Crop type: Cauliflowers
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) ‘Jerome’
Common name: Cauliflower ‘Jerome’
Crop slug: cauliflower
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Jerome’ is a vigorous spring cauliflower producing medium-sized, deep-white heads. Plants stand well through winter and the curds are harvested from late March through April, providing a high-quality early-spring crop.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metres
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The clump-forming crop reaches useful size within one annual cycle despite overwintering.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Loam and sand
- Moisture
- Well-drained
- Soil pH
- Neutral or alkaline
Firm, fertile ground with sound winter drainage supports the long establishment period.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H5 — hardy through most UK winters, consistent with standing outdoors for a spring harvest
Choose a sunny sheltered plot and protect the developing curd during severe winter weather.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
No seasonal colours are assigned. The key visual feature is a medium-sized deep-white head enclosed by sturdy green foliage through winter into spring.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump-forming
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Brassica includes upright annual, biennial and perennial plants with alternate, often glaucous leaves and cross-shaped flowers, with many members selected as vegetable crops.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in full sun in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Sow indoors or directly from May to June, then transplant to final positions in July or August. Fold leaves over the head for winter protection.
Propagation
Propagate by seed indoors or outdoors.
Pruning
No pruning is required; leaf folding is protective rather than pruning.
Pests
Potential pests include birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage gall weevil, cabbage root fly, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails, and swede midge.
Diseases
Possible diseases are black rot, club root, downy mildew, foot and root rot, grey mould, leaf spot and white blister.