Cauliflower has always been a tricky vegetable to master as far as growing them is concerned.
This is mainly due to their sensitivity to temperature changes. One of the upsides to cauliflower, though, is that you can actually grow them from scraps.
In this article you will get to know how to grow cauliflower from scraps so that you can implement the steps when need be without worrying about anything else.
Growing them in this manner greatly reduces the time it takes to start from seed again. Furthermore, it requires a lot fewer resources to produce them.
The beauty of growing cauliflower from scraps is that all you need to do is basically cut a fresh base with an inch or so of the stem attached and plant it.
Of course, there is a little more to it, such as making sure it is placed in a shallow container of water and placing it in an area that receives full sun.
In this article, we’ll go into the process of how to grow cauliflower from scraps in much more detail as well as offer some tips that will produce an awesome yield. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Table of Contents
How to Grow Cauliflower from Scraps (Easy Step-by-Step Guide)
Growing cauliflower can be an extremely enjoyable process simply because seeds aren’t required to do so. Instead, you can use scraps which means that it requires a lot less patience.
When we talk about growing cauliflower from scraps, it almost sounds like you could just throw a leaf or a few heads in some soil, and like magic, mounds of cauliflower appear. That’s far from the case, though.
In terms of the type of scrap that should be used, it’s generally best to choose a part that replicates normal growth. In this next section, we’ll go through the steps that are required to choose the right scraps.
Then we’ll walk through all the way until they are at the stage where they can be harvested. Let’s do it…
Detect good cauliflower scraps or heads
The best cauliflower scraps to grow from are the bases of a head. When on the lookout for a scrap to grow from, you want to make sure to choose one that looks healthy and is of decent quality.
It’s no good just grabbing a random head from a compost heap that is all mushy and full of soil. It is recommended to simply take a cauliflower head that you use within your kitchen routine and use it.
Shape the Cauliflower head
Once you find a fresh cauliflower head, remove the upper section where the stalk begins. You want to use the base area as your scrap.
This includes an inch or so of the bottom of the stalk and all the leafy parts that are attached to the stalk. This will be your scrap to grow from.
Fill up a shallow Container with little water
Depending on the length of your scraps, find a container shallow enough that the scraps can stand in whilst still covering the bottom ¼ of it with water.
You want the scraps to almost act like a straw and suck the water in through the bottom of it. It’s recommended to use a shallow clear bowl. This will help you to watch the root system form, so you know when it’s time to make the next move.
Root The Cauliflower Scraps
Let the scraps sit in this water for the next 4-7 days. By this stage, you should start seeing roots form. Keep an eye on the lower area and ensure the roots don’t begin to rot by leaving them sitting too long.
Place the container in Proper Sunlight
Find somewhere that your cauliflower scraps can receive at least 2-6 hours of direct sunlight. Window sills are ideal. The sun will help to activate the sprouting process.
Plants use photosynthesis which is generated by the sun, as their energy source to assist with growth.
Give the scraps time to sprout
The sprouting process can take anywhere between 4 and 7 days to begin. You will notice both roots and leaves gaining some decent size at this point.
During this time, it’s advisable to change over the water every 2 days. Make sure the water is clean. This will give the plant the best chase possible at growing to its full potential without being hindered.
Transfer The Cauliflower seedling to Soil
When you start to see the leaves and roots forming properly, you can begin to transfer them to their new home. It may take an additional 4-3 days for the roots to be strong enough to handle its transition.
If you’re going to transfer them outdoors, remember to weather them before they are added to their final growing place.
Simply take the plant outside for 2-3 hours per day for a week. This will harden them and get them used to their new surroundings.
Take proper care
Treat your new garden pal with adequate water and/or fertilization if required. Cauliflower can be a bit tricky in the way that they are sensitive to abrupt swings in temperature.
It’s good to keep an eye on them in the early stages of their growth.
What is the best growing condition for cauliflower?
Growing cauliflower can be rewarding but also challenging. It’s one of those vegetables that, once you master it, you can pretty much treat like riding a bike.
They do, however, require specific growing conditions. Understanding these conditions makes growing them all the more simple. Let’s have a look at what is needed to make them grow in a little more detail.
Soil mix
Cauliflower grows best in extremely fertile soil. It also needs to have decent drainage and, at the same time, retain water. It’s recommended to mix in some well-rotted manure or another good-quality organic matter and pack down the soil before digging holes to plant in.
Compacting helps retain the water, and the organic matter allows drainage and airflow around the roots.
pH level
Cauliflower needs its pH to be right in the zone to ensure a good quality crop. Aim to get the pH to idle around the neutral point between 6-7 to keep your cauliflower happy.
Temperature
Temperature is probably the biggest hurdle you’ll face when growing cauliflower. They tend to be quite sensitive to heat, especially. Consequently, cauliflower is considered a cooler-weathered vegetable.
They thrive in temperatures that average between 60-65°F (15.5-18°C) and don’t do so well when the mercury creeps above 75°F (24°C). If it gets too warm for them, they can begin to form small button heads instead of the proper floret heads, and the whole crop can become ruined.
Sunlight: Does cauliflower need full sun?
Cauliflower has similar sun requirements to most other vegetables. They are best placed where they can receive at least 6 hours of full sun each day.
If left unprotected during the warmer months, the florets can become sunburnt and either be a lot less tasty or borderline inedible.
Fertilizer
Cauliflower requires a high nitrogen-based fertilizer that can be distributed around the edges 3-4 weeks after transplanting them to their new location.
You can also use organic materials such as blood and bone, fish emulsion, aged cow manure, worm castings and compost when planting.
These types of natural fertilizers contain great amounts of important nutrients. Firstly, nitrogen encourages good leaf growth, phosphorus assists with root development, and calcium brings out strong stems and flower growth.
Watering Schedule
Cauliflower doesn’t mind a bit of extra watering. Especially considering the soil should have been prepared in such a way that it retains what it needs and drains what it doesn’t.
Aim to water well in the drier months. In fact, make sure the top 2 inches get a decent drink every 7-10 days.
How to know your cauliflower is growing properly?
If you follow and implement the required growing conditions, then you are already miles ahead. Aside from that, all you need to really do is watch for any visible signs of stress or discomfort in your cauliflower’s growing environment.
Once these can be detected and corrected, then there shouldn’t be any reason for failure. A properly growing cauliflower will form dense, compact and broad florets.
Depending on the species, the head color should be monochromatic, and the base should be a vibrant green.
Which time of the year Should You Plant Cauliflower?
It’s possible to grow both a spring and/or fall crop. It all depends on your location and whether or not those times of year are too hot for the cauliflower to grow in.
If growing in spring, early to mid-April is the best time to plant. (Northern hemisphere). If growing a fall crop, then you can either start the seeds indoors or plant them directly into the soil around early to late July.
How Long Does Cauliflower Take to Grow?
There is a range of factors that can affect the growing time of a cauliflower plant. These include the time of year the seed was sowed, weather conditions, climate, species, soil characteristics, etc.
If all of the right conditions are met, and there is absolutely nothing that can hinder growth, you can expect a cauliflower seed to fully mature anywhere between 3-5 months.
How do you control pests and diseases on cauliflower plants?
Even when trying to control the growing conditions of your plant, there are always outside factors that can pop up unexpectedly. These come in the form of pest infestation and/or disease.
In the case of cauliflower, the most common pests include aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage root maggots, cabbage worms, stinkbugs and thrips.
The majority of these can be removed by hand picking them off or using insecticidal soap. Additionally, you can also grow native plants close by to encourage predator insects which enjoy these pests in their diet.
The most common diseases include black rot, clubroot, downy mildew and white rust. Black rot, clubroot and white rust are the bigger risks; they generally need to be destroyed to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Powdery mildew is more of a humidity and spacing issue; it can cause mold if left unattended. It can easily be mitigated by avoiding overhead watering, spacing plants to avoid touching and allowing adequate airflow.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why doesn’t my cauliflower have a head?
A lack of heads on a cauliflower generally occurs when the plant becomes stressed. These stressors include cold soil and air temperatures if planting in the spring. Additionally, inadequate nutrition, poor irrigation, insect and/or disease damage and root bound plants can also stunt the growth of the heads.
How do you grow cauliflower indoors?
Cauliflowers can easily be grown from scraps, and doing so indoors is much easier than outdoors. It allows you to maintain the temperature, which should be between 65-75°F (18-24°C). Simply take a scrap with an inch of stalk base, plus the lower growth leaves intact. Then add it gently in a shallow dish with enough water to submerge just ¼ of the scrap. Let it root and move it to a sunny area. It will then produce stems and leaves. Once they pop out, they can be transferred to a new home.
Does cauliflower regrow after cuttings?
Cauliflower only produces one head, so it won’t regrow anymore from that head. But it can definitely grow from cuttings, but you need to make sure that the cuttings (scrap) are grown in the correct manner.
Can you regrow cauliflower from the store?
You can grow cauliflower from its scraps regardless of where you obtain it from. As long as the base is intact and has at least an inch of stalk protruding up from it, then you can place it in a shallow dish to allow it to root and sprout before planting it.
How do I get seeds from my cauliflower?
Allow the seed pods to dry out before removing the head from its place of growth. Hang the head with its pods to dry for at least 14 days. Remove the now completely dried-out pods and pry them open over a bowl or something of that nature to catch the seeds.
Conclusion:
Growing cauliflower from scraps is actually quite easy once you get the hang of it. The key is to find a decent quality scrap that is in fairly good condition.
The rest is just a waiting game until you are able to plant it in its new home. We hope that you have found this article on how to grow cauliflower from scraps helpful, and we look forward to seeing you at the next one!
