Cauliflower

BEST TO START INDOORS

Start seeds 4 to 5 weeks before last expected frost. Sow 1 inch apart in a container of seed starting mix and cover ¼ inch deep. Keep moist but not soggy. Provide a strong light source until seedlings are ready to plant out. When seedlings have 2 to 3 sets of true leaves, acclimate to outdoor conditions and transplant 12 to 18 inches apart into rich, well-drained soil in full sun. In mild winter climates, sow again in mid-summer for a fall crop.

TO START OUTDOORS

About 4 to 6 weeks before last frost, sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 12 to 18 inches apart and ¼ inch deep in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Tend carefully and thin to 1 strong seedling per group when several inches tall. Proper thinning is critical for successful heads.

GROWING NOTES

Plant in very fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Keep well weeded and watered to provide the rapid growth cauliflower requires to form good heads. Harvest Fioretto when the cream-colored heads have expanded and the florets begin to separate. When cut up in the kitchen, Fioretto will divide cleanly into individual floret sections. Use Non-toxic “BT”(Bacillus thuringiensis) products to control caterpillar pests.

HARVEST AND USE

Fioretto has been bred to break cleanly and easily into perfect florets for salads, sautés, or toss in olive oil and roast till sweetly succulent. Note: cooks very quickly when garden-fresh!