Cauliflower is one of the vegetables that can be grown from scraps!
Growing cauliflower from scraps is a good money saver when you are starting a new vegetable garden.
You can take advantage of the cauliflower’s ability to regenerate and grow new roots.
More importantly, you can help reduce food waste generated in your home.
To grow cauliflower from scraps, chop off parts of good cauliflower heads or get some cauliflower scraps. Prepare some containers with soil and water and plant the scraps or parts of the cauliflower heads. Put the containers in a place where they’ll get about six hours of sunlight per day. Once they have begun to sprout, transfer the seedlings and plant them outside in your garden in a position where they’ll receive six hours of sunlight per day.
Cauliflower – a Versatile Vegetable
Cauliflower is a versatile vegetable known to contain phytonutrients (natural chemicals. These chemicals make your body work properly and help prevent diseases) and antioxidants.
In other words, cauliflower is a superfood that is an excellent source of fiber and folate. People like to grow cauliflower in their gardens because of its high nutritional value.
It produces flower heads that have an enjoyable taste. There are many ways to grow cauliflower- even from scraps.
How To Grow Cauliflower From Scraps
Shoots, seeds, or Scraps
Like other cruciferous vegetables (high in fiber, low in calories), you can grow cauliflower from shoots, seeds, or scraps. Cauliflower can be grown in planting beds or in a container – outdoors or indoors.
Growing cauliflower from shoots is faster and provides a solid yield. It may take longer to grow cauliflower from seeds. Growing cauliflower from scraps produces many smaller heads instead of one large head.
How to Grow Cauliflower from Scraps
If you have decided to grow cauliflower from scraps, you should be ready to pay constant attention. Cauliflower grown from scraps needs continuous exposure to the sun and adequate water to ensure it produces healthy sprouts and will blossom.
It is simple and not very time-consuming to grow cauliflower from scraps. Remember that a cauliflower plant can produce only one head.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to grow cauliflower from scraps.
1. Find Good Cauliflower Heads Or Scraps
You can use leftover cauliflower heads scraps from your kitchen. You can also buy some cauliflower heads from stores.
Chop Off Parts Of The Cauliflower Heads
Cut the base of the cauliflower heads if you have not consumed them and use them as scraps. Remove the base from the heads, making sure you cut off some inches of the cauliflower attached to the base.
You can skip this part if you have already cut the scraps from the cauliflower base.
3. Put Water And Soil In Your Containers.
Your cauliflower needs water-retaining soil to grow healthy. Place a small amount of water in your containers (shallow containers).
The water you place in the containers should not cover the cauliflower scraps. Add in the soil. It is also good to add some mulch to the soil to allow it to retain moisture.
4. Place The Cauliflower Scraps In The Containers.
When placing the cauliflower scraps in the container, make sure they are on top of the water.
The base of each scrap should be face down, while the part of the scraps that were chopped off the cauliflower should be face up.
Make sure the cauliflower scraps are about one inch deep into the soil.
5. Pick A Place For Your Plant.
Your cauliflower plants need at least six hours of sunlight per day. Position the containers in an area where your cauliflowers will receive that amount of sun.
6. Leave The Scraps To Sprout.
Remember to change the water in your cauliflower containers every two days.
Otherwise, leave the scraps to sprout.
In about a week, your cauliflowers will start to grow roots, leaves, and flowers.
Transfer The Cauliflower Seedlings Outdoors.
Take your cauliflower plants outside every day for one week. This will allow the young plants to be strong before you transfer them to the harsh weather outdoors.
Transfer your new cauliflower plant outdoors – into a pot or directly into garden soil as soon as you notice the growth of new leaves and roots from the scraps.
When you make the transfers, you can bury the seedlings in soil up to their stem. Gather soil with your fingers and lightly press down on the dirt. Set each of the seedlings at least 18-24 inches apart.
Cauliflower grows best in 600F. Sowing it in temperatures below 60 degrees will cause it to die.
Planting cauliflower in temperatures above 60 degrees will create little buttons.
You can also opt to grow your cauliflower in water by following the same steps to grow cauliflower from scraps.
7. Caring For Your Cauliflower Plant
Make sure to adequately and consistently water your cauliflower. Cauliflowers are better over-watered than under-watered. Adding some mulch to the soil is good for the soil to retain moisture. Apply some fertilizer, too, when needed.
When you grow cauliflower from scraps, you need to be ready to give your plant constant attention. It would be best to make sure you water adequately and continuously expose your plant to sunlight.
How Long Does It Take For Cauliflower Plants to Mature?
Most of the common cauliflower varieties will take about two months to mature. Some types grow faster. Some varieties take over two months to develop.
Common Problems when Growing Cauliflower
Here are some common problems you may encounter when growing cauliflowers from scraps.
• Cauliflower Plant Is Not Forming Heads
If your cauliflower plant is not forming a head, it means the temperature is too cold for your plant.
It can also mean that your cauliflower plant is not getting enough water and nutrients.
Rootbound plants, pests, and diseases can also prevent your cauliflower plant from forming a head.
• Leaves Of The Cauliflower Plant Turn Yellow
Clubroot, a fungal disease, is often the main reason the leaves of your cauliflower plant are turning yellow.
Soggy soil, insufficient nutrients, and overwatering can also cause the leaves of your cauliflower plant to turn yellow.
Constant care of your cauliflower plants can help avoid these common problems.
Tips On Growing Cauliflower From Scraps
Here are some helpful tips to ensure your cauliflower grown from scraps will be healthy and strong.
• Make Sure You Have Well-Drained Soil.
Cauliflower grown from scraps thrive in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter will succeed and flourish
• Avoid Applying Chemicals.
Never apply chemicals to the ground because you will have spotted plant sprouts.
The nodes of your plant will be purple or brown instead of white. It is better to add mulch.
Mulch can also help in retaining moisture in the soil.
• Constantly Water Your Plant.
Cauliflower is a vegetable and, therefore, requires adequate water to thrive and grow.
They say, “it’s better to over-hydrate your cauliflower plant than to dehydrate it. “
• Make Sure Your Cauliflower Plants Get Enough Sunlight.
Your cauliflower plants need enough sunlight – not excessive or low sunlight. Excessive or low sunlight can make the cauliflower seeds leggy.
Excessive sunlight can also lead to the discoloration of the cauliflower plant.
Six hours of exposure to sunlight will make your cauliflower plant grow well.
The cauliflower plant also needs growing conditions that are not too hot and not too cold.
Extreme cold during the early stages of the cauliflower plant’s growth could lead to buttons and stunted growth.
• Maintain The Right Ph Level Of The Soil.
Apply limestone to the soil to raise its pH level if the level is below 6.5 pH level. Peat moss or alkaline will lower the pH of the earth if it is above 8.0 pH level.
• Apply The Right Fertilizer.
The best fertilizer for your cauliflower plants is 5-10-10 fertilizer.
Make sure to also clear weeds because they will distort the beautiful growth of your cauliflower plant.
You can also apply compost over the soil around your cauliflower plant.
Do this after about a week of planting your cauliflower seedlings outdoors.
• Transfer Your Cauliflower Seedlings On A Dull Day.
Make sure to transfer your cauliflower seedlings on a gloomy or dull day.
This is to reduce the discoloration of your cauliflower plant and to prevent its stunted growth.
Also ensure, to prepare your cauliflower seedlings for the outdoor environment by taking your plants outdoors every day for a week before transferring them outdoors.
• Seal Your Cauliflower Plants.
Cover your plant with horticultural mesh or fleece because it can protect your cauliflower plant from diseases, also from pests (Block rot, Cabbage whitefly, Aphids, Clubroot, etc.) from laying eggs on your cauliflower plants.
Always check under the heads of your cauliflower plants to make sure these pests are not hiding under them.
Signs that Show your Cauliflower Plant is not Growing Well
Your cauliflower plant will grow well under the best conditions.
Here are signs you need to look out for to know your plant is not growing well:
• Discolored plant instead of having a green head.
• Stunted growth
• Disjointed head instead of being tightly packed.
• Spotted head
• Brown or purple leaves instead of green.
If your plant is displaying any of the above signs of distress, you have problems with your cauliflower plant.
Final Thoughts
Digging into your compost bin or trash can bring your gardening of local foods to the next level.
Finding food scraps such as carrot tops, tips of pineapple or romaine, hearts, onion bottoms, or cauliflower may be regarded by many people as waste or compost materials. Yet, you have found treasure because you can enjoy these food items again by replanting them.
Knowing how to grow cauliflower from scraps not only allows you to reduce waste it can also help you save money and be self-sufficient. It is possible to grow real food from scraps such as the well-loved cauliflower.
*Globally, many people – including celebrities and Hollywood Stars – have taken up gardening and are growing vegetables as a means of self-support.
• To some of these celebs it’s no longer just a hobby, it’s become a way of life. Reports say these people are not only winning by growing their own food, but by finding the process therapeutic and healing.
• Maybe there’s something in that. Perhaps they’ve found a temporary answer by working in their gardens, growing vegetable and fruit and felling more at peace and far less stressed.
Have they found the secret to living longer through gardening? Who knows? But in the meantime, it’s the best idea I’ve heard!
It keeps you actively busy, it gives you a sense of accomplishment!
Jenny Marie
Tribal Writer
Edit & *Comments by
Patricia Godwin
