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Growing Cauliflower

(brassica oleracea var. botrytus botrytus)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
		S	S	T	T

(Best months for planting Cauliflower in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings.

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 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
Space plants: 60 - 100 cm apart
Harvest in 15-22 weeks.
Compatible with: Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
Avoid growing with: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Mature cauliflower

Large leafed cabbage-like with a white 'curd' or flower forming in the centre. It can be hard to grow successfully. More frost sensitive than most brassicas, it's also not particularly heat tolerant. They tend to fail if stressed when transplanting.

Watch for cabbage white butterfly. Grow better in cooler temperatures. Not suitable for warm areas. Break a leaf over the head to prevent the curd becoming discoloured

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be steamed.
Young ones can be broken into small pieces and added raw to salad.
Cook briefly and add to curry mix.
Traditionally served with cheese sauce.
Add tomato slices for colour.

Your comments and tips

05 Jan 12, Joe (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi Cauli-Community, Here on the Sunshine Coast QLD have problems with white butterflies and worms eating away the leaves. A decent daily spray of garlic and chilly infused water seems to fight off both successfully. Caulis seem to be strong feeders; I applied good general fertilizer weekly and added aged cow manure a shovel load per plant per month. Heads are now developing, yeah! I grow them under 90% shade cloth and hope this keeps the heads white. temperatures are going up which they dont seem to like a lot; supply decent deep root drinks daily. Fingers crossed! Joe
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29 Nov 11, Sam (Australia - temperate climate): Thanks - I finally got a couple to grow and I harvested the first one this morning because the curds were starting to separate. It is very small (I don't expect them to be as big as a store bought one) but kind of greenish and discoloured. Is it safe to eat do you think?
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13 Oct 11, Sam (Australia - temperate climate): I planted cauliflower some months ago and the plants are going nuts. They look really healthy and are getting quite big but there is no sign of a head yet. Will it come or is it too late. Why wouldn't the heads be forming?
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28 Oct 11, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate): Be patient, they grow huge and quite slowly.
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17 Nov 11, dave (Australia - temperate climate): cauli sould be grown in cool temps it dose not like summer
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31 Jul 11, Ben Fergusson (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi Karen had the same problem till told by a commercial grower to tie all the leaves together over the head and water well each day walla it worked
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30 Jul 11, Karen (Australia - temperate climate): My cauliflower plant looks good but the head or curds are not close together but spread and look as if it has gone to seed. what have i done wrong?
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13 Jul 11, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate): You don't say what is eating your plants such as snails or small grey match head size bugs. Di-pel is available at local garden shops for cabbage moth(grey bugs). It is not a chemical and acceptable for use by organic gardeners. You need to read the label to understand how it works. Bruce
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10 Jul 11, (Australia - temperate climate): How do I stop my cauliflower heads from being eaten. I have put down pea straw. I do not want to use chemical sprays.
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01 Jun 11, geoffrey (Australia - sub-tropical climate): this year we are using large pots for cauliflower more control of them and growing well has anyone else done this gayndah-qld
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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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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