How to grow Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis)
The fussy but rewarding brassica.
Cauliflower is the fussiest brassica — it wants steady cool weather and never a check in growth. Grow it as a carefully-timed spring or fall crop and keep it well-fed and watered.
Grow Cauliflower with step-by-step help for your exact yard.
Start free in Seededly →Cauliflower at a glance
| Sun | Full sun |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.0–7.0 |
| Spacing | 18 in |
| Harvest | 60–85 days |
| Plant | Spring & fall |
| Note | Likes it cool |
How to grow Cauliflower, step by step
Time it cool
- Transplant so heads form in cool weather; it bolts or “buttons” in heat.
- Space 18 in in rich, firm soil.
Never let it check
- Steady water and feeding are critical — any stress ruins the head.
- Mulch to keep roots cool and moist.
Blanch & cut
- When the head shows, tie outer leaves over white types to keep them pale.
- Cut while the curd is tight and smooth.
Cauliflower problems & fixes
Cauliflower — Tiny premature head (buttoning): what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Cold or stress on young plants. Transplant sturdy plants at the right time.
Cauliflower — Loose, ricey curds: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Heat or irregular growth. Grow in cool weather; keep it fed and watered.
Cauliflower — Worms in the head: what's wrong and how do I fix it?
Cabbage worms. Net the bed; use Bt.
Recommended cauliflower varieties
- Snowball — All-rounder. Dependable white self-blanching head.
- Cheddar — Orange. Holds color cooked; extra nutrition.
- Graffiti — Purple. Vivid purple heads - fun and easy.
Cauliflower month-by-month
| January | Off-season. |
|---|---|
| February | Order seed. |
| March | Start spring transplants. |
| April | Transplant while cool. |
| May | Heads form in cool spring. |
| June | Harvest before heat. |
| July | Start fall transplants. |
| August | Grow on. |
| September | Heads form for fall. |
| October | Fall harvest — the easiest. |
| November | Last heads after light frost. |
| December | Off-season. |