Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea Botrytis Cultivar Group

Common Name: Cauliflower 'Green Macerata'

Family: Brassicaceae

Origin

Green Macerata is an Italian heirloom cauliflower originating from the region of Macerata in Italy.

Culinary Uses

Green Macerata produces heads that are smaller than white cauliflower varieties but tightly packed and tender with a fine flavour.  This variety is tender enough to be eaten raw.  On cooking the bright lime colour is retained when steamed but fades a little if roasted.

Growing Tips

Prefers full sun but will also grow well in light shade especially in warmer climates.  Cauliflowers are heavy feeders that require fertile, free-draining soil rich in organic matter to grow best.  Add compost, well-rotted animal manure or worm castings prior to planting if your soil is sandy, lacking in nutrients or heavy with clay.  Prefers a neutral pH range from 6 to 7.5, many native Australian soils are more acidic than this so adding garden lime prior to planting may be beneficial.  Inspect cauliflower plants regularly for cabbage white butterfly caterpillars, these can be a serious pest and will quickly eat the leaves and spoil the heads but they can be controlled easily by spraying every week with an organic Bacillus thuringiensis (trade name Dipel) preparation.  Stressed cauliflower plants will have stunted growth and poor head production, to avoid stress water plants regularly, daily in warm weather, and mulch around them to help retain soil moisture, keep their root systems cool and reduce competition from weeds.  Cauliflowers grow into large plants and are therefore not suitable for growing in pots and containers.

When To Sow

Cold: October to February
Temperate: February to May
Subtropics: March to June
Tropics: April to July

How To Sow

Sow several cauliflower seeds 6mm deep directly where they are to grow or start them in punnets or small pots.  Thin to the healthiest seedlings or divide into individual pots as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle safely.  Mature cauliflowers grow large so allow at least 50cm between them when planting out to provide sufficient room for growth.

Germination Time

Cauliflower seeds will germinate in 7 to 10 days.

Time To Harvest

Green Macerata is a fast-growing, early cauliflower variety producing heads that are ready to harvest in as little as 13 to 16 weeks.