In the garden: Cauliflower

Growing cauliflower doesn't require a lot of commitment
and can provide a steady supply of vegetables to your table.

Follow these easy steps:

1. Plant cauliflower in April and it will take about eight weeks
   to germinate. Be sure to plant them when the weather turns cool, as they are naturally suited to colder climates.
2. Cauliflower grow easily from seed, but planting a seed bed is the easiest way to do this. Once planted and growing, replant the seedlings about 40cm (or more) apart to allow for growth.
3. Make sure cauliflower are planted in fertile soil which is well drained. They do not like acidic soil.
4. Keep moths and slugs away from cauliflower. Ideally, the green leaves of the plant should be encouraged to cover the top/head of the cauliflower, to maintain the pure whiteness of the curds (the name given to the white florets).
5. Cauliflower benefits from constant watering, but should have good drainage as it is vulnerable to root rot disease.
6. Cauliflower grow best in spots where they haven't been grown before. It's a plant which benefits from a garden rotation system.
7. Constant weeding will help encourage cauliflower growth, and will also deter slugs.