The white heads of the cauliflower are prone to sunburn in too much sun. Here's what to do to avoid the damage.
The brilliant white florets of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) are real eye-catchers, but also very sensitive to strong sunlight. The discoloration caused by the sunburn is not nice, but it does not make the cauliflower inedible. With a few little tricks you can effectively protect your cauliflower heads from discoloration. We'll tell you below what is important.
"Contents"
- Cauliflower and sunburn: bend leaves
- Cauliflower and sunburn: the right choice of variety
- Colored varieties of cauliflower
- Self-covering white varieties
Cauliflower and sunburn: bend leaves
The so-called "cauliflower florets" grow in the middle of the cauliflower leaves. The florets are the inflorescences of the cauliflower and the part of the plant that is consumed. A few weeks before the cauliflower harvest, when the sun exposure is highest, you should fold the surrounding leaves inward to protect the delicate florets. The so-called "covering" does not harm the plant and preserves the aromatic taste and the brilliant white of the cauliflower head.
Cauliflower and sunburn: the right choice of variety
Even when choosing the Variety of cauliflower you can take preventive measures against sunburn. We explain to you which varieties are less susceptible and which can even protect themselves from sunburn.
Colored varieties of cauliflower
There are many different varieties of cauliflower. In addition to the common white varieties, there are also purple and yellow varieties. The color pigmentation of these varieties makes the florets less prone to sunburn. The discoloration that occurs with white heads does not affect taste or palatability in any way, it is only about the appearance.
Note: The colored varieties are nutritionally better than the white ones. Try your luck.
Self-covering white varieties
If you don't want to do without white cauliflower, but want to save yourself the hassle of covering, you can use self-covering white varieties. The self-covering varieties do not unfold their leaves completely like conventional varieties, but still enclose the white florets for the most part and thus protect them from the sun. A typical self-covering variety is ‘Tabiro‘ with a mild aromatic taste. The medium-high autumn variety ‘Nuage‘, is considered a frost-hardier variety. It is well covered and produces a high yield with large, white, strongly arched flowers.
