Size: 12 to 18 inches
Sunlight requirements: Full sun (A minimum of six hours is ideal.)
Water requirements: About 1 inch per week
Soil requirements: Average, well-drained garden soil, high in organic matter. Excessive nitrogen levels will result in excess foliage at the expense of good head formation and a condition called hollow stem.
When to plant: Transplant seedlings mid-March through May for early production. Autumn harvests should be planted in June and July.
Where to plant: Garden; containers (5-gallon minimum)
When to harvest: 50 to 90 days after seeding, depending on the variety. Self-blanching varieties don’t have to be covered, but gather and fasten foliage of those that aren’t with a clothes pin when the flower curds are 1 to 2 inches across. This blanches the heads to a pure white. Expect to harvest about 2 weeks after beginning the blanching process. To harvest, cut heads along with 2 or 3 protecting leaves when white and rice-like. Over-mature cauliflower may split.
Produce storage: Store in plastic bags in high humidity at 40 degrees F for two to three weeks.
