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

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?
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?
28 Oct 11, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate)
Be patient, they grow huge and quite slowly.
17 Nov 11, dave (Australia - temperate climate)
cauli sould be grown in cool temps it dose not like summer
31 Jul 11, Ben Fergusson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Karen had the same problem till told by a commercial grower to tie all the leaves together over the head and water well each day walla it worked
30 Jul 11, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
My cauliflower plant looks good but the head or curds are not close together but spread and look as if it has gone to seed. what have i done wrong?
15 Jul 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Bruce. I have no idea what is eating them. One night they are there and in the morning completely eaten. Will try dipel. Cheers keith
13 Jul 11, Bruce (Australia - temperate climate)
You don't say what is eating your plants such as snails or small grey match head size bugs. Di-pel is available at local garden shops for cabbage moth(grey bugs). It is not a chemical and acceptable for use by organic gardeners. You need to read the label to understand how it works. Bruce
10 Jul 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I stop my cauliflower heads from being eaten. I have put down pea straw. I do not want to use chemical sprays.
01 Jun 11, geoffrey (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
this year we are using large pots for cauliflower more control of them and growing well has anyone else done this gayndah-qld
Showing 141 - 150 of 204 comments

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