Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'Nessie'

RHS Plant Profile

cauliflower 'Nessie'

Michael John Day

Annual Biennial

An outstanding Summer-Autumn cauliflower variety producing pure white curds that do not discolour against dark green leaves. This is a vigorous grower that can be sown in Spring for a late Summer-Autumn harvest or sown in October for an early Summer harvest

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Sand, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Sand Loam

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow direct in Spring between March and May or sow in October and overwinter for an early Summer harvest. See cauliflower cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage gall weevil, cabbage root fly, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails, swede midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildews, grey moulds, foot and root rot, leaf spot, white blister