White Snowball Cauliflower - 50 seeds

Snowball Cauliflower is a compact, heirloom variety known for its smooth, pure white heads and excellent flavor. It produces medium-sized, dense curds that are perfect for fresh eating, roasting, or pickling. This variety is ideal for home gardeners due to its reliability and resistance to temperature fluctuations.

Best Time to Sow

Indoors: Start seeds 4-6 weeks before the last frost.

Outdoors: Direct sow in early spring or late summer for a fall harvest.

Location: Full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Sowing Instructions

Indoors: Sow seeds in seed trays or small pots 1 cm deep.

Outdoors: Direct sow seeds 1 cm deep and 30-45 cm apart in well-draining, fertile soil.

Water lightly to keep the soil consistently moist.

Germination: 5-10 days at 18-22°C.

Growing Instructions

Watering: Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Avoid drying out, as this can cause poor head development.

Temperature: Grows best in 15-20°C. High heat can cause the heads to become loose or bitter.

Thinning & Transplanting:

Once seedlings have 4-5 leaves, transplant them 30-45 cm apart in rows 60 cm apart.

Feeding

Before Planting: Add compost or well-rotted manure.

During Growth: Apply a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks to support strong head formation.

Pest & Disease Control

Aphids & Cabbage Worms: Use row covers or neem oil.

Clubroot: Rotate crops yearly and ensure well-draining soil.

Blanching: If heads are exposed to too much sunlight, gently tie the outer leaves over the curd to keep it white.

Harvesting:

Ready in 55-70 days after transplanting.

Harvest when the heads are firm, compact, and 12-15 cm in diameter.

Cut just below the head with a sharp knife, keeping some leaves for protection.

Additional Tips

Successive Planting: Stagger plantings every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest.
Companion Plants: Grows well with celery, onions, and herbs like dill but avoid planting near tomatoes and beans.
Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or blanch and freeze for longer storage.