Cabbage corn

Not to be confused with Cauliflory. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. In the Middle Ages, early forms of cauliflower were associated with the island of Cyprus, with the 12th- and 13th-century Arab botanists Ibn al-‘Awwam cabbage corn Ibn al-Baitar claiming its origin to be Cyprus. François Pierre La Varenne employed chouxfleurs in Le cuisinier françois.

The word “cauliflower” derives from the Italian cavolfiore, meaning “cabbage flower”. Cauliflower is relatively difficult to grow compared to cabbage, with common problems such as an underdeveloped head and poor curd quality. The earliest maturity possible for cauliflower is 7 to 12 weeks from transplanting. Long periods of sun exposure in hot summer weather may cause cauliflower heads to discolor with a red-purple hue. Transplantable cauliflowers can be produced in containers such as flats, hotbeds, or fields.

Applications of fertilizer to developing seedlings begin when leaves appear, usually with a starter solution weekly. Transplanting to the field normally begins in late spring and may continue until mid-summer. Rapid vegetative growth after transplanting may benefit from such procedures as avoiding spring frosts, using starter solutions high in phosphorus, irrigating weekly, and applying fertilizer. The most important disorders affecting cauliflower quality are a hollow stem, stunted head growth or buttoning, ricing, browning, and leaf-tip burn.