Plant · P-341

Cauliflower

Brassica oleracea var botrytis

Cauliflower's yield is the head - a tight, immature flower cluster cut before it opens - and it's the fussiest of the cabbage-family crops to bring to a good one, needing a narrow window of mild days and cool nights to form well. Too much heat while the head is developing gives a small, poor curd instead of a full one, and steady, even watering matters as much as temperature; a dry spell or a cold snap after warm growth are the two things that make it button early instead of sizing up. Most white varieties need their outer leaves tied over the developing head to keep it pale, while colored and green types skip that step entirely.