The baby cauliflowers or "cabbage flower" are beginning to poke their heads out of the soil. They were started in the greenhouse about 3 weeks ago and appear to have grown accustomed to the varying temperatures....The greenhouse heater is set to come on if temps get to 50F and the fans come on if the temps approach 70F. Surprisingly, when its been in the 40s outside the greenhouse averages about 70F so thankfully we haven't had to use a lot of heat so far. In fact, we often have to open the door as well. Normally I start most of the seeds in my hot water tank storage area where it is nice and warm but I'm running out of space....go figure....anyway... I just wanted to share an after picture of what the cauliflower will soon look like....the pic below is what we harvested last year...only problem was we didn't grow enough of it....not a problem this year though...I have roughly 250 plants started!
This variety is called Amazing and it was purchased from Park Seed...and well... it had a truly amazing taste so I went with it again this year.Where's the vegetable trivia/history you say? Okay...if I must...cauliflower originates from Asia Minor and the Mediterranean area. It is a member of the Cruciferae family which includes broccoli, cabbage, horseradish, collards, radish and turnips.....oh and Mark Twain once said that cauliflower is "nothing but a cabbage with a college education." : )
250 cauliflower? that's insane..hehe....I'll try it for the first time in the fall, and hope it turns out as good as what you're holding in the photo!
ReplyDeleteLove the newsprint pots! Did you have a forming tool, or did you free-hand these?
ReplyDelete250 plants? Where do you plant them all? That is a whole heck of a lot of cauliflower!
Also, thanks for reminding me to get a thermometer for my mini-greenhouse to keep track of the temp.
EG...I know...I'm kinda nuts with the excessive plants...kinda like you with the inventions ha ha....good luck with your fall crop!
ReplyDeleteSylvana: I use a drinking glass to form the pots. I'm selling some plants at the Farmer's Market and planting the rest so we can blanch and freeze them...they are great to have all year long : )
Newspaper pots are very original... hope this year cauliflower will be as good as last year. ~bangchik
ReplyDeleteThanks Bangchik...I'm always looking for ways to save a little money when gardening...well I have to with as many seeds as I buy : ) lol
ReplyDeleteI can't get over your harvest. And in what zone are you? All you seedlings look great in the greenhouse.
ReplyDeleteDi: the big cauliflower pic is last year's crop. We are zone 6-7 according to hardiness map. I am able to start much earlier now that I have the greenhouse though!
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