Cauliflower

Burra Maluca wrote:One thing a permaculturist might consider, especially for growing on a domestic rather than industrial scale, is growing a different kind of cauliflower(...)
it tends to be called 'nine star perennial broccoli' even though the curds are white, not green.

Landor LeBaron wrote:"What we throw away in California for cosmetic reasons could end world hunger."

R Ranson wrote:Still reading through this thread, but the first problem challenge I foresee with growing the stuff is dealing with the cabbage moth. What are the home grown, chemical free solutions to these pesky green 'worms'? What other pests might cause me concern and what are their solutions?

R Ranson wrote:The last time I went to the store, Cauliflower was $9.50 a head.

R Ranson wrote:I'm bumping this thread up.

The last time I went to the store, Cauliflower was $9.50 a head. That's crazy! It's normally only a dollar or two, but what's more crazy is that locally, it is the perfect time to harvest cauliflower. The stores should be overflowing with the stuff. Instead, we import it from the Southern Hemisphere because California has a shorter supply than normal. Why we don't grow it ourselves, I have no idea.

That's the complaining over with.

Here's my solution: I'm going to grow my own. I shall become the Cauliflower Baron(ess). My garden shall overflow with the white florets (and purple and green). Next winter, when the price of a bashed up slimy head of cauliflower costs ten bucks in the store, the peasants shall flock to my farm for fresh cauliflower which I shall lovingly pick and sell at a far more reasonable price. And all shall rejoice for they now have nice cauliflower to eat.

Of course, I have to learn to grow the stuff first. But a gal can dream.

Still reading through this thread, but the first problem challenge I foresee with growing the stuff is dealing with the cabbage moth. What are the home grown, chemical free solutions to these pesky green 'worms'? What other pests might cause me concern and what are their solutions?

Kyrt Ryder wrote:Venison usually works pretty well. Tastes great too.

R Ranson wrote:
The 8 foot game fence around the property stops the deer from entering. Sure, they can easily jump over a fence 10 foot high, but they don't jump over our fence. They have to be able to see it to jump over it. We put NO ribbons or bells on it, rather relying on invisibility. The deer jumps what they think is over the fence, only to jump into the fence, which then acts like a catapult and flings them back away from the property. It's super-funny to watch. It has enough force to teach the deer not to try again, but not enough to hurt it.

Edit: If I missed any more of these dear/deer mistakes, just assume I wrote the right one. Dyslexia + spell check = interesting

Simone Gar wrote:Good to know R Ranson. I figured it's cheap and I try but you are probably right. They get used to everything.

Simone Gar wrote:Su Ba, I don't think this works. I tried and aphids are just nasty. They stick more than you think and they come back in a flash. Last year I had good success with sacrificial plants and an army of lady bugs that decided to make our place their home. I had lost all my dill and some of my white yarrow but everything else was not covered in aphids. I call that a major win (I would still like some dill though...)

R Ranson wrote:

Simone Gar wrote:
Sacrificial plants are high on our list of wanting to try this year. So Dill's a good one. I love dill. Do you think fennel would work as well. I have some seed on hand.

What other sacrificial plants can you guys suggest?

I was thinking of a combination of several different plants. Some sacrificial, some bug attracting, and some to break up the bug/diseases, so that the cauliflower only happens every 4th row.

And then there is my next question - saving cauliflower seeds. Anyone try that yet? I'll be looking it up in seed to seed later on, but in the mean time, any tips or tricks?

Fennel probably too. I don't really know what they like but in my observation it's anything fine leaved (dill) or small flower clusters (yarrow, sedum etc.) Might be worth investgating. They do like parsley and chives but I found with the dill close by they didn't go for it last summer. That's why I came up with the apparently preference in skinny leaves and small flowers. I have a massive mix of flowers now due to my flower business and the lady bugs were all over them. They didn't seem to be too interested in the herbs, they were there but the vast majority was on flowers. Cosmos for sure and also Nigella/Love-in-a-mist. Both have fern like leaves like dill so I am thinking the lady bugs were just eating a ton as they didn't seem to be affected by aphids.

I also added a bunch of wood chips and shavings as aphids and bacterial soils apparently go together. So I am trying to create a more fungal enviroment. I have only read/heard that so can't really confirm it.

Anyways, I will keep planting dill and probably not eating any. I also re-plant more or less all the annuals that I had and increase my perennial numbers. After another growing season I should know if there is a confirmed pattern.

R Ranson wrote:Great info, thanks Simone.

Fennel, dill, nigella. All seeds I can buy in the bulk bin of the grocery store. I wonder what other grocery store seeds would work.