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

07 Feb 16, Brett Davey (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Once you harvest, discard the remainder of the plant as it only produces one cauliflower
04 Oct 15, Candy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, this was my first attempt at growing broccoli & cauliflower from seedlings. Pretty sure I planted them mid winter. While they look as though they are flourishing, with lots of healthy big leaves - still none have produced heads! They were planted in the same garden bed as I had previously grown tomatoes, with plenty of compost & regular fertiliser added. Any idea's why? Is it possible they still might produce, this far into spring?? Thanks
06 Oct 15, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello there, I live in Victoria in a temperate area, but have had a bit of experience growing broccoli especially and some cauliflower. Be careful which seedlings you buy, because if you buy 'green sprouting broccoli' it doesn't have a very big head, or floret. I use a Green Emperor Variety which has a much bigger head. I bought some seeds from bunnings and I think there was sixty seeds in the pack. Hope that helps a bit with your question. Thanks David
06 Sep 15, 1st time veggie grower (Australia - temperate climate)
My cauliflowers are going great (white) do I cut them off from the base and remove the rest of the plant and discard -is this the end of its life or do I leave it and will another cauliflower will grow from it?
03 Jan 16, Anne (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I would like to know this too please
21 Jun 15, Brian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Jim, You can get a purple cauli, but I will assume you have a different variety. break/bend and tie a couple of the outer leaves and lay them over the head. This will stop them from
19 Jun 15, Jim (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This is our first attempt at growing cauliflowers. Looked good to start off .Cauliflower heads are turning purple ,only about 75 -100 mm in diameter and opening up.
11 Jun 15, Yatra (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have harvested a couple of good looking cauliflowers. The tops are starting to go pinkish in small areas and also quickly covering all smaller ones in the garden. Can this be a fungal thing and will covering the tops with the leaves help? Thank you
08 Jun 15, Critters (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Currently growing a hybrid cauliflower, rather tall plant reaching between 80cm to 1 metre tall. the stem of the flowerette is a light lime green with a purple head. No detraction from the good old taste of cauli. My method is to use compost, compost and more compost, then add some more compost. Sunlight is the trigger that makes the cauli purple. Dadpad's comment tells you how to keep your cauli from turning purple, once it has turned purple it is too late to turn back the clock. Happy Gardening.
04 Jun 15, dadpad (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like It could be the purple variety. Otherwise try to pull the leaves up around and over the fruiting body (really the flower) tie the leaves at the top to keep them in place covering the
Showing 81 - 90 of 204 comments

G'day Mark, you could try a two metre fence, horses love green veg. For "Caterpillars", use Yates Nature's Way. It is organic and it stops the larvae eating. It takes longer to work but you will find almost instant results. Being organic there is no harm in using it almost up to harvest.

- Des

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