Christmas cauliflower as a spring gift

Christmas cauliflower as a spring gift

What should have been last year's last should instead be this year's first. The cauliflower Triomphant F1 should be able to give harvest-ready heads in December-January when sowing in May-June. It is also called "the Christmas cauliflower", but the cauliflower Christmas obviously lasts a very long time.

It was sown in late May and planted sometime in July, but when we reached Christmas Eve there was no hint of head formation. It only happened during February, but when some of the heads later reached tennis ball size, they were hit by the frost and rotted up. The variety should be able to withstand down to -10 °, but despite a little coverage, it was still more than what the heads could hold.

3 pieces were almost as an afterthought first planted out in a little free space in another bed in the beginning of August. They did not receive nearly the same care during the frost periods as I did not expect any of them. And it is these who are now sticking their heads out. Admittedly, they are getting a little loose in the codes here in the heat, and may not end up being so wildly large either - but in mid-April you should not complain about the size of your cauliflower. My actual winter cauliflower, Winter Aalsmeer, which was sown and planted almost simultaneously, has not yet begun to form young heads. They usually give harvest in early May, so the late Christmas present is quite welcome.

Written by Peter Norris, April 17, 2018