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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
20 Mar 19, allan holmes (Australia - temperate climate)
how deep do you plant cauliflower seedlings
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Feb 19, Linda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I was wondering when you say to plant cauliflower in seed trays undercover in February, do you mean in a glass house, or under shade cloth? I live in Taradale, Victoria, which is temperate, but we get little rain and have had some really hot sunny days lately that have fried some of my crops. However, we get frosts here that are not like the surrounding areas, and have had things die overnight from that well before and after winter. I also read that cauliflower doesn't take well to transplanting. So would sowing seed direct in February, under shade cloth be okay? Also, Thanks I love this site and all your information Linda
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Feb 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Read all the notes here about growing it. Doesn't like frosts - doesn't like hot days, doesn't like really rich soil. Caulies and cabbage take a lot of care to grow to the seedling stage.If growing seeds, need a good controlled environment - temperature and watering. Undercover means out of the sun and heat. You are starting them in hot/warm weather to transplant when the weather is a bit cooler and grow as the weather goes into winter. When you transplant it is best to have soil around the roots if possible, do it late in the afternoon and put some protection over them - shade for a week or so, water morning and night - only need a light watering. Little plants have small root system so need watering more often. Big plants - bigger watering less often. (Under cover also means protected from frosts- Liz)
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Oct 18, Sue (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Please can you explain why my cauliflowers have small heads 10cm and open.some were planted April and August. The soil has a lot of compost in it.
Reply or Post a new comment
24 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read your NZ guide for caulies - plant seed in Feb. You grow them into the winter. You would probably have them picked by July/Aug. Something I have never been able to grow in our sub tropical area.
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Aug 18, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Being new to the veggie planting, and can I say I really do enjoy my little garden. My question is when is the right time to remove the cauliflower heads??
Reply or Post a new comment
06 Aug 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Caulies can look a couple of different ways. A good caulie will have a nice tight head. A No 1 caulie will be open looking. Check what a good caulie looks like in a supermarket. Probably not long after they reach full size - not growing bigger any more.
Reply or Post a new comment
25 May 18, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Gidday. Can someine tell me if St Lawrence Qld which lies smack bang between Rocky to the South and Mackay to the North is Tropical or Sub-tropical? No-one seems to actually know.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 May 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
More so Sub-Tropical as it is only just north of Rocky. The notes here say from Rocky south.
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Apr 18, Leanne Webb (Australia - temperate climate)
You forgot bakeing cauliflower and it is fantastic better than all other types of cooking. Just a bit of olive oil and season to taste
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 31 - 40 of 204 comments
See comments for all plants

Further to my comments above. The cheap Chinese netting was useless. The $25 (10m x 5m) netting not the best either. I have found this on the internet - 10m x 6.5m White Cross Weave Hail Net / Bird Netting $80. It is rows of knitted cotton with a V shape running between the rows. Expensive but it will keep just about everything out. Birds, moths and probably flies and bees. The framework for the netting above was a lot of work to move to do any work in the garden. I have constructed 2 frames with 20mm conduit pipe - 2m x 2m x1m high. Had to buy the 3 way elbows on the internet to join it all together. A place that sells hot house/shade house stuff. They are a little flimsy but with two people are very easy to move around. I intend to also put some 50% shade cloth over them early and late in the year to extend my growing seasons. Hope this helps other people considering this.

- Mike

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.