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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 P         P      

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

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • 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: 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

Your comments and tips

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07 May 12, terry harris adelaide (Australia - temperate climate)
Cauliflower start off well then heads seem togo to seed without forming a strong headplant has healthy leaf. is it the soil lack of fertiliser or what? thankyou for any help terry
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23 Apr 12, David (Australia - arid climate)
Put Fruitfly mesh over plants from day 1. Prevent all insect contact.
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21 Apr 12, mick (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
just wondering if anybody has good tips for natural and organic pest control.seem to have a lot of aphids and white moths. plants are nice and healthy apart from leaves being eaten
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23 Apr 12, Julia (Australia - temperate climate)
I use just plain flour, sifted onto the leaves of my plants, it acts as a stomach poison on the caterpillars but doesn't harm anything else, no harm to you and breaks down quickly
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06 Feb 12, "Kid"s rice (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
If you steam the cauliflower to slightly underdone (about 10-12min) Pulse shred it in a processor to a rice consistancy. Serve with a sauce... My kids did not even realize what they were eating...they hat veggies, love rice. It is also an excellent idea for dieters.
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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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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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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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