Cauliflower 

Companion planting:  
Likes: beans, chamomile, celery, coriander, cucumber, dill, marigold, lettuce, marjoram, mint, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, peas, potatoes, tomatoes  
Dislikes: strawberries  

Sow October to March, harvest September to May  
Varieties used:  
Snowball  
Self-Blanche  
Paleface  
Violet Sicilian
Purple

Sow four or five seeds in a clump, space clumps at least 60 cm apart. Gradually thin out seedlings. Thinning should be completed when the best seedling has made three true leaves. Side-dress. Direct sow.  

We did not get very good results with cauliflowers. Best varieties so far were the purple ones, head of other varieties was quite loose. Best heads were harvested in March.  

Cauliflowers are susceptible to whiptail. Foliar feed with diluted Molybdate.  

All brassica are attacked by the cabbage moth and the cabbage white butterfly. Companion-planting with marigold, dill and oregano helps, also scattering crushed eggshells around the plants. If infestation is heavy spray with Dipel (try mixing in a drop of detergent to help the droplets to cling to the leaves).  

Preserving:
To freeze, water blanche for 2 minutes. Cool quickly and freeze.