Methods to sow an early crop of cauliflowers

The different categories of cauliflower are almost as confusing as those for cabbages, though, and in autumn you’ll want to plant summer varieties in order that the creamy white heads are ready from about June.

Try Cauliflower Serac seeds from Marshalls (www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk), Cauliflower F1 Clapton seeds from Suttons (www.suttons.co.uk) or Cauliflower Mayflower F1 AGM seeds from DT Brown Seeds (www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk).

Alternatively, you are able to try Cauliflower All of the Year Round Seeds. Many of the big firms have them.

The fantastic thing about this actual variety is for you to sow them now and overwinter them in a coldframe; sow them in January and February to grow in a heated greenhouse or indoors, otherwise you can sow them outdoors from March to May – so you’ve got a year-round supply from only 1 packet.

If you’re going to make the leap this month, you want to sow them in a module tray crammed with general purpose or seed compost.

Put a seed in each module and keep the compost moist but not too wet and leave them either to your cold frame or in a sheltered spot where frost can’t get at them.

Make sure the seedlings don’t dry out over winter, then they are going to be able to transfer to a sunny, sheltered spot from March to June – reckoning on what the elements has in store for us.

You can start preparing the soil now by digging in a generous helping of garden compost, because cauliflowers are very hungry plants.

If you don’t have any garden compost, or room for a compost heap, dig a trench where you’re going to plant the seedlings and fill a small section each day together with your vegetable peelings and teabags – but you should definitely cover this with soil immediately to discourage foxes.

This kitchen waste will rot down over the winter to present extra nutrients within the soil and help it to retain moisture within the spring.

The cauliflowers ought to be able to eat by June in the event you plant them out early, or at any time next summer. Just be certain they may be all out of the floor before October and the danger of frosts.