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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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09 Nov 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
What have we done wrong? Our cauliflowers look more like broccolini - slightly green, with no tight heads, but loose long florets similar to broccolini. We live 50km south of Perth on the coastal dunes, with alkaline soil. We enriched the soil with compost and cow manure and have fed them with blood and bone, and pelletised chicken manure. Broccoli and broccolini planted with them have tended to bolt.
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11 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds like your soil is fine broccoli and cauliflower love there nitrogen for me personally its far too late in the year to be trying to grow these in the Perth area they are more a winter,autumn vegetables try again in March next year
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16 Sep 10, Jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I too are having trouble getting my cauliflowers to head. They were planted in May. What should I be feeding them with?
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21 Jul 10, stell (Australia - temperate climate)
can te leaves of the plant used (cooked) any way as i have a good foliage of healthy leaves or i hav to put the wole lot in the compost:(
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20 Feb 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes - you can eat the leaves. They're good in stir-fries, or curries, or fried to a crisp with sesame seed oil and lemon juice. Lots of folate!
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21 Jul 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You can use the leaves but they might be a bit tough.
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11 Jul 10, stella (Australia - temperate climate)
my cauliflower plant has like green buds and a yellow flower bloomed as well ..wat is wrong with it as i didnt see any white curds forming
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12 Jul 10, Steven (Australia - temperate climate)
Cauliflower florets will be green if exposed to sunlight. You need to rip of a leaf or such, or grow a curling leaf vaiety, to cover the florets from sunlight, so they stay white. Sounds like you grew a good head of cauliflower, but its green now instead
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21 Jun 10, Julian (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I planted my Cauli's in March and have only this week picked two but the others even though the leaves are over 21/2 feet long have no centre's as yet what am I doing wrong and doesn't that seem a long time?
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21 Jun 10, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Cauliflowers can take 4 to 6 months to grow to a usable size, so hang in there.
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Post a question, comment or tip about Cauliflower

Im in Melb. I havested my cauliflower today. Very proud. they were perfect. Had a virgin vegie pathc and not everything has been such a success? Some of my crop has gone to flower, and some things just didnt yeild much or produce tiny vegies, ie: beetroot. Whereas the radishes were woody and giant? still learning. Love reading this site from fellow farmers. ha

- shell


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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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