
x By John Mosboll 
Last year Mr. Mosbell 
Visited Denmark and Made a Personal Inspection 
of the Seed Growing Activities of E. Suhr Com- 
pany at Amager, Where They Grow Vast Acre- 
ages of Cauliflower for Seed. 
S IS generally known, most of 
A the cauliflower seed used in this 
country, is being imported from 
northern Europe—mainly from Den- 
mark. For this reason, it is with a great 
deal of pleasure that the writer avails 
himself of the opportunity to give a 
short resume of the commercial seed 
production of this most delicate product, 
hoping that it will interest the readers 
of SEED WORLD and at the same time, 
stimulate the increasing interest in the 
United States of this most worthwhile 
vegetable. 
Considering the fact that cauliflower 
is easily crossed with other crucifers, 
one must bear in mind the importance 
of proper isolation from other related 
cultures, in order to avoid cross-polli- 
nation or inter-crossing. 
The perfectly developed seed plant at- 
tains atheight of about 35 inches. Prop- 
erly matured seed should have a soil 
test germination of 85 to 90 per cent and 
the proper time allowed for checking 
vitality of the seed should be six to 
seven days. 
Needs Mild Seaboard Climate 
The production of cauliflower seed re- 
quires a mild seaboard climate—prefer- 
ably with a temperature of not over 20 
degrees Celcius (68 degrees Fahrenheit) 
during the flowering period and where 
weather conditions are preferably 
changing with sun and rain. The flow- 
ering stage will suffer if the weather is 
too hot and dry. For this reason, the 
exceptionally fine results obtained with 
this most delicate culture are typical 
for the Kingdom of Denmark—with its 
many islands, where the weather condi- 
tions—especially on the small Island of 
Amager, near Copenhagen, have some 
of the best possibilities in the world, for 
the production of superior cauliflower 
products. 
In Denmark, cauliflower for seed pro- 
duction, is sown in cold frames (Fig. 1) 
the first part of September, using about 
20 grams (a little over % ounce) per 
window. In order to avoid “black leg” 
care must be taken not to sow the seed 
too thickly, and the soil must be thor- 
oughly formalin-treated in plenty of 
time before sowing. A sandy well pre- 
pared loam is needed and as much air 
as the weather conditions permit, is 
allowed. 
As soon as the plants are large enough 
(Fig. 2), they are transplanted into 5 
cm. (about two-inch) pots and trans- 
ferred to frost-free greenhouses. Here 
they undergo a more or less dormant 
period and are given very little water- 
ing—if possible, none at all. Unusual 
care must be exercised at all times, es- 
pecially as to airing. 
During the first part of February, the 
cauliflower plants are again trans- 
planted (Fig. 3) this time into six-inch 
pots. 
Forcing begins very slowly. (Fig. 4.) 
To begin with, only very little air and 
water are given. This is increased later 
and gradually when plants have ob- 
tained the proper size, they are again 
transferred to cold frames, (Fig. 5) in 
order that they may here develop fully, 
prior to the final transfer to the field. 
Towards the latter part of April or 
first of May, when there is a reasonable 
assurance of frost-free nights, the plants 
are transplanted into the fields, great 
care being exercised not to disturb the 
mother soil attached to their roots. The 
average spacing between plants is about 
30 inches, both ways. 
In order to produce cauliflower seed 
successfully, a mild sandy loam is re- 
