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If you have watched “Curbside Cauliflower” – Episode 2 of “Late Bloomer,” you know I am growing cauliflower in the parkway, and you heard me say, “One morning, you go out and it looks like this…and the next morning, this is staring back at you.” And there is a photo of a fully-formed white cauliflower peeking out of its protective inner leaves. Today, I had the same experience with my one-and-only cauliflower, which I planted on March 8.

This is my first green cauliflower, about three inches in diameter at this point, and though I was in the garden doing maintenance for several hours yesterday, did not notice it. This is what is so wondrous about growing your own vegetables! Unlike my five cauliflower plants before, this plant has been nearly pest-free and only has one hole in one leaf. But, I have been out several nights with a flashlight picking up snails and slugs! Days to harvest, 80-100.  It’s been 50, so I think it will be ready early.

Here’s a view of my ruby red cabbage patch this morning. (There is one green cabbage hidden from view by the Princess Flower bush.) The two largest on the end I planted on February 1. Days to harvest, 55-85. It’s been 86 already for the two biggest, so I am deducing the topsy-turvy weather in March put them behind 10-14 days. The other six were planted on March 8, so they are behind as well.

That’s okay, because you don’t want everything ready to harvest they same day, or it will have to sit in your refrigerator. I discovered with my first round of cauliflower, if you leave them in the ground too long, a cutworm will think you’re not really interested and make a home in the middle of it, and when you cut it open to eat it, he’s gotten a head start!

I apparently have powdery mildew on my yellow zucchini plant.

Powdery mildew can affect almost any kind of plant. Remove affected parts, improve air-circulation, and prevent over-crowding. That’s a mistake I made. Zucchini seedlings are deceptively small and the plants really spread out and the leaves are huge. I planted way too much in my 6’x3′ raised bed. There are the two zucchini, a cherry tomato, 1 sugar pea, 1 green bean, four strawberry plants and a pepper plant, which is completely shaded by the huge zucchini leaves. Too much! Don’t do this!

I read powdery mildew is host-specific, which explains why my green zucchini plant right next to it is not affected. However, powdery mildew thrives in high-humidity, which we’ve had a lot of, so, I could find it anywhere in my garden. I read that spraying with a solution of 10% milk in water can get rid of it, so I’m going to try that. Because I have an organic garden, I’m always looking for non-toxic methods of disease management.

In spite of the powdery mildew on my yellow zucchini, it appears to be producing well!

Episode 3 of “Late Bloomer,” “Catch-up Day,” will be coming today, so check it out! Thanks for reading!

Tags: biodynamics, cabbage pests, compost, critters, do-it-yourself, farming on small scale, garden pests, gardening, gardening web series, green cauliflower, green your world, growing cauliflower, growing your own vegetables, Kaye Kittrell, Kaye Kittrell Late Bloomer, Late Bloomer, organic, overcrowding, pests, Photography, Plant photography, powdery mildew, ruby cabbage, slugs, snails, urban gardening, vegetables, web series, Welcome to Late Bloomer

Category: Critters, Curbside Gardening, Pests, Vegetables