Take the guesswork out of harvesting cauliflower with these simple tips.
This quick guide covers how and when to harvest cauliflower for peak freshness and the tastiest flavor.
Extreme cold can damage cauliflower crowns, so harvest your cauliflower crop if a hard freeze is forecast.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Leave this covering in place until youre ready to pick the cauliflower.
If you dont want to bother with blanching cauliflower, select self-blanching varieties.
If cauliflower curds start to separate from each other, the cauliflower is becoming overly ripe.
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Harvest it right away so it doesnt become bitter.
Cauliflower leaves are edible, and they protect the crowns during storage and help preserve their shelf life.
Cauliflower stems can be added tovegetable stock, and the leaves can becooked like kale or collard greens.
After cutting the cauliflower stem, leave the plants roots in place in the vegetable bed.
Over time, cauliflower roots naturally degrade in the soil and provide nutrients for next years garden.
Next, rinse the cauliflower with fresh water and allow it to dry completely.
When stored in this manner, homegrown cauliflower should remain fresh for about 7 to 10 days.
To keep your cauliflower harvest fresh even longer,preserve it by canning, pickling, or freezing.
Allow them to dry completely in a colander.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cauliflower that isnt harvested in time can become discolored, tough, and grainy.
Overly mature cauliflower is also prone to bolting.
Once cauliflower bolts, it becomes bitter and unpleasant to eat.
Typically, only one.
The main reason cauliflower plants produce leaves but no heads is temperature stress.
If you have stunted cauliflower heads and the curds are starting to separate, harvest the heads anyway.
They are overly mature and wont get larger.
