By William Terry Kelley
University of
Georgia
Get the cheese sauce ready. Broccoli and cauliflower could be
coming out of the garden really soon if you get busy.
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Although these aren’t what you’d call traditional Southern
vegetables, growing great broccoli and cauliflower in your garden
is a definite possibility in Georgia. Throughout the Southeast,
both crops can be grown during certain times of the season.
In much of the Southeast, temperatures are too cold in midwinter
to grow them 0well, since both crops can suffer freeze damage. And
it’s too hot in midsummer, as the heat reduces quality. In the
higher elevations, however, midsummer is peak production time.
When to plant
In the Georgia coastal plain and piedmont, plant broccoli and
cauliflower from early February through early April, depending on
where you live. This would bring in harvests during mid-April
through June.
For fall crops, plant them from August through mid-September for
harvest in October through early December. In the higher
elevations, plant the crops in April to July for harvest in June
through September.
Many varieties of both broccoli and cauliflower have been shown
to perform well in Georgia. “Packman” and “Premium Crop” are two
tried-and-true broccoli varieties for home garden use.
Many cauliflower varieties are self-blanching and don’t have to
be banded to produce a white-curded head. “Candid Charm” and
“Snowball Y” are widely adapted cauliflowers.
There are varieties, however, that tolerate temperature extremes
better than these.
How to plant
Both crops can be direct-seeded or transplanted, but
transplanting is best in the Southeast to gain time in the
growing window and produce more uniform stands.
Broccoli and cauliflower can be grown on a wide array of soil
types. Both crops require irrigation for peak production.
Planting densities vary between the crops. Broccoli can be
planted in double rows on 38- to 42-inch centers, with plants
spaced 6 inches apart. Cauliflower, though, is usually planted in
single rows with an in-row spacing of about 12 inches.
Fertilize broccoli and cauliflower much as you would cabbage, as
both require a fairly heavy rate of nitrogen. Use rates of 6.5 to
7.5 ounces per 100 square feet with both crops. For soils testing
medium for phosphorus and potassium, 4 ounces of each per 100
square feet should suffice.
Split the totals into thirds and apply the first at planting and
the second and third about three weeks apart.
How to harvest
The most rewarding part of any garden crop is the harvest. Handle
these crops with care, though. They’re quite perishable and must
be cooled fairly quickly after harvest. If you don’t cool them
quickly to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the quality will begin to break
down. Cauliflower is even more tedious — handle it cautiously to
keep from bruising the curds.
Grow broccoli to a central main head 3 to 4 inches across before
cutting it. The plant will regrow many smaller heads if you keep
caring for it. You can cut these smaller heads as they mature.
They won’t reach the size of the central head, but still make for
a good second crop. Cut broccoli with about 5 inches of stem on
it.
Cut cauliflower when the curd is 4 to 6 inches across, and trim
the leaves.
(Terry Kelley is an Extension Service horticulturist with the
University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences.)
