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

27 Jun 14, Imelda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Cauliflower has been growing for about 60 days, lots of large leaves and getting tall. Will the heads form on a plant that is 10cm tall from base and has leaves branching out from the top of that 10cm point to make it around 25-30cm tall? Thanks in advance for any advice.
18 Sep 14, (Australia - arid climate)
Cut some of the leaves off the stem , leave 4-6 leaves for cover
16 Aug 14, Doris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't despair. Our plants looked like that for ages. We were about to give up when we noticed fruit forming. Now we have about nine fruit, each up to ten cm in size. It may have been the dose of fertiliser about four weeks ago that did it.
19 Jun 14, Peter M ( a keen retiree gardener) (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My climate I can only grow cauliflower in the cooler months so my question is Do I have to blanch them before freezing them to enable me to have cauliflower all year round. thank you in advance for your reply.
05 May 14, Lindi (Australia - temperate climate)
im growing cauliflower its been cranking but now ive noticed theres been something eatting the leaves and was tiny lil whits spots on back of them what could it be and how could i treat it?
20 May 14, Allison (Australia - temperate climate)
Try spraying top and bottom of leaves with Eco Oil (organic pest control). Not dangerous, can spray and consume same day. Anything with parafin or other chemicals is BAD. I also planted Nasturtions and Marigold in same garden and the bugs go for them instead. Hope this helps.
28 Mar 14, Cynthia (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
What a lovely website you have here. It was the first time I saw it and what a pleasure to go through it! Thank you so much we have found some valuable information.
21 Dec 13, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
Cant profess to be the best grower of cauliflower - I find them very fussy. The ones I have managed to grow to a full undiseased and uncracked head (sigh), have not sprouted either another head or laterals. Unless you get advised otherwise - pull it.
19 Dec 13, Michelle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Once I have picked the cauliflower, do I need to remove the plant or will another cauli grow? Thanks.
20 Dec 13, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Thank you for the replies, I don't think I explained myself very well. I grew beautiful big cauliflowers, I've picked them and the question is, now what do I do with the plant left behind - will another cauliflower grow from the stalk or do I pull the whole plant out? Thanks
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