Cauliflower – Di Sicilia Violetto - 54 seeds

Cultivation description: Cauliflower – Di Sicilia Violetto

Cauliflower Di Sicilia Violetto is a beautiful and tasty variety with purple heads.

Packaging Information:
One packet contains 54 seeds.

Preparation of the soil

Cauliflower thrives best in well-drained, nutrient-rich and light soil. To optimize the soil's nutrition, you can mix in compost or well-digested manure. Cauliflower is sensitive to both too much and too little water, so a balanced humidity is important.

Sowing and pre-cultivation

1. Pre-cultivation indoors:
   Sow the seeds 1-2 cm deep in small pots or trays during February to March if you want to give them a head start. Use a seed soil that is light and airy. Keep the temperature around 18–20°C to ensure good germination.

2. Direct sowing outdoors:
   You can also sow directly outdoors from April to May, when the risk of frost is over. Sow the seeds 1-2 cm deep in rows with a distance of 50 cm between rows and 50 cm between plants in the row. Cover with a thin layer of soil and keep the soil moist. If you are unsure if the soil is warm enough, you can start by covering the soil with plastic to warm it up.

Care during the growing season

• Watering:
  Keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid it becoming waterlogged. Cauliflower roots need a lot of water, especially during dry periods.
• Fattening:
  Cauliflower requires nutrition to grow well. Add organic fertilizer at planting and give the plants an extra boost of fertilizer as they begin to develop their heads.
• Thinning:
  When the plants are large enough, thin to give each plant 50 cm between them. That gives them enough room to develop large, compact heads.
• Protection:
  To protect the plants against cabbage flies and other pests, you can use fiber cloth. Also, cover the cauliflower heads with leaves to protect them from strong sun, which can turn them green instead of purple.

Harvest time and storage

Cauliflower Di Sicilia Violetto is ready to harvest when the head has reached full size and is still dense and compact. This usually occurs between August and October, depending on sowing time.

• Storage:
  If you are not using it right away, the cauliflower can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. For long-term storage, you can freeze the cauliflower after blanching it for 2-3 minutes.

Tip:

• Purple color: The purple color can fade if the cauliflower is exposed to too much sun, so covering the head with the leaves helps preserve the purple hue.
• Temperature: Di Sicilia Violetto cauliflower thrives best in temperate climates and can be sensitive to extreme heat, so in warmer areas you may want to consider growing it during the cooler months.

With proper care and patience, you will get a beautiful and tasty crop of cauliflower.