Brassica oleracea var. botrytis.
The white cauliflower in its most classic and recognizable expression — selected in 1888 by the famous Peter Henderson seed house of New York, and one of the oldest cauliflower varieties still widely cultivated in North America. The "Snowball" line designates an entire type of compact cauliflower, with a dense, well-closed head, immaculately white under wrapping leaves that naturally shield it from the sun and preserve the whiteness of the flesh. It's the cauliflower of the collective imagination — the one seen at the market stall and in recipe books: elegant, sober, without frills.
Botanically, the cauliflower head is an odd thing: it's actually an inflorescence — a dense bouquet of undeveloped, fused flower buds — placing the cauliflower in the small category of vegetables eaten in the state of aborted flowers. The flavour is mild, lightly sweet and nutty at full maturity, slightly sulfurous after prolonged cooking. Magnificent steamed and drizzled with brown butter and capers, oven-roasted whole or in quarters until the edges caramelize ("roast cauliflower" style, now a restaurant favourite), grated as "cauliflower rice" for low-carb diets, in a classic cheese gratin, or in an Indian-style velouté with turmeric and coconut milk. Compact head 15-18 cm across, and a relatively short cycle for a cauliflower (50-60 days after transplant) — hence the "Early" in its name.
Grower's tip: Cauliflower is notoriously capricious. It needs soil very rich in organic matter, perfectly regular watering (moisture jolts trigger the formation of small, prematurely aborted heads — what's called buttoning), and cool conditions. In Québec, two possible windows: summer harvest by indoor start in April and transplant in May, or — often more reliable — fall harvest by sowing indoors in early June and transplanting in early July. Insect netting is mandatory from transplant against the cabbage worm. Although the variety is described as self-blanching, some gardeners fold the large outer leaves over the forming head and tie them loosely to guarantee an impeccable whiteness.
- Open-pollinated. Biennial, flowers in the second year. Insect-pollinated; crosses with all other Brassica oleracea (cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc.) — isolate rigorously for seed saving.
- Height: 50-70 cm.
- Maturity: 50-60 days after transplant.
- Exposure: full sun in spring and fall; part shade accepted in summer.
- Very rich, deep, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7.5). A hungry plant — amend generously with mature compost. Space plants 50-60 cm apart.
- Start indoors 6-8 weeks before transplant. For fall harvest in Québec, sow in early June and transplant in early July. Strict rotation with other crucifers (3-4 years).
