Cauliflower Pionier

Cauliflower Pionier: variety and characteristics

Cauliflower Pionier (Brassica oleracea) is an annual vegetable of the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Cauliflower Pioneer is among the most valued early varieties. It produces large, compact, semi-spherical white heads. The variety is especially recommended for planting outdoors, to enjoy vegetables in late spring / early summer or early autumn.

Cauliflower is not one of the easiest vegetables to grow, but with good planning, regular care and a small dose of common sense you can have cauliflower on the table almost all year round.

Cauliflower is the refined member of the cabbage family — with dense white (or purple, green) heads for roasting, soups and pickling.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 89%
• Seeds per packet: 137–186 pcs (0.6 g)
• Seed origin: Poland
• Sowing: February – May; seedlings
• Harvest: May – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Cauliflower Pionier

Cauliflower Pionier seeds are sown in February – May. Harvest takes place from May to September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Cauliflower Pionier

• Sowing method: seedlings
• Depth: 1 cm
• Spacing: 50–60 cm
• Germination: 5–10 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

Sow cauliflower from February to May. Sowings can be made in trays or pots, indoors, in a warm and well-lit place at 13°C. As soon as the greenhouse seedlings show their first pair of leaves, prick out into trays 5 cm. apart, or into thin modules, one seedling per cell. Space plants in the greenhouse 45 cm. apart between the plants and 60 cm. between the rows for bigger heads. Outdoor sowings should be thinned to 7-10 cm. apart, then when the plants are 15 cm. tall, they can be transplanted to their final planting positions, at the same spacing as described above. Water generously once a week in dry weather. An abundance of water throughout the growing season is important for high productivity.

Cauliflower does not tolerate stress: plant young seedlings, water regularly and protect from heat. When the head appears, cover it with its own leaves to keep it white.

Harvest and use

Pick when the head is firm, before the florets begin to separate.

Frequently asked questions

When should Cauliflower Pionier be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – May. Sowing method: seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 137–186 seeds, pack size 0.6 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 89%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

How do I keep cauliflower white?

Once the head is 5–7 cm, snap or tie a few leaves over it to shade it.