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Varieties
Averda (green), Brocoverde, Cheddar (orange), Graffiti (purple), Imperial, Majestic, Panther (green), Snow Crown, Snowball Y Improved, Violet Queen (purple)
Soil Preferences
Fertile, medium textured, well-drained soils; can be grown on a wide range of soil pH (6.0 - 7.8) and is well suited to the higher pH level.
Optimum Growing Conditions
Cool temperatures: days 55-70°F, nights 45-55°F. Does not tolerate heat.
Establishment Methods
| Planting Method | Direct seeded or transplanted |
|---|---|
| Optimum Time | Spring - >40° Fall - <100° |
| Seeding rate | 0.5-1.5lb/acre (precision planting 0.25-0.5) |
| Approx seed/oz | 9,000 |
| Seeding depth | 0.25" |
| Seedling spacing | 12-18" in-row with one row on 36-40" raised bed |
Fertility/Fertilization
Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).| Generalized rate: 150 - 85 - 60 lb/acre | |
| N* | 150-175 half pre-plant + 1-2 side-dressings 2-4 weeks prior to anticipated harvest |
|---|---|
| P | 70-100 banded 2" below seed at planting |
| K | 60-120 (not needed in most areas of Texas) |
Water/Irrigation
20 - 30" total; uniform consistent moisture supply needed for Optimum yield. Key stages are during stand establishment and 6-7 leaf stage. Do not over water during first 4-5 weeks after direct seeding or 2-3 weeks after transplanting.Pest Management
Cauliflower Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
| DISEASE | FUNGICIDE* | OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Alternaria | clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, neem oil, streptomyces lydicus, | |
| Black rot | acibenzolar-s-methyl, copper sulfate, PCNB, | Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, |
| Damping-off | fludioxonil, PCNB, thiram, | |
| Downy mildew | acibenzolar-s-methyl, chlorothalonil, copper hydroxide, copper sulfate, dimethomorph, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, mandpropamid, maneb, mefenoxam, potassium phosphite, azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, | Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtillus, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate, streptomyces lydicus, |
| Nematode | 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, | azadirachtin, |
Cauliflower Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
| INSECT | INSECTICIDE* | OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Aphid | Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Diazinon, Dimethoate, Dinotefuran, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Malathion, Naled, Oxydemeton-methyl, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
| Armyworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Endosulfan, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Novaluron, Permethrin, Spinetoram, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Beetle | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins | |
| Cutworm | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Chlorpyrifos, Cryolite, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Diazinon, Endosulfan, Esfenvalerate, Flubendiamide, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Lambdacyhalothrin, Methoxyfenozide, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, |
| Looper | Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Methomyl, Naled, petroleum oil | Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis , Garlic Juice Extracts , Pyrethrins |
| Moth | Azadirachtin | |
| Thrips | Acetamiprid, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Dinotefuran, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Novaluron, Permethrin, Petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Soybean oil, Spinetoram, Thiamethoxam | Azadirachtin, Neem oil, Peppermint and rosemary oil, Pyrethrins, Spinosad |
| Whitefly | Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Endosulfan, Gamma-cyhalothrin, Imidacloprid, Lambdacyhalothrin, Novaluron, paraffinic oil, petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Soybean Oil, Spiromesifen, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin | Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil, Pyrethrins, |
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
| WEED | HERBICIDE* | OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE** |
|---|---|---|
| Preplant incorporated | clomazone, DCPA, napropamide, bensulide, trifluralin | Corn gluten meal |
| Preemergence (prior to spear emergence) | DCPA, napropamide | |
| Postemergence | carfentrazone, oxyfluorfen, paraquat, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim | d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil |
* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.
Harvest
| Days after planting | 50-125 |
|---|---|
| Normal method | Hand |
| Containers | Bulk wagons |
| Grades | U.S. #1 - uniform heads 4" minimum diameter, free of blemishes and discoloration |
| Packaging/Handling | 2 layer cartons, 12-16 trimmed heads/carton |
| Anticipated yield/acre | 400+ cartons |
Transit Conditions
32°F at 95-98% RH. Shelf life 3-4 weeks.Comments/Production Keys
- Cauliflower more difficult to grow than other brassicas due to its exacting environmental requirements. Erratic conditions in Texas often do not favor successful production.
- Two key growth stages: juvenile and mature vegetative.
- Length of juvenile stage varies according to variety and is correlated to number of leaves developed prior to curd initiation (curds will not form in this stage).
- Curd initiation can be delayed in mature vegetative stage by high temperatures (>80°F).
- Curds can be prematurely triggered (button) by moisture stress or periods of cold (50-60°F) following warm growing conditions in the vegetative stage.
- Daily mean of 58-68°F ideal for quality curd formation and development; temperature above 68°F during curd development often results in poor quality. Some newer hybrids have ability to develop heads at 68-80°F.
- Most varieties require tying to keep curds white. Tying should be done when heads approximately 1" in diameter. Wrapper leaves are tied with string or bound with rubber bands.
- Broccoflower types actually green cauliflower which do not require tying.
- Heads harvested when approximately 5-6" in diameter. Begin when 10% of heads reach this size and continue at 4-8 day intervals.