Cauliflower Snowball is an annual cool-season vegetable part of the Brassicaceae family along with Cabbage and Broccoli. With some careful attention, this vegetable flourishes in the greenhouse and garden. The Snowball variety matures early, resists mildew, and is suitable for spring and fall plantings. Each plant produces a 6-8" head of delicious smooth snow-white flower clusters. Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamins and calcium, keeps in the refrigerater for 1-2 weeks, and freezes well.
Cauliflower Snowball Selling Tips
Sell Cauliflower Snowball to customers who want to add cauliflower to their home gardens without the extra work and cost of growing it indoors from seed. Customers will love the ease of transplanting a healthy plant into the vegetable garden. This cauliflower variety is well-suited to being planted in spring and subsequently in fall, maturing in 52-70 days. It resists mildew and benefits from blanching.
Coach Your Customer
1. Space plants 12-18" apart in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8. Space rows 2-3' apart.
2. Use straw, leaves, or other mulch to retain moisture and control weeds.
3. Plant in spring once the chance for frost has passed. In fall, plant 70 days before the first chance of frost. Avoid growing cauliflower in temperatures above 75 or below 32.
4. Water deeply every 4-5 days or less in wet weather. Be sure to water at the base of each plant, keeping the cauliflower heads dry as much as possible.
5. Grow Oregano and Sage alongside cauliflower to deter common pests. Grow Brassicaceae vegetables next to each other to make covering them with netting easier; covering cauliflower with netting can prevent damage from cabbage worms and moths.
6. Blanch each plant by gently and loosely tying the leaves over the top of the white flower head (curd or button) when it is about the size of an egg. Blanching prevents the white button from being yellowed or destroyed by the sun. Do not blanch your plants when they are wet.
7. Harvest by cutting at the base of the head with a sharp knife. Eat immediately, store in the fridge in a plastic bag for 1-2 weeks, or store long-term in the freezer. You can also harvest the whole plant, including roots, and store it in a root cellar for up to a month.
General Growing Tips For Your Seedling Tray
For best results with Cauliflower Snowball, plant one rooted plug per 4-inch container or 1801 cell. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5-6.8, light feed (75-125 ppm), and temperatures between 60-70 degrees. You may see aphids, slugs, and cabbage worms. Cauliflower can be prone to downy mildew and leaf spot.
Flowering
This plant is grown for culinary use.
Pinching
This plant doesn't require pinching.
Spacing
Space containers for adequate airflow around the base of each plant and to allow sunlight to penetrate to the soil level.
Height Control
This plant doesn't require PGRs.
Pests
You may see aphids, slugs, and cabbage worms. Covering Brassicaceae vegetables with netting can help prevent damage from worms and slugs.
Disease
This plant can suffer from downy mildew and leaf spot. These are most likely to occur in wet conditions and can be prevented by watering at the base of each plant and allowing plants to dry out between waterings. Grow in full sun and provide adequate airflow in your greenhouse.
Planting Cauliflower Snowball Plug Flats
We recommend planting one rooted plug per 4-inch container. Use well-drained soil in full sun and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container.
Seedlings
Seedlings vary in size between different plant families. These starter plants will arrive ready to be transplanted in to your final container. If they are to be used in a landscape application, you will need to establish them in a 4 inch pot or an 1801 before planting outside.
Cauliflower Snowball Quick Reference Guide
Bloom Period | Fall, Spring |
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Habit | Upright |
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Height | 6-8 inches |
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Light | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
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Minimum Temp | 40 |
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Water Needs | Light |
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Patented Plant | No |
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