How to Grow Caulifower

Sow the seeds in a seed-starting flat 1/3 to 3/4 inch deep. Keep the soil moist and place the seeds in a warm and sunny location.

Thin the cauliflower plants once they have three to four true leaves. Select the healthiest and straightest seedlings and discard any seedlings that appear swelled. Space the seedlings so that they are 18 inches apart.

Prepare the garden bed for the cauliflower in the spring once the threat of frost ends. Select a location that receives full sunlight. Add a commercial 5-10-10 fertilizer to the soil to enrich it with nutrients. Follow the directions on the fertilizer to ensure that you add it properly.

Transplant the cauliflower plants outdoors when they have four to six sets of mature leaves and a developed root system. Space the cauliflower plants one to two feet apart and leave around three feet between the rows.

Water the cauliflower plants twice a week with 1 to 2 inches of water unless adequate rainfall occurs. The plants need deep watering and the soil can never dry out completely. West Virginia University suggests creating a starter solution for newly planted cauliflower seedlings by combining one cup of 5-10-10 fertilizer with 12 qts. of water. Let the solution sit for two to three hours and apply 1 cup around the roots of each plant.

Apply a nitrate fertilizer side-dressing to the cauliflower plants three times. Apply the dressing three weeks after you transplant the cauliflower. Apply the fertilizer again two weeks later and then two weeks after that. Follow the directions on the package to ensure that you apply the nitrate properly. Keep it three inches away from the cauliflower.

Pull weeds from the garden because they steal the nutrients from the cauliflower. Apply mulch around the cauliflower plants to help conserve water and keep the weeds away from the crops. Organic mulches such as shredded newspaper or grass clippings work best.

Tie the leaves together with rubber bands around the cauliflower heads once they are about 2 to 3 inches wide. Keeping the sun off the heads will whiten the cauliflower and prevent them from having a bitter taste.

Harvest cauliflower plants when the heads appear firm and the florets are close together and compact. Cut the heads off the plant, but leave close to 5 inches of the stem attached.