Vegetable Garden - Harvesting Cauliflower

[hawkechik]

I just stumbled across this video as this year for the first time ever I've planted some cool weather stuff including cauliflower. I wouldn't have thought it possible to grow cauliflower at all in Louisiana (I'm in Alabama.) When do you normally plant these?

[webcajun]

@hawkechik ... According to my planting guide from LSU you can start planting in July thru September.  I’ve planted some much later……Donald

[mufceire]

Nice one, come to Ireland and teach me how you do it, haha! Keep the videos coming! :)

[webcajun]

@mufceire ... Cover my expenses and I'll be on my way. LOL........Donald

[louis1999ful]

do u plant just for u or for markets

[webcajun]

@louis1999ful ... I grow for our use, family and friends.......Donald

[louis1999ful]

@webcajun ow nice

[AngelikavonDeutschla]

i have two plants of cauliflower. My brocoli never came up neither did my bell peppers and egg plants.

[chillygrilly1]

Great job..I live in CT and I have 6 cauliflower and 6 brocolli, none of themhave produced anything yet except for leaves. Is it still too soon? Also something is eating the leaves. I think a green worm, what is organic that I could put on them? Thank you

[webcajun]

@chillygrilly1 ...Sorry I'm not organic, I use Liquid Sevin......Donald

[1965blaze]

awesome! hey donald how many plants can i plant in a small garden in a 6x6 space? and i would love you to share your broccoli cauliflower casserole recipe if you would!

thank you so much for sharing! if you look on my channel you can see what i have grown awesome broccoli.

[webcajun]

@1965blaze ... don't know too much about square foot gardening, and I'm just guessing here, but I think you can plant every 12 inches. I'll ask the wife for the casserole recipe, it's really good........Donald 

[menmach100]

hey bud, thanks for the tip on the summer squash, we had a great harvest. i have a question about the cauliflower, does it grow side shoots like the brocoli or is it a one time deal and it for the plant? thanks again, alex.

[webcajun]

@menmach100 ... Hey Alex, cauliflower is a one time harvest........Donald

[Alina674]

Your harvest is great! Those are nice! Mine are always smaller when I go to harvest them. Can you suggest a way that I make them bigger?

[webcajun]

@Alina674 ... variety has some to do with the size of the head.  I prefer to harvest when the heads are about 3/4 grown, same for broccoli.......Donald

[cedar688]

wow, you could probably really rip the head off of a chicken. Good vid man

[sunsetreptiles]

why does it have leaves around it.

[webcajun]

@sunsetreptiles ... nature's way of shading.....Donald

[billyfireman]

I was wondering if you could eat the leaves it looks like collard leaves

[webcajun]

@billyfireman ... never tried em........ Donald

[Alina674]

@billyfireman yes, you definitely can eat the leaves to cauliflower and broccoli. I give the leaves to my chickens because they love them. I also eat them. They taste a lot like the cauliflower or broccoli themselves. I have seen the leaves being sold cheap at asian markets where I buy it when I'm not growing them.

[thefreakjr1]

i thuoght you were harvesting cauliflower not broccli

[webcajun]

@thefreakjr1 ... my mistake, those were cauliflower.......... Donald

[9aspengold5]

Once you have cut out the head, does the plant regrow another head or do you

just pull the leaves and roots?

[webcajun]

@9aspengold5 ... unlike broccoli, cauliflower is a one time harvest......... Donald

[vredemack]

How do you seed out Cauliflower? I have Purple & Orange Cauliflower that I want seed from...

[webcajun]

@vredemack .... start them in jiffy pots. Plant a couple of seed per pot 6 weeks before you plan on transplanting them to the garden. Thin to one per pot after they come up.......... Donald

[Vegetable3366]

How do you know when it is time to harvest cauliflower? I know this might be a pretty easy and dumb question, but I am compelety new to vegetable gardening.

[webcajun]

I usually harvest when the head is around 75-90% fully grown. Same for broccoli........... Donald

[park3366]

When a head starts to develop, should I warp some of the side leafs around the cauliflower to bleach it?

Thanks.

[webcajun]

I think that depends on the variety. I don't wrap mine......... Donald

[MrZiGgY756]

hey, i tried planting cauliflower once and it started to grow, but then it died. so i wanted to know what is the best time to plant it and the best way to plant it. if you can answer this comment that would be great. THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!

[webcajun]

Cauliflower is a cool weather crop so you need to plant it in the spring or fall. Start your seeds indoors about 6 weeks before you plan on setting them out in the garden.......... Donald

[powerspade]

I dont just eat the flower but I also eat the leaves - beautiful heads you have there

[webcajun]

I've heard that before but never tried em.......... Donald

[misskisskadee]

donald what is the distance between plants & what month is good to plant cauliflower? donald what happen after u cut out the cauliflower is that gonna have more ? or thats it ur going to full theme out the ground?

[webcajun]

I space them about 30 inches apart. Unlike broccoli, cauliflower is a one harvest vegetable..... Donald

[searchlight22]

Hey webcajun,

Been trying to grow cauliflower for three seasons now, from seedlings. It seems they always turn a sort of black colour (sometimes sort of purple too) just as the head is getting fairly large. We tried wrapping the leaves around the head but then the head rots.

What to do?

[webcajun]

Have you been planting the same variety or have you tried different ones? Never had cauliflower turn black or purple....... Donald

[searchlight22]

I can't remember if we used the same variety as before or no, but, we bought it from the same place so likely it's the same one. Very frustrating, just as the head looks to be ready to cut it starts to turn colour. This weekend is a long one, maybe I'll take some video and post it for you to see. Hard to find the time, it's potato harvest at the moment and I need to do that while the weather is still good and I'm off work.

Thanks for the reply.

[webcajun]

The only color change I have, and it's normal, is some of the larger heads will start to yellow......... Donald

[justmom66]

I love cauliflower raw or cooked to , I just hate getting it the grocery store because its NEVER good =[ I usualy buy from our local farmers. This coming spring though I will be planting my own =] awesome videos I love them!

[webcajun]

Start your seedlings about 6 weeks before planting time. They are easy to grow and taste sooooo good when fresh out the garden.......... Donald

[kokonutbaby1]

thats what i was gonna ask (if u could eat the cauliflower leaves) cuz they sure do look as tasty as any collard greens & i bet they would taste a little like cabbage and collard...i think i will google it to see..i like the look of the leaves better than the taste of cauliflower, ackk!

[webcajun]

The cauliflower taste pretty good to me. LOL I like em raw with ranch dressing as well as cooked........... Donald

[thekaizer666]

wow nice video, im hungry!

can cauliflower leaves be eaten too?

[webcajun]

Not sure if you can eat the leaves........ Donald

[bamboorules]

I feel like growing cauliflower. I need a bigger yard.......sigh : (

[webcajun]

You can do it, they don't take much room.....  Donald

[bamboorules]

yeah I do my best!! If you want can you do me a favor and look at my garden video and tell me what I need to do? I am no the worlds best farmer Nick

[webcajun]

I'll check it out........ Donald

[dillpretzel]

Hi Donald,

Our cauliflower has recently grown it's tiny flowerette. Its smaller than golfball now. How long would it take til we could harvest it? First trial for us, and I never expected it could grow in our tropical climate - but we put it in a cooler spot I guess that helps a bit. I don't know really lol. Thanks in advance.

[webcajun]

Depends on the variety but I would guess cutting it when it's about 5-6 inches across....... Donald

[dahhred]

2:12 you said broccoli..wasnt it cauliflower?

[webcajun]

You are correct, my mistake....... Donald

[MadBadVoodo]

Five Stars!!

[hjerk24]

Do you tie the heads? Some places online suggest you do, but I didn't see anything in your video that suggests you tied the leaves over the head.

Any help would be great. I am growing broccoli and cauliflower for the 1st time this year, broccoli is coming along nicely, and I have yet to see any cauliflower yet.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Great video.

jamie

[webcajun]

No I don't tie the heads. This variety seems to do find without having to do that. They do take longer than the broccoli to produce so give em some time....... Donald

[Reaper139139]

im growing broccoli and cauliflower atm but there leaves are getting attacked by White moths and there grubs your leaves seem untouched by insects whats your secret ?

Thanks

[webcajun]

My latest video is on a home made bug spray, check it out...... Donald

[JasminesDragon]

Very helpful video! Thank you

[webcajun]

You're welcome...... Donald

[wgseagal]

has anyone tried eating the leaves

[webcajun]

Not me....... Donald

[crash1956]

broccoli??? thought it was cauliflower

[webcajun]

My mistake...... Donald

[webcajun]

Plenty sunshine and water when needed they'll do fine...... Donald

[teresah1982]

i planted cauliflower today. bought the plants about a inch big. hope they grow

[CitizenGatsby]

Wow, that is some beautiful cauliflower. Great video.

Thanks for sharing your excellent tip on how to freeze cauliflower and broccoli without the risk of freezer burn. I'm gonna have to try that. :)

[webcajun]

Eating it fresh is by far the best way for broccoli and cauliflower...... Donald

[TnWormsCastings]

thanks that was great

[Charcoal10000]

i dont like cauliflower but you make this video so awesome

[azdober]

Are you going make some cooking vids? Like the recipe you mentioned?

[webcajun]

It's possible.

[ChangeofSpace]

thats sooo neat!

I have a question about your land, it seems very dry there, or atleast around your vegetables, how do they grow so pretty?

I am from the east coast, up a little from NC ;) and my dirt doesnt look like that :(

[webcajun]

The soil is very rich and drains well. In the video it does look very dry but if you dig down an inch or so it's moist. I incorporate fertilizer in both the spring and fall (on most of it at least) to keep it rich and productive. I also cultivate it as deep as possible to keep it from packing too much. This is Louisiana and we get our share of rain. Go to my website and check out the "Calendar Page"