Cauliflower
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Cauliflowers are a popular subject for painters, potters and tapestry makers all over the world, and no less charming in the potager garden. This Brassica is a heavy feeder and likes sweet soil; plant in soil which is rich in organic matter, adding dolomite lime as needed. Best grown as transplants: start seed indoors 8 weeks before transplanting into the garden (2 weeks prior to the last frost date or in early summer for fall harvest). Harvest cauliflower while the buds are tightly closed, using a large sharp blade to cut it off at ground level. One of our favorite comfort foods is steamed cauliflower lightly baked with a soul-warming, white cheese sauce with a healthy dose of freshly grated nutmeg. Yum.
Average seed life: 3 years
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#1705 Amazing Cauliflower: 75 days
Aptly named for its unique attributes, it is amazingly
adaptable throughout the U.S. Both high-heat and freezing-cold tolerant, Amazing has uniform, bright-white,
deep dome, 10” heads that are...self-wrapping! Hooray! Its
productive sturdy plants have large, dense curds with tight
florets just bursting with flavor. (OP.)
Packet of 100 Seeds / $3.65
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#1715 Veronica Romanesco Broccoflower: 77 days
Is it a Broccoli? Is it a Cauliflower? Who knows, but we do know that Romanesco 'Broccoflower' makes a most dramatic presentation. The flavor is like Broccoli and like Cauliflower; sweet, with a soft Brassica tang.
This other-worldly seductress has complex, symmetrical
heads comprised of lime-green florets that spiral into
intricate peaks. Quite a prolific producer, Veronica should
be harvested young for the best flavor which is milder and
sweeter than common cauliflower siblings. Veronica may be
cooked (it stays green!) or enjoyed raw when you can nibble
away at its intriguing peaked florets capped in savory dips.
(F1.)
Packet of 30 Seeds / $4.15
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#1730 Verdi Cauliflower: 55-65 days
Another Brassica of a different color, Verdi is the market grower’s choice for gourmet, green cauliflower. It produces uniform, medium-sized plants with attractive, dense, domed heads with smooth, lime-green curds. This productive variety has an open head that colors up prior to harvest without needing to be wrapped or blanched.
Verdi also makes a more visually dynamic pasta partner:
parboil Verdi florets for eight minutes until crisp-tender. Set aside on paper towels to dry. Cook the pasta of your choice in the cauliflower water. Sauté chopped garlic, julienned leeks, match stick-cut red bell peppers and the cauliflower florets in really hot extra virgin olive oil for about 6 minutes. Top pasta with sautéed vegetables, toasted pine nuts, a dollop of room temperature ricotta cheese and a healthy sprinkling of, you guessed it, grated Parmesan. (F1.)
Packet of 25 Seeds / $4.25
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#1735 Purple of Sicily Cauliflower: 75-85 days
Visually showy and creatively compelling, Purple of Sicily has plump, tightly compacted, brilliant purple heads. This coveted Italian heirloom weighs in at two to three pounds with a sweet flavor and just a hint of the characteristic brassica tang. Turning green once cooked, Purple of Sicily grows best in cooler fall weather (or very early spring) which helps to develop and hold its color. (OP.)
Packet of 175 Seeds / $3.25
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#1740 Graffiti Purple Cauliflower: 70-80 days
Amazing, but true~a real purple cauliflower! Despite its unusual color, Graffiti is a true cauliflower with large heads that do not need to be wrapped or blanched. Its deep purple curds are surprisingly sweet and will be much loved by children. When steaming or boiling Graffiti, it will change from purple to greenish-white unless you add lemon juice to the water before cooking. It is best grown for fall harvest when its purple coloration will fully mature. (F1.)
Packet of 25 Seeds / $4.95
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#1745 Rainbow Cauliflower Mixture: 50-80 days
We know that not everyone has a garden large enough to grow scads of each colorful variety, so we created this special mixture of purple, orange-yellow, lime-green and white cauliflower seeds. Imagine your children’s delight when they each color up! A veritable garden surprise party. Each variety is easy to grow for late summer or early fall harvest, and none require special treatment (translation: the white variety is self-blanching). Each variety is delicious raw in kaleidoscopic crudité platters and perfect steamed and sprinkled with lemon juice to help them retain their vivid colors. (F1.)
Packet of 50 Seeds / $3.55
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