Harvesting Cauliflower: 6 Essential Tips

Uncertain exactly when you should harvest your cauliflower heads? Here are 6 tips to ensure that your cauliflower is harvested at exactly the right time.

1. Keep consistent attention on your cauliflower plants after young curds form to harvest at the largest possible size while curds are still of good quality. Cauliflower has a relatively short window for harvest of curds while they are of best quality, especially during warm to hot weather. Some varieties stand longer in the garden than others without becoming ricey or coarse in texture.
2. GardenZeus expert Darren Butler recommends noting on a calendar or gardening log the date that curds reach 2 to 3 inches in diameter (in the size range of an egg to tennis ball), and monitoring plants daily from then until harvest. If in doubt about exact harvest time, err to the earlier side, within 1 to 2 weeks after noting curd formation.
3. When individual florets begin to separate in cauliflower curds, eating quality deteriorates. Harvest heads while still tight or immediately upon noticing floret separation, generally no longer than 2 to 3 weeks after blanching begins or after noting curd formation.
4. Harvest cauliflower curds at the expected mature size for the variety and while the curds are still firm and tight, or when curds reach about 6 inches in diameter. In poor soil and/or adverse environmental conditions, curds may be smaller than 6 inches, and in ideal conditions some varieties produce curds of 12 inches in diameter or larger. Generally curds are ready for harvest about 1 to 2 weeks after blanching or about the same period after curds reach the size of an egg, about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
5. To harvest, cut the whole curd from below with a sharp knife. Cut low enough below the curd to include a few leaves, which may help to protect the relatively delicate curds, and may extend shelf life by a few days.
6. Unlike broccoli, many varieties of cauliflower do not form additional side shoots after the main curd is harvested. Before going to the effort of maintaining cauliflower in the hope of harvesting side shoots, know your variety or check to be sure that it produces side shoots.

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Other articles of interest regarding harvesting vegetables include:

Potatoes: Harvesting, Storing and Curing

Harvesting and Curing Varieties of Winter Squash