Cauliflower

Here are my tips for growing great cauliflower:

Site, soil type:	Cauliflower needs very fertile soil. Plant in excellent soil to give this fussy child its best chance of success. It likes moisture and coolness. Plant after a legume for extra nitrogen.
Planting requirements:	Start indoors 4-5 weeks before planting outside. Older plants will be too checked in growth for good performance. Harden off plants carefully. Plant outside after temperatures won’t go below 45 degrees. Set transplants 1” deeper in the ground than they were in the container. Grow very attentively from seed to harvest. Any interruption in optimal conditions (cold, heat, drought) can abort the development of a nice head.
Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:	Add ¼ to ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer per plant. Foliar feed with kelp meal tea for extra nutrition.
Water needs:	It’s thirsty. Keep soil wet constantly. Adequate moisture promotes mild flavor.
Other tips:	Aromatic herbs planted nearby will deter cabbage worms. A lightweight row cover will exclude cabbage worms. Use Bt for the elimination of cabbage worms. Create a Bt bait by mixing wheat bran into Bt. Add 1 tablespoon of molasses. Spread around the base of plants. Too much heat or nitrogen can cause ricey heads. Purple and orange cauliflowers aren’t as fussy as white.

Insect Invasion?

Squash bugs? Cucumber beetles? Squash vine borers? Root maggots? Flea beetles? Cabbage worms? This product will help: Summerweight Garden Fabric 6' x 20' It also will help keep the rabbits and deer from munching your goodies.

Learn how to Improve your vegetables’ flavor

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A Great Hose…

I love my expandable garden hose! It's lightweight and easily moves around the garden with me. It doesn't get kinked or tangled. Hoses can be such a pain, even the ones that say they won't kink. And they are heavy and bulky and bothersome to wind up to make the garden neat. Not this one. Recoiling it is a breeze!
Find this hose here at Amazon.com.

Vinegar Kills Weeds!

Many gardeners report success with regular household vinegar. It has 5% acetic acid and 95% water. But for an even more effective weapon, vinegar with 20% acetic acid is sold as a non-toxic herbicide. I recommend experimenting with diluting the 20% vinegar to make it last longer. University studies say that 10-20% vinegar is effective. Vinegar is a quick-acting, non-selective contact herbicide and its residues degrade promptly in the soil. Foliar contact results in rapid dehydration of annual weeds and grasses, and top growth reduction of herbaceous perennial weeds and grasses. 20% vinegar may be applied up to two days before harvest. Find 20% vinegar here. 20% vinegar is non-food grade and is strong. Read application instructions carefully.

Critter Ridder

A motion-activated sprinkler WORKS to keep deer, rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, dogs, and cats out of your garden. These sprinklers give a strong blast of water that lasts for 15 seconds. They have a sensor with night only, day only, and always on activation modes. One user says “My experience is that the sound of the sprinkler, and the sound of the water suddenly hitting plants startles and scares away the animals. It doesn't matter if the spray is aimed to actually hit the animal.” Here is a YouTube video of this action. At Amazon, you can find the Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler. It works well to detect and surprise encroaching critters.

Row cover for cold protection

Floating row cover is a lightweight blanket for your plants. It’s an easy way to extend your growing season. With row cover, your seeds will germinate faster and the plants will get off to a better start. The highest quality of row cover I’ve found is called Agribon. Agribon is made in several different weights. Agribon 19 offers several degrees of frost protection. I have had 12-15 degrees of protection with this product. Agribon 19 also allows 85% of light transmission. This product is for sale at Amazon.

Grow Great Vegetables

Tips, Tricks and Tools!

Cauliflower

Here are my tips for growing great cauliflower:

Site, soil type:

Cauliflower needs very fertile soil. Plant in excellent soil to give this fussy child its best chance of success. It likes moisture and coolness.

Plant after a legume for extra nitrogen.

Planting requirements:

Start indoors 4-5 weeks before planting outside. Older plants will be too checked in growth for good performance.

Harden off plants carefully.

Plant outside after temperatures won’t go below 45 degrees.

Set transplants 1” deeper in the ground than they were in the container.

Grow very attentively from seed to harvest. Any interruption in optimal conditions (cold, heat, drought) can abort the development of a nice head.

Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:

Add ¼ to ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer per plant.

Foliar feed with kelp meal tea for extra nutrition.

Water needs:

It’s thirsty. Keep soil wet constantly. Adequate moisture promotes mild flavor.

Other tips:

Aromatic herbs planted nearby will deter cabbage worms.

A lightweight row cover will exclude cabbage worms.

Use Bt for the elimination of cabbage worms.

Create a Bt bait by mixing wheat bran into Bt. Add 1 tablespoon of molasses. Spread around the base of plants.

Too much heat or nitrogen can cause ricey heads.