Cauliflower-White Snowball

White Snowball Cauliflower is a self blanching biennial vegetable with a compact, white head and green leaves. One of the oldest classic cauliflower varieties. The white Snowball variety is easy to grow and can be grown in a wide range of climates.

Difficulty: Easy

Soil: Well-draining soil rich in organic matter.

Sowing: Spring and Autumn

Germination: 14-21 days

Days to Maturity: 120-150 days

Position: Full sun

Spacing: 40 x 50 cm apart

Sow Depth: 4 mm deep

Height: 30-60 cm

Growing notes:

It is a cool-season crop that prefers full sun and well-drained and composted soil. Start in trays and transplant to your prepped soil once established and hardy to the colder temperatures. Water consistently during germination and growth as well as fertilization. Mulching will conserve moisture and protect the roots while growing. Cauliflower dislikes any interruption to its growth and requires consistency while growing. Changes in temperature, moisture, soil nutrition, or insects, can cause the plants to develop a head prematurely or ruin an existing one. To maintain white color of head, use the big outer leaves around head to protect them against yellowing by the sun in hot weather. Harvest the cauliflower head before the flower sections begin to separate. The head should be compact, firm, white and fairly smooth.

Uses:

It is used as a culinary vegetable. The florets can be used raw in salads or steamed and roasted. Cauliflower is a good source of fiber, iron, potassium and Vitamins C, B3, and B5 as well as an immune booster and has antioxidant properties.

Origin:

Cauliflower itself  originated in the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, and the earliest record indicates that it was known and used since about 600 B.C. The White Snowball variety was introduced by Mr A. Dean to England in 1876 from Denmark where it was largely cultivated.