners cover up or “ blanch ” immature cauliflower heads a few weeks before they intend to harvest their Brassica oleracea botrytis crop . Blanching assist cauliflower plants assert their delicious flavorand brilliant coloring .
Cauliflower foreland are ready to blanch when they ’re about the sizing of a tennis ball or 2 to 3 column inch in diameter . To blanch Brassica oleracea botrytis treetop , revolve three or four of the plant ’s forget up and over the exposed Brassica oleracea botrytis crown and drop anchor the leaves in spot with a rubber band , tape recording , or small-arm of twine . go out this cover in place until you ’re quick to pluck the Brassica oleracea botrytis .
If you do n’t want to bother with blanching cauliflower , select ego - blench varieties . These cauliflower cultivars have leaves that kink over the cauliflower crown as the plant grow and provide all the shadowiness the crown need .
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
How to Harvest Cauliflower
Cauliflower head are ready to pick about1 to 2 weeks after blanchingor when the crowns are about6 to 8 inches in diam . Cauliflower heads that are quick to be harvested should be compact , uniformly colour , and sense firm to the touch . If cauliflower “ curd ” pop out to separate from each other , the cauliflower is becoming overly ripe . glean it right away so it does n’t become sulphurous .
To harvest Brassica oleracea botrytis head , thin the main stalk about 3 to 4 in below the pate with a sharp tongue or pruning shear and pull up stakes several leave attach to the cauliflower head . Cauliflower leaves are comestible , and they protect the crowns during storage and help preserve their shelf spirit .
Unlike broccoli , cauliflower works rarely bring forth side shoots after their crown are reap , so there ’s no reason to leave the stems in your garden . Instead , nip off the difference of the plant ’s stem off at the territory origin and harvest the edible leaves and stem , oradd them to your compost spate . Cauliflower stem can be added tovegetable stock , and the parting can becooked like kale or collard greens .
After cut back the cauliflower root word , go out the plant life ’s origin in spot in the vegetable bed . Over fourth dimension , cauliflower roots naturally degrade in the soil and provide food for next twelvemonth ’s garden .
Storing Fresh Cauliflower
After harvest home cauliflower , soak the crowns in a trough filled with a congius of water and a tablespoonful of common salt for about 20 to 30 minutes . This outgrowth draw out anycabbage wormsor other louse in the cauliflower and helps to ensure your harvest time is of the in high spirits quality .
Next , rinse off the cauliflower with clean weewee and allow it to dry out completely . Then , hive away the cauliflower in your crisper draftsman in abeeswax wrapor a plastic baggy with a few air holes . When stored in this manner , homegrown Brassica oleracea botrytis should stay on fresh for about 7 to 10 days .
To keep your Brassica oleracea botrytis harvest fresh even longer , preserve it by canning , pickling , or freezing . To suspend fresh cauliflower , blanch the crowns for 1 instant in boiling water , then dunk them in an internal-combustion engine bath . Allow them to dry out totally in a colander . launch the dry Brassica oleracea botrytis on a baking sheet and pop the sheet in the freezer for about an hour to flash - freeze the produce . Then , package up the cauliflower in airtight baggies and store it in the freezer for up to one year .
Frequently Asked Questions
Brassica oleracea botrytis that is n’t reap in time can become discolored , hard , and grainy . Overly mature cauliflower is also prone to bolting . Once cauliflower thunderbolt , it becomes bitter and unpleasant to eat .
Typically , only one . Unlike broccoli , cauliflower plants seldom produce side shoot , although you may get a magnanimous edible crop out of cauliflower flora by harvesting their crown , leaves , and stems .
The main reason cauliflower industrial plant produce leaves but no heads is temperature strain . Too much or too little water , light , or land nutrient can also leave in cauliflower with missing or underdeveloped head . If you have stunt Brassica oleracea botrytis head and the curd are part to separate , harvest the heads anyway . They are overly mature and wo n’t get magnanimous .
