Harvesting Cauliflower in the Mini Garden

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After going through many things, starting with caring for cauliflower from seed, I finally harvested my cauliflower. After about three months, the cauliflower flowered for two weeks, then the cauliflower developed very rapidly. Its growth was quite rapid, and day by day, I watched the flowers grow larger.

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Since this was my first time growing cauliflower, I began to research the internet to find the right harvest time. Finally, last Sunday afternoon, I decided to harvest it. Cauliflower should be harvested early, before the flowers open; they say it will be a little tougher and have a different flavor. Another sign that the cauliflower is ready to harvest is when the flowers have widened slightly, meaning they are no longer so dense.

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The afternoon weather was bright, and the sunlight was very bright. I asked my husband to capture this precious moment. He took a photo of me from a distance while I harvested. It was a very enjoyable afternoon, and I was so happy, after all, after three months of caring for this cauliflower.

Before harvesting, I remove the leaves first. I do not discard them at all; instead, I place them at the base of the chili plants to serve as natural fertilizer. Remember, in gardening, organic waste—such as any kind of leaf debris—can make excellent natural fertilizer that enriches the soil with nutrients, helping the plants thrive.

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After harvesting, we left the cauliflower stalks and let them sprout. I plan to try using the shoots for new seeds later.

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I learned this from a relative of mine; she said the regrown shoots can be planted. So, she said we won't have to worry about growing them from seed.

Then I left the cauliflower in the basket for a while, then took some cling film to wrap it and store it in the refrigerator. Since I wasn't cooking today, this storage method was very practical and allowed the vegetables to last longer.

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After harvesting the cauliflower, I left one stalk behind; it was still very small, so I left it alone. Growing larger than the one I harvested will probably take some time next week. I'll use up these three heads first for cooking. You can see my cauliflower cooking log later in my post, as I haven't had time to do it yet.

A little tip I discovered: I cover the cauliflower with cauliflower leaves, and I attach clothespins to the leaves to cover the entire floret. This prevents the flowers from being exposed to direct sunlight and developing black spots, as in my previous post. I found this method online, and sure enough, after doing so, the black spots on the cauliflower disappeared.

The cauliflowers aren't large, but trust me, they taste delicious and are sweeter than the cauliflower I buy at the market. They're probably fresher, and they're definitely pesticide-free; they grow naturally. It's so exciting to harvest cauliflower for the first time from my own garden.

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