How far apart to plant cauliflower? Cauliflower planting and spacing. Sow cauliflower seeds to a depth of ½ inch, 2 to 3 inches (2.5-7.6 cm) apart.

Thin plants 15 to 24 inches (38-61 cm) apart; space 24 to 30 inches (61-76 cm) apart.

Plant long-legged or cooked-stemmed grafts deeply into the first leaves so they don’t grow very heavy. For successional crops, plant several heads at a time, or plant both early and intermediate varieties.

Recommend you to read “How to grow cauliflower in pots? Planting for tips“

CARE OF CAULIFLOWER

Too much sun
Cauliflower plants grow best in full sun, although a slight shade can help prevent them from running wild in warm weather.

Soil
Cauliflower needs soil that is rich in organic matter and has a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The soil should be well-drained, but cauliflower needs constant moisture to prevent buttoning (the growth of very small heads in place of a single large head).

Watering
Cauliflower needs constant moisture and plenty of water. Without sufficient water, heads will become bitter. Provide at least 1 inch of water per week and be sure to submerge it 6 to 8 inches into the soil.

Allowing the soil to dry out in hot weather will cause the buds to open slightly, causing the heads to become “rice” rather than forming a curd.

Temperature and humidity
Cauliflower prefers cool weather but is sensitive to frost. It begins to suffer in temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why it is usually sown in the spring or fall and harvested before or after the hottest days of summer.

Mulch plants when planting to keep the soil cool and to help retain moisture.

Fertilizer
Since cauliflower takes a long time to mature, it needs some supplementation. Feed with an organic fertilizer (such as kelp or fish emulsion) every two to four weeks.

COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES

Unfortunately, cauliflower is susceptible to all common oilseed rape crop pests, and there are many, including cabbage, cabbage bend, and cabbage worm. Young transplants are also attractive to aphids and flea beetles, especially during spring growth. Groundhogs are very fond of rape crops. Fencing or caging is the best deterrent for rodents.

Canola crops are also prone to problems in terms of disease, with blackleg, black rot, and clubroot diseases being the most prominent. It is critical that you do not plant your canola crop in the same location year after year and that you clear all debris at the end of the season to prevent overwintering of diseases in the soil.

Another common cauliflower problem is leaf tip wilt and deformation. This is usually caused by a lack of boron in the soil. A kelp or purslane fertilizer should help prevent this.