How To Pick Cauliflower

There is some beautiful Cauliflower out at the U-Pick Garden right now that's ready to pick...

 So it's time for another tutorial, and "U-Pick Man" agreed to show us how to get it done!

Thanks, U-Pick Man!

HOW TO PICK CAULIFLOWER

1. Pick out a fully mature Cauliflower head. 

Cauliflower is edible at any stage of maturity, but each plant only produces one head during its lifetime, so it is important to know how to tell when a head is fully mature.  It should have a flowerhead made up of "curds" that are tightly formed.....

When the curds are starting to separate it's called, "Ricing"......

The goal is to let the heads mature RIGHT UP TO THE POINT where they want to start ricing.

White Cauliflower heads often start to take on a slightly purple tinge....

This does not affect the flavor at all. In fact, some varieties of Cauliflower are shockingly purple!

2. Grasp the Cauliflower head with one hand while using the other hand to cut the head loose from the plant above the root but below most of the leaves, using a serrated knife.

 The root is very tough so you don't want to cut too low, but the stem of the cauliflower plant is delicious so you don't want to cut too high.

3. Cauliflower leaves are edible and can be used like Kale so you can take them home......but if you don't want them you can cut them off here at the U-pick garden and I will compost them....

4. It is a good idea to check under the leaves for slugs...sometimes you can flush them out by using the hose.

Large Cauliflower heads are $5.00 each.