1. Below are the varieties divided by their cycle:

EXTRA EARLY:

• From Erfurt: an ancient variety of French origin, used in numerous selections. The pellet is white, convex-type, medium-sized, weighing around 1.5 kg, with a fine and tight grain, medium compactness, and medium resistance to the rise of the flower, which influences its conservation capacity. Sown at the end of June in a continental climate, it is harvested during the second half of October.

• The snowball has characteristics similar to the Erfurt, from which it is thought to have originated.

•  The plant is short, with light green erect foliage and wavy edges. It adapts to all types of soil as long as it is profound. The pellet is also medium in size, fine-grained and tight, but more spherical and somewhat more compact, with better conservation.




• Success:

•  an Erfurt-type variety, very early, which can start harvesting at the beginning of autumn. It forms medium-sized pellets, spherical, white, with a fine and tight grain, with resistance to rising, so it lasts a long time in a state of use; the inflorescence peduncles are short, giving the head a rounded shape.




• Catalina:

•  Spanish variety, from October to November. It corresponds to the type of Mediterranean cauliflower. It forms very well-sized, white, and delicate pellets that are not too tightly grained, corresponding to the hollow type, with long stems whose upper part is broadly curved. 

• The Pella bears little influence on the rise of flowers and has to be commercialized quickly. The high temperatures during its formation can also have an impact.




• Master: 

•  Danish origin, very early, can be considered from September to October, depending on the planting date, from the end of May to the end of June. The pellet is medium-sized, white, rounded, compact, fine-grained, and complex, with resistance to being passed, and its production is very grouped.




• Bristol: Danish origin, similar to the Master variety, although less precocious. It forms very compact pellets with a complex grain and has good resistance to clumping.

• Precious: of Dutch origin, earlier than the Master variety. The pellet is medium-sized, rounded, white, compact, and hard-grained.




• Eureka: it is of Dutch origin. Earlier than the Preciosa variety. It is a short but vigorous plant with leaves that protect the  very well. It has a brief harvesting period due to being very grouped; the pellet is very compact, white, and spherical, with a slightly irregular surface and complex grain.




• Presto, of French origin. It is one of the earliest and can be harvested in September or October, depending on how it is sown, from the end of May to the end of June. The pellets are of a good size, white, rounded, slightly irregular on their surface, and with short peduncles; they are very compact, with a complex grain; they have good resistance, and the harvest is grouped in a short period.




• Veralto: It is a Dutch variety because of its earliness and short harvest period. The foliage is abundant, covering the Pella, which is compact, spherical, white, with a fine grain, and can be harvested at the beginning of autumn.

• Primula: A Dutch variety similar to the Eureka and Veralto varieties. It is short, with semi-dark green leaves and white, good-sized, hard-grained, and compact heads.

• Furtado's is a Dutch variety of precocity, somewhat less than Preciosa. It is of medium size, with many leaves, broad and slightly wavy edges; semi-dark green in color; erect; well covering the head; it is of suitable, convex type, white, compact, and hard grain.

EARLY:

• Supramax: of Dutch origin, it is harvested in November, with sowing at the end of June in a continental climate; the harvesting period is concise due to the formation of very grouped pellets.

•  It has abundant foliage covering the head, compact and spherical, with a smooth surface and a white color due to its deep location in the plant. It is indicated for fresh consumption and industry.




• Idol: of Danish origin, being collected in November. The petioles cover the pellet, which is medium-sized, white, compact, and hard-grained.
• Supernova: of Danish origin, it is harvested at the end of October and the beginning of November. The pellets are grouped into spherical, medium-sized, compact, and hard-grained groups.




• Selandia: Danish origin, earliness similar to Supernova. Medium size and with erect leaves protecting the Pella. It forms good-sized pellets that are very compact and have a complex grain.




• Avans: of Danish origin, low-growing plant; the edges of the leaves are wavy and partially cover the head; it is of good size, grouped production, white, compact, and with suitable characteristics for the market.




• Of Danish origin, its production begins in December. It gives rise to pellets of a good size but not excessive, rounded in shape, covered by inner leaves, compact, and with a hard grain. It is suitable for both industry and fresh consumption.
• She left: an old and rustic variety, resistant to heat. The pellet is very large, spherical, compact, and fine-grained, with a somewhat irregular surface, which deforms during November.




• Lefert B: A November variety with a short harvest period. The pellet is white and compact, with a somewhat irregular surface, convex type, and hard grain. The Pella has wavy edges, and the blade's color is dark green.




• Kangaroo, of Australian origin. It is harvested in November or December, depending on the planting dates. They are uniform and short-growing plants. The pellets are white, good-sized, spherical, compact, and have a complex grain.




• Rhonda: of French origin. The pellet is spherical and approximately 20 cm in diameter. It is harvested in the second half of December.




• Christmas turkey: The Mediterranean variety is harvested in the last third of December, but if the sowing is delayed, it can be harvested during January. In some areas, it is still cultivated for the finesse of its flavor.




• Florablanca is a medium-sized plant. It produces large, white, very compact, fine-grained pellets. Species adapt to all types of soils as long as they are deep.

MID-SEASON:




• Primus is of French origin. It is considered early among the mid-season varieties since its harvest begins in late December and lasts until January. The plants are tall, form good-sized pellets, are white, protected by leaves, spherical, compact, hard-grained, and in good condition.




• Duration: of Dutch origin. The pellet is white, good-sized, spherical, compact, fine-grained, and complex, with a somewhat irregular surface. Harvest varieties are grouped from late January to early February.




• Canberra: of Australian origin, harvested during the second half of February. It gives rise to sound, white, medium-sized, regular, compact, and hard-grained pellets.




• Frankfurter is a variety of German origins cultivated since ancient times. Plants with very vigorous vegetation, with large, dark bluish-green leaves; production is concentrated during the middle of February. It forms relatively large, white, compact, fine-grained, hard pellets. Its excellent conservation stands out, being a rustic and cold-resistant plant. Species adapt to all types of soils as long as they are deep.




• Originally from Denmark, this is a classic January-February variety. It forms rounded pellets, white in color, with a granular surface. It is rugged, compact, and resistant to cold.

• It is an old variety still cultivated and widespread in various countries. It forms vast pellets that can exceed 30 cm in diameter and is white, convex, fine-grained, complex, and in good condition. It is collected during the second half of February.




FIRST:

• De San José: a Mediterranean variety of traditional cultivation, which new varieties have displaced with better conservation characteristics. Its cycle can vary if the sowing is delayed, but it is usually harvested in March. The pellets are large and are protected by the leaves. 

• They have a delicate flavor, hollow type, with long stalks and non-hard grain easily affected by high temperatures. They have little conservation, separating the grain without difficulty and deforming to climb to flower.

• It is a variety resistant to cold, with production in March-April. The pellets are large, white, protected by the leaves, compact, fine-grained, and complex, with excellent conservation and staggering production.

• Metropolis is of Italian origin and very widespread due to its late cycle since production occurs at the end of March and April. It is a medium-sized plant with vigorous vegetation and numerous dark green leaves covering the Pella well. Its cultivation is therefore recommended in cold areas. 

• The pellets are voluminous and compact, with a hard grain, staggering production, and good preservation. Species adapt to all types of soils as long as they are deep.

5. GENETIC ENHANCEMENT

The need for a clear taxonomy for this crop has negatively affected the conservation of its genetic resources. On the one hand, many types of cauliflower have become extinct due to the lack of knowledge germplasm banks had of them. 




On the other hand, the need for more use in terms of the genetic variation of cauliflower is since breeders have dedicated themselves exclusively to making crosses with other species of the same genus, trying to find their desired characteristics.

Suitable weather conditions for cauliflower




6.1. Temperature




Cauliflowers are somewhat more sensitive to colder temperatures than broccoli. They respond poorly to low temperatures (0 o C) and are also affected by high temperatures (> 26 o C). The optimum temperature for their cultivation cycle ranges between 15.5-21.5 o C.




The varieties and their cycles are cultivated with possible frosts where they occur. In these cases, varieties whose leaves cover the pellets when they reach their market size will be used. They must be harvested before the leaves open and stop protecting the pellet, which can then be damaged by frost.




6.2. Suitable Soil conditions




Cauliflower is more demanding of soil than other crops, requiring soils with good fertility and an ample supply of nitrogen and water. It does not achieve optimal growth in poor-quality land or unfavorable conditions.




Cauliflower is a crop that prefers porous soils that are not flooded but can retain soil moisture.




The optimum pH is around 6.5-7; in more alkaline soils, deficiency states develop. Soils frequently have a relatively high pH, so it is recommended that fertilizers that do not exert an alkalinizing effect on the soil be applied.




Stabilized fertilizers do not increase the pH of the soil, but two or more units can lower them in the immediate environment of the roots; their effect is more pronounced the higher the pH.




7. 🌱 CULTIVATION PARTICULARITIES of Cauliflower




7.1. planting time:




Sowing is usually carried out in the nursery from March to June, depending on the variety, with the transplant being carried out during the summer.




Cauliflowers can be obtained in summer by cultivating very short-cycle varieties sown in a greenhouse in mid-winter and moved to the field in spring. Thus, pellets can be obtained during July and August.




In an automatic sowing chain, the seeds are deposited in the alveoli of polystyrene trays, which contain a standard horticultural substrate and whose external surface is covered with a fine layer of vermiculite to maintain the appropriate hygrometric degree. 




They will go to the pre-germination chamber, where the seedlings will come out partially showing the cotyledons. They will then pass to the greenhouse, where they will develop until the fourth or fifth genuine leaf, which will mark the moment of transplanting.




7.2. preparation of the soil:




It consists mainly of leveling the land, especially where blanket or furrow irrigation is carried out, in addition to avoiding unevenness that leads to waterlogging and being able to carry out uniform irrigation. 




Subsequently, a profound work or subsoil is carried out with the distribution of manure and bottom fertilization to facilitate the root development of the crop. Next, give the job of crumbling the soil with a milling pass.




Applying a pre-emergence herbicide against annual weeds such as Oxyfluorfen (24%) as an emulsifiable concentrate at a dose of 1-2 l/ha is recommended. 




Precautions must be taken when using the plot repeatedly. The possibility of occasional rains on days close to transplanting may cause mud splashes on the plants and lead to phytotoxicities.




7.3. Plantation




The planting dates influence the average weight of the fruits, depending on the cycles: in the shorter cycles, the first dates give slightly higher weights than the last ones, and the opposite occurs in the later cycles. 




The variation in planting dates in late cultivars allows staggered harvesting within each cultivar.

The transplant is done on raised ridges or plateaus, using a planting density of 4 plants/m2 and staggered distribution of the plants.

7.4 Irrigation of cauliflower




Cauliflower requires more water than broccoli due to its long growing cycle. 8–14 irrigations are usually applied weekly. Given the sensitivity of cauliflower to waterlogging, it is not recommended to apply irrigation until about 2 or 3 weeks after planting (depending on climatic conditions). In intensive crops with fertigation, applying a bottom fertilizer that provides the fertilizer to the plant without initiating irrigation will be convenient.




Five irrigations per cycle are recommended in heavy soils, and ten irrigations per cycle in light soils.




The rows are usually separated by 0.5–0.8 m in a furrow irrigation system. Adjust the separation between plants until the required density is obtained. 




Benches between 1 and 1.4 m are usually used in a drip irrigation system. Planting is staggered. Cauliflower is moderately sensitive to the salinity of irrigation water. For this reason, it is recommended that fertilizer that does not increase the salinity of the irrigation water and the soil be applied.




7.5. Fertilization of cauliflower




Nitrogen is a nitrogen-avid crop in the first 2/3 of its cultivation. Nitrogen application in stabilizing nitrogen reduces the concentration of nitrates in the leaves and pellets by 10 and 20%. For this reason, stabilized fertilizers are especially suitable for cauliflower cultivation.




-Phosphorus: it should not be exceeded in terms of its subscriber, as it favors the rise of the flower.




-Potassium: Potassium is essential to obtain a quality harvest. The lack of potassium causes a shortening of the internodes and purple pigmentation in the nerves of the leaves. It also confers resistance to adverse environmental conditions (frost, drought, et cetera) and disease attacks.




Regarding microelement deficiencies, cauliflower is especially susceptible to boron and molybdenum deficiencies.

A recommended fertilizer program for cauliflower cultivation would be:




*Background fertilizer:



• 12-24 tons/ha of fermented manure or chicken manure.
• NPK complex (15-15-15) at 600 kg/ha
• 240 kg/ha of magnesium sulfate.




* Fertilizer for cover:



• 240 kg/ha of ammonium nitrosulfate 10–20 days after planting.
• 300 kg/ha of potassium nitrate 30–40 days after planting.
• 240 kg/ha of ammonium nitrosulfate when the vegetation completely covers the ground. 

7.6. Harvest of cauliflower




Harvesting is conditioned by the planting season, the cycle of the variety, and the area's climatology. It begins in September for the early varieties; from then on, the production can last until April.




The yields of the most productive varieties can reach 20,000–30,000 kg/ha, for which they must reach pellet weights of the order of 2 kg and sometimes higher, while the varieties with lower production only reach yields of 15,000–20,000 kg/ha, with pellet weights of 1 kg or a little more. 




Cauliflowers are selected for their size and the degree of compaction of their inflorescence. After being defoliated, they are typically packed in cardboard boxes with 12 to 24 heads, with 12 being the most common. Cauliflower is mainly marketed as defoliated (except the leaves surrounding the head) and wrapped in perforated plastic film. Protruding or loose flower parts, creating a grainy appearance, signify overripeness.




7.7. cauliflower Postharvest




-Quality: Quality characteristics include a firm and compact white to creamy-white head surrounded by a crown of green, turgid, and well-cut leaves. Among the quality indices are the size, the absence of yellowing due to sun exposure, defects due to handling and rotting, and the absence of granularity.




- storage cauliflower Optimal temperature: 




0 OC; 95–98% RH Storage of cauliflower for more than three weeks is generally not recommended for good visual and sensory quality. Wilting, browning, yellowing of leaves, and rotting tend to increase storage for more than 3–4 weeks or at temperatures higher than recommended.




Cauliflowers are plants of cold seasons; most importantly, the flowering time does not coincide with scorching months of frost.

FAQs: Answering Your Queries

Can cauliflower be grown in containers?

Yes, cauliflower can be grown in large, deep containers with proper soil and drainage.

How long does it take for cauliflower to mature?

On average, cauliflower takes about 2 to 3 months to mature from transplanting.

Is it necessary to blanch cauliflower heads?

Blanching is optional but helps maintain the color and tenderness of cauliflower heads.

What are common pests affecting cauliflower?

Common pests include aphids, cabbage worms, and flea beetles. Regular inspection and natural predators aid in pest control.

Can cauliflower tolerate frost?

Cauliflower is sensitive to frost. Protect plants during cold spells with row covers or blankets.

How can I store harvested cauliflower?

Cauliflower should be stored in the refrigerator. When stored in a perforated plastic bag, it can stay fresh for up to two weeks.