CAULIFLOWER 



AN UNUSUAL AND VERY PROFITABLE DELICACY- 



•CAN BE GROWN AS A CATCH CROP IN A GENERAL PURPOSE HOUSE 



WHY isn't cauliflower profitable 

 for your own greenhouse? In a 

 small greenhouse on Long Island 

 one family raises for home con- 

 sumption what might be called "miniature 

 cauliflower," cutting the heads when about 

 two inches in diameter and serving them as 

 individual portions instead of in the ordi- 

 nary vegetable dish. But — and this is 

 the point — this same family was offered, 

 by a prominent retail produce dealer, 

 eighteen dollars a dozen for all such heads 

 that they could supply during the winter 

 months ! 



Most out-of-season luxuries of this type, 

 such as European grapes, winter straw- 

 berries, "hothouse lambs," etc., involve 

 considerable extra care and expense. Here 

 is where the "miniature cauliflower" 

 makes its greatest appeal. It is actually 

 easier to raise than the ordinary, indoor 

 crop which is brought to maturity and sold 



for an ordinary price. Less space is needed 

 because the heads are not allowed to expand 

 and can be grown from six to nine inches 

 apart. No tying up of leaves and blanch- 

 ing is required, as the head is cut before 

 •the inner leaves unfold and expose the 

 inflorescence to the light. Nothing special 

 in the way of benches is necessary, for not 

 more than six inches of soil is desired — 

 the shallow bed promotes rapid, tender 

 growth. The soil need not be of special 

 richness, for a loose, light medium is also 

 conducive to quick growth; whatever 

 feeding is called for can be done with liquid 

 fertilizer. Finally the time required by 

 the crop is relatively short and per- 

 mits increased utilization of the bench 

 space. 



As with the standard greenhouse crop, 

 the seed may be sown in August or Sep- 

 tember, either directly in the benches or in 

 a coldframe or seedbed outdoors. To 



obviate all possibility of a check, young 

 plants should be brought in, or at least be 

 given ample protection, before severe 

 weather arrives. Rather generous moisture, 

 abundant feeding with liquid manure, and 

 a rather low temperature when in the house 

 are the special needs of cauliflower. Plenty 

 of ventilation will usually bring the seed- 

 lings safely through the "damping-off" 

 period, and ordinary conscientious care 

 should prevent insect injury or attacks of 

 plant diseases. 



Of course the finished product must be 

 marketed in the neatest, most attractive 

 manner possible. Its nature, as a "luxury 

 de luxe," requires this and its value justi- 

 fies it. But then, even if you don't expect 

 to sell "individual cauliflowers," wouldn't 

 you enjoy surprising your friends with 

 them at some little dinner party? If you 

 have a greenhouse — even the smallest of 

 greenhouses — why not try a few? 



Miniature cauliflowers may be raised in the greenhouse from seed sown in early September 



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