You Can Hear Cauliflower Growing!

There really isn’t anything exciting about cauliflower. In fact, cauliflower is consumed far less than potatoes, tomatoes, and onions (and more!) (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2019). However, cauliflower is unique in one way that most other vegetables are not. If you listen closely, you can hear it grow!

Cauliflower ekes out a barely audible sound, due to its rapid rate of growth. It can grow as much as one inch per day with the right growing conditions. This rapid expansion means the florets of the plant’s popcorn-like heads rub against each other. Farmers call this “cauliflower creak.”

Many say it’s similar to the sound of Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® in a bowl after you pour the milk. Rhubarb, cabbage, and other crops exhibit similar noises, although it is more pronounced in cauliflower owing to their florets.

As far as we know, the exact decibel level of cauliflower growing has not been measured, but to hear it grow, the surrounding environment needs to be very quiet. 

Just when you thought vegetables weren’t interesting! 

References

Interesting Facts. (2023) You can hear cauliflower growing. (accessed July 19, 2023).

Economic Research Service. (2019) U.S. Department of Agriculture. Potatoes and tomatoes are the most-commonly consumed vegetables. (accessed July 19, 2023).