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Vegetable Gardening

Please share your best tips for cauliflower

mabeldingeldine_gw

12 years ago

I've got my fall cauliflower, broccoli, etc. seeds started, and I'm wondering how to improve my crops. I'm eating some tasty spring planted cauliflower and broccoli, but the heads are not as large as I'd hoped, especially the cauliflower.

I have it intensively planted in raised beds and well mulched (some with plastic IRT, some straw, some chopped leaves). I amended the beds well with compost in the fall, and this spring with Plant Tone.

What can I do to improve yields for the fall planting? I'll be growing Cheddar, Graffiti, Green Harmony, Cassius and Violet Queen.

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Comments (5)

digdirt2
12 years ago
More and more frequent feedings. It is a nutrient hog and it can be difficult to meet nutrient needs when intensively planted.

But the timing of the feedings is crucial too. Too early and you get giant leaf growth but small heads. So mid-growth feedings just as the head begins to form helps.

Consistent soil moisture levels is also crucial to head formation. Not too much or not too little off and on - but consistent.

Dave
planatus
12 years ago
Soil so rich it would compost a pair of leather shoes.
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mabeldingeldine_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
So, would you feed again with plant tone, or foliar feed with fish emulsion?

LOL planatus, so THATS what happened to my work shoes!
digdirt2
12 years ago
So, would you feed again with plant tone, or foliar feed with fish emulsion?

If those were my only 2 choices I'd use the Plant Tone. I don't recall the ratings on it but at least it is well-balanced unlike the fish emulsion.

Then again dry organic fertilizers only work when there is sufficient soil bacteria to convert them to usable nutrients. So they are slow-acting.

Your best bet if you want only organics is one of the many well-balanced liquid organic fertilizers that also include micro-nutrients.

Dave
mabeldingeldine_gw
Original Author
12 years ago
Dave, thanks for the advice. I've been using Neptune Harvest 2-4-1. What other liquid fertilizers would you suggest for foliar feeding.

I hope by now with my regular composting I have enough soil bacteria. Things seem to break down pretty quickly, anyway. I am open to other suggestions, although I'm trying to stay on the organic side. OTOH I like to eat :-)

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