Cauliflower, Snowball Early
75 in stock
Quick Overview
CAULIFLOWER, Snowball Early –
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
FULL SUN Native to the Mediterranean and parts of Asia, the cauliflower has been cultivated for more than 2000 years. It is nearly identical to broccoli, the only difference being that once the main head is harvested, the plant does not produce secondary shoots. Snowball Early was introduced in 1888 by Peter Henderson & Co. one of America’s greatest seed companies. It sets the standard for early cauliflowers. The dwarf plants produce 6 in. pure white heads and are heat tolerant.
Snowball Early can be sown in the early spring for a summer crop and in early summer for a fall crop. In the spring, plant as soon as the ground can be worked. Soil should be deeply spaded before planting. Rows should be 24 in. apart. Plants can also be started indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting outdoors.
When seedlings are 5 in. high, thin, leaving 18 in. between plants.
| Type | Spacing | Planting Depth | Days to Germination | Maturity |
| Cauliflower | 18 in. | 1 in. | 14-21 | 60 |
Cauliflower, Snowball Early
Cauliflower is nearly identical to broccoli. The only differences are that cauliflowers are generally white, though there are purple, green and yellow varieties, and cauliflowers do not develop smaller heads or side shoots once the main head has been harvested. The cauliflower is thought to have been cultivated 2000 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean. By the 1300s, the vegetable was known in southern Europe and by the 1400s it was popular in northern Europe. In the United States, cauliflower did not become popular until the 1800s.
