Growing Cauliflower

brassica oleracea var. botrytus botrytus : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S S                  
      T                
      P                

(Best months for growing Cauliflower in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 24 - 39 inches apart
  • Harvest in 15-22 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

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17 Jun 16, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Same here Margaret, if you find out please let me know.
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26 Jun 16, lee (Australia - arid climate)
and me ! watching with interest on how others get get lovely big heads on their cauli's.
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11 Jul 16, The Smiling Platypus (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hey guys, Maybe too much nitrogen?? Have you tried potash??
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25 May 16, Mark (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I am growing cauliflower and broccoli and something keeps eating my leaves, I have tried many things but they just keep eating the leaves. Any suggestion to keep away these pest.
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28 Jan 17, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Go out at night with a torchlight,your looking for catipillars they feed at night ,they eat a lot . I went to Bunnings and bought a catipillar powder Yates vegetable dust Derris
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03 Jun 16, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
I found that those beautiful yellowish butterflies, lay their eggs on the leaves and when they hatch they eat big holes in the leaves and sometimes in the actual cauliflower. I spray mine with water/dishwashing liquid.
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16 May 16, Zahir Ahmed (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
where in Sydney can I buy "Purple/Yellow Cauliflower Seeds & Broccolini Seeds" ?
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04 Jun 16, Samantha (Australia - temperate climate)
BROCCOLINI - Zahir Ahmed - Not sure about 'seeds' as such but u can buy Purple/Yellow Broccoli/Broccolini,etc... at Bunnings Warehouse. Hope that helps?
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01 Jun 16, Peta (Australia - tropical climate)
I buy all my organic certified seeds from Eden seeds they say on their site if they can't deliver certain things to places but I have purchased all different types of heirloom seeds and all have so far sprouted. They're also cheaper than buying the seeds from Bunnings up here
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31 Mar 16, James L (Australia - temperate climate)
Hey guys, the answer is no, another cauliflower head will not grow once you cut off the main one.
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Showing 71 - 80 of 204 comments
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Please can you explain why my cauliflowers have small heads 10cm and open.some were planted April and August. The soil has a lot of compost in it.

- Sue

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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