Post by Trade Coach on Oct 29, 2021 20:30:45 GMT 1
Cauliflower is a vegetable in the family of Brassicaceae which includes broccoli, cabbage, collards, Brussels sprouts, kale, and kohlrabi. Its botanical name is Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Can you beat this? That is why we all know the crop as cauliflower.
In some parts of the world, it is often referred to as “brassica” or “cole crop”, it has edible heads, leaves, and stems. It is a cool-weather crop.
If you don’t pay proper attention you think that cauliflower is broccoli, because of its form, but it is actually quite different.
Broccoli has domed head of tightly packed edible flower buds, but cauliflower head consists of dense, curd-like plant tissue with a soft texture and mildly sweet, nutty flavour.
The mostly known and recognized varieties are: white, purple, green, and orange; all with healthy attributes including vitamin B, C, and K, as well as beta carotene and fibre.
Funny enough, the green variety is actually a “broccoflower”’ which is a hybrid of cauliflower and broccoli that most resembles cauliflower with its fleshy head.
I have heard many people say that cauliflower is difficult to grow, especially the sellers in the market when they want to hike the price of the crop. But from my experience, it is only because most farmers do not want to pay attention to the specific requirements that need to be met in order to produce robust and delicious heads of cauliflower.
Some people use to doubt that cauliflower can be grown in Nigeria; but they fail to understand that it is a member of the cabbage family; therefore, if cabbage can be grown in Nigeria, it can also be grown too. However, cauliflower has some special precautions to be taken making it more difficult than cabbage to cultivate in the country.
A farmer that is interested in growing cauliflower must make sure that the temperature is continually cool so that the head can form properly.
This vegetable is very nutritious with good taste and attractive appearance for garnishing meals. It is one of the most important vegetables for vegetarians because of the protein content.
Land Preparation:
When you want to choose a site for planting cauliflower, please be sure to choose an open space that can allow the plant to have up to 6 hours of sunlight.
As usual, prepare the soil by clearing trees and weeds; properly loosen the soil for root penetration and establishment.
Treat the soil very well against diseases using various methods and also enrich the soil with manure if it is not rich or fertile.
The soil must be fertile because it has to hold the soil moisture and prevent the cauliflower heads from buttoning. Buttoning occurs when the cauliflower forms small button-sized heads instead of the large round heads which is the curd that is harvested and eaten.
The pH should be between: 6.5 – 7.0. It is also important for farmers to form the habit of testing the soil to know the nutrients lacking, or the ones they require. The vegetable grows well in organic rich soil.
Planting of cauliflower:
Cauliflower seeds can be planted directly into the soil, but transplanting the seedlings to the main field is far better.
Prepare your nursery bed to be 15 cm in height, and 100 cm wide. Sow the seeds in lines with spacing of 10 cm between rows and 2 cm between seeds.
You should transplant the seedlings to the main field 4 weeks after germination. Also make a spacing of 18-24 inches between plants and 30 inches between rows. You get more cauliflower curds by reducing the distance.
You can use starter fertilizer during transplanting. Use mix farmyard or other types of organic manure to help the soil. One month after transplanting, apply fertilizer again.
Mulching:
You have to use compost to cover the cauliflower plants against heat and water loss. Compost is one of the methods used in conserving moisture in cauliflower farming and also in most types of farming in the country.
Most farmers don’t know that cauliflower is a biennial plant that takes two growing seasons to complete its life cycle.
Cauliflower produces an edible head in the first year. If the farmer harvests the head, the plant will stop growing. Indeed, this is how most farmers grow their cauliflower, making it an annual plant.
But in regions without freezing winters, if the farmer does not harvest the head, the plant continues to grow and will produce seed in the second year. This is the characteristics of the biennial plant.
In warm regions, seed savers can allow some of their best heads produce seed so as to collect for the future crops.
The number of days to maturity when growing this brassica can vary from about 50 – 100 days depending on some factors.
We train farmers and agro-exporters at our training site, should you be interested in becoming a better agro-exporter, get in touch now with our admin for more information.
In some parts of the world, it is often referred to as “brassica” or “cole crop”, it has edible heads, leaves, and stems. It is a cool-weather crop.
If you don’t pay proper attention you think that cauliflower is broccoli, because of its form, but it is actually quite different.
Broccoli has domed head of tightly packed edible flower buds, but cauliflower head consists of dense, curd-like plant tissue with a soft texture and mildly sweet, nutty flavour.
The mostly known and recognized varieties are: white, purple, green, and orange; all with healthy attributes including vitamin B, C, and K, as well as beta carotene and fibre.
Funny enough, the green variety is actually a “broccoflower”’ which is a hybrid of cauliflower and broccoli that most resembles cauliflower with its fleshy head.
I have heard many people say that cauliflower is difficult to grow, especially the sellers in the market when they want to hike the price of the crop. But from my experience, it is only because most farmers do not want to pay attention to the specific requirements that need to be met in order to produce robust and delicious heads of cauliflower.
Some people use to doubt that cauliflower can be grown in Nigeria; but they fail to understand that it is a member of the cabbage family; therefore, if cabbage can be grown in Nigeria, it can also be grown too. However, cauliflower has some special precautions to be taken making it more difficult than cabbage to cultivate in the country.
A farmer that is interested in growing cauliflower must make sure that the temperature is continually cool so that the head can form properly.
This vegetable is very nutritious with good taste and attractive appearance for garnishing meals. It is one of the most important vegetables for vegetarians because of the protein content.
Land Preparation:
When you want to choose a site for planting cauliflower, please be sure to choose an open space that can allow the plant to have up to 6 hours of sunlight.
As usual, prepare the soil by clearing trees and weeds; properly loosen the soil for root penetration and establishment.
Treat the soil very well against diseases using various methods and also enrich the soil with manure if it is not rich or fertile.
The soil must be fertile because it has to hold the soil moisture and prevent the cauliflower heads from buttoning. Buttoning occurs when the cauliflower forms small button-sized heads instead of the large round heads which is the curd that is harvested and eaten.
The pH should be between: 6.5 – 7.0. It is also important for farmers to form the habit of testing the soil to know the nutrients lacking, or the ones they require. The vegetable grows well in organic rich soil.
Planting of cauliflower:
Cauliflower seeds can be planted directly into the soil, but transplanting the seedlings to the main field is far better.
Prepare your nursery bed to be 15 cm in height, and 100 cm wide. Sow the seeds in lines with spacing of 10 cm between rows and 2 cm between seeds.
You should transplant the seedlings to the main field 4 weeks after germination. Also make a spacing of 18-24 inches between plants and 30 inches between rows. You get more cauliflower curds by reducing the distance.
You can use starter fertilizer during transplanting. Use mix farmyard or other types of organic manure to help the soil. One month after transplanting, apply fertilizer again.
Mulching:
You have to use compost to cover the cauliflower plants against heat and water loss. Compost is one of the methods used in conserving moisture in cauliflower farming and also in most types of farming in the country.
Most farmers don’t know that cauliflower is a biennial plant that takes two growing seasons to complete its life cycle.
Cauliflower produces an edible head in the first year. If the farmer harvests the head, the plant will stop growing. Indeed, this is how most farmers grow their cauliflower, making it an annual plant.
But in regions without freezing winters, if the farmer does not harvest the head, the plant continues to grow and will produce seed in the second year. This is the characteristics of the biennial plant.
In warm regions, seed savers can allow some of their best heads produce seed so as to collect for the future crops.
The number of days to maturity when growing this brassica can vary from about 50 – 100 days depending on some factors.
We train farmers and agro-exporters at our training site, should you be interested in becoming a better agro-exporter, get in touch now with our admin for more information.
