Cauliflower, Purple Cape (Organic)
Brassica oleracea. 200+ days.
This overwintering purple cauliflower is another great crop for the hunger gap of late spring. Purple Cape, when sown in June or July, produces deep purple heads the following February through March. Produces much larger heads and more food than overwintering purple sprouting broccoli, and we are so happy to be able to offer it! Delicious and beautiful. Hardy to zone 7, this extreme selection (5% survivors) made it through lows of 2°F in December 2013 and had further selection in the 2016 and 2018 growing seasons. A staple of the Pitchfork & Crow winter CSA shares, Purple Cape Cauliflower seed has become hard to find in recent years.
This seed has been hot water treated.
As required by the Oregon Department of Agriculture & the Washington Crucifer Quarantine, all Brassica family seed lots have been tested & found negative for blackleg (Phoma lingam) by an approved, certified lab.
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Sow indoors in flats with good potting soil June through late July for harvest February through March. Transplant into the garden about 3-4 weeks after sprouting. May also be direct sown. Not for summer production, but a great choice for winter gardens in our area.
Seed Saving
Collect seed from 50 or more plants when pods are dry. Dance on seed stalks on a tarp to thresh. Collect seeds and winnow to clean. Isolate when flowering from other flowering Brassicas of the same species, B. oleracea, by ½ mile.
kirsten.mcmillan7 (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Oregon
I purchased Purple Cape Cauliflower and Prestige Cauliflower last year. Started the seeds in July, planted the starts at the beginning of August and harvested the Purple Cape Cauliflower in February. I live in the Willamette Valley, which is zone 8. A few of the Purple Cape produced really large heads, one of which weighed almost 3 lbs. It is now the end of March and not one Prestige Cauliflower has produced yet. Instructions say April to May. My fingers are still crossed.
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Krista Morien –
Where did you grow this variety? Oregon
I planted seeds in mid-August. The plants did well through a colder winter than normal near Eugene. I only covered them when it got to 20 degrees or below….and during the crazy ice storm here! Cauli is developing nicely in late February. Should be ready to harvest by March and April. The purple is deepening right now….Gorgeous heads!
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