MiniBlog: Broccoli & Cauliflower: Fall Garden Staples

Example of White Caulifower

Why Grow Them?

Broccoli and cauliflower are essential cool-season crops, thriving in the mild temperatures of fall and early spring. These vegetables bring rich nutrition and beauty to your garden while offering versatility in the kitchen. Whether you’re roasting, steaming, or adding them to soups, broccoli and cauliflower are fall must-haves.

Selecting Your Varieties

Broccoli is a reliable performer, with its deep green heads packed with vitamins C and K, supporting immunity and bone health. In our garden center, we carry the popular Destiny variety. This compact hybrid is perfect for smaller gardens or container growing and produces dense, flavorful heads with excellent heat tolerance.

Cauliflower adds a touch of elegance to your fall garden. We offer two varieties to suit different tastes and aesthetics:

• Snow Crown: A classic white cauliflower with smooth, creamy curds and a mild, slightly nutty flavor. This early-maturing variety is perfect for gardeners seeking a quick harvest.

• Cheddar: This vibrant orange cauliflower is not only visually striking but also contains high levels of beta-carotene, giving it a sweeter, more complex flavor profile.

Planting

For the best results, plant your seedlings in late summer to early fall in Zone 7b. Broccoli and cauliflower prefer full sun and rich, well-drained soil, so consider adding compost before planting. Space broccoli plants about 18 inches apart and cauliflower slightly farther at 24 inches to give the heads room to grow. Keep the soil consistently moist, as both crops are sensitive to drought stress.

Tips

Cauliflower, in particular, benefits from some extra care during growth. As the heads form, gently fold the outer leaves over the curd of white varieties like Snow Crown to protect them from sun exposure and maintain their bright color.

What to Watch For

Pests such as cabbage worms can be a challenge, so watch for small green caterpillars on the undersides of leaves. Regular checks and row covers can help keep these pests at bay. Additionally, providing adequate spacing and airflow can reduce the risk of fungal issues like powdery mildew.

Adding broccoli and cauliflower to your fall garden brings a satisfying mix of nutrition, color, and culinary potential. These hardy plants thrive in cooler weather, making them ideal for a delicious harvest well into autumn.

Fun Facts About Broccoli & Cauliflower

• Broccoli has been cultivated for over 2,000 years! It originated in the Mediterranean and was a favorite of the ancient Romans.

• Cauliflower's orange cousin, Cheddar, gets its vibrant color from beta-carotene, the same nutrient found in carrots, which supports healthy vision.

• Broccoli is considered a "superfood" because it's rich in antioxidants, including sulforaphane, which may have cancer-fighting properties.

• Did you know cauliflower can come in shades of green (like Romanesco), orange (Cheddar), and even purple (Grafitti)? These colors aren't just pretty—they offer unique nutrients, such as anthocyanins in purple varieties and beta carotene in the orange.

• Broccoli's name comes from the Italian word broccolo, meaning "flowering crest of a cabbage," which reflects its close relationship with other brassicas like kale and Brussels sprouts.

• Both broccoli and cauliflower can produce "side shoots" after the main head is harvested, allowing for extended harvests throughout the season.

• Cauliflower is a little picky—it’s sometimes called a “diva plant” because it requires consistent care, especially during temperature swings.