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                    
      T T              

(Best months for growing Cauliflower in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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 (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

11 Jun 15, Yatra (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I have harvested a couple of good looking cauliflowers. The tops are starting to go pinkish in small areas and also quickly covering all smaller ones in the garden. Can this be a fungal thing and will covering the tops with the leaves help? Thank you
12 Jun 20, Pamela Hopkins (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Why does the cauliflower curd open up before fully grown Is it frosts that turn the flower brown
15 Jun 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Google the questions - answers are there.
Showing 11 - 13 of 13 comments

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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. GardenGrow 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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