Can you regrow cauliflower after harvesting?

Cauliflower plants are noted for producing one edible head and they will not regrow after they've produced the edible head you have harvested. In contrast to broccoli, which may generate additional side shoots after an initial harvest, cauliflower invests its energy into one curd and will not regrow anymore. I learned the lesson the hard way about not wasting precious garden space by leaving the stalks in hopes of having them regrow, not realizing that by doing this I would attract pests.

You can improve your garden's yield by rotating crops after the harvest of cauliflower. I like to stick with the brassica to legume cycle, so I plant bush beans where the cauliflower used to be. The beans fix the nitrogen in the soil that was tapped by the heavy-feeding cauliflower. This practice has cut my fertilizer application in half.

Empty beds are a valuable resource, do not leave them unplanted. After you pull out your cauliflower stalks, consider sowing fast-growing greens like spinach or cover crops, such as clover. Last fall, I planted clover, which suppressed weeds and added organic matter by spring. Turnover time is important in smaller gardens.

Composting the debris from cauliflower improves soil health. Shred any stalks or leaves and incorporate them with dry leaves or straw as a balance. Avoid any diseased plants; clubroot can live in the soil for several years. Luckily, my compost heap gets hot (130°F/54°C) and therefore it can kill any pathogens and can be reused safely for future beds.

Read the full article: How to Grow Cauliflower: 7 Essential Tips for Success