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
  • A variety of purple cauliflower
  • Mature cauliflower

Large leafed cabbage-like with a white 'curd' or flower forming in the centre. It can be hard to grow successfully. More frost sensitive than most brassicas, it's also not particularly heat tolerant. They tend to fail if stressed when transplanting.

Watch for cabbage white butterfly. Grow better in cooler temperatures. Not suitable for warm areas. Break a leaf over the head to prevent the curd becoming discoloured.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be eaten raw, steamed, stirfried, grilled, or roasted. Popular grated and steamed/stirfried as a low-carb rice substitute.
Cook briefly and add to curry mix.
Traditionally served with cheese sauce. Add tomato slices for colour.
Toss with oil and spices and roast/grill until browned and delicious!

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
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
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15 Jun 20, Anonymous (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Google the questions - answers are there.
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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
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19 Dec 13, Michelle (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Once I have picked the cauliflower, do I need to remove the plant or will another cauli grow? Thanks.
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20 Dec 13, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Thank you for the replies, I don't think I explained myself very well. I grew beautiful big cauliflowers, I've picked them and the question is, now what do I do with the plant left behind - will another cauliflower grow from the stalk or do I pull the whole plant out? Thanks
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27 Aug 19, Alex Ayerst (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Take plant out and compost. Leave for a while before replacing.
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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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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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11 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi K Harrison, It is difficult to say what is wrong without seeing your plants. One possibility is frost damage. Can you take a piece of a damaged plant into your local nursery? They may be able to look up in some reference books for you.
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11 Jul 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Michael, to get a good size curd from each plant, you will probably only fit three plants at the most in each tub. Cauliflower like plenty of organic matter and some lime to reduce soil acidity. They are fairly slow growing and do not like hot weather. Make sure the tubs do not dry out.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 13 comments
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I'm sub tropical and I don't even try to grow caulies. They need a cool cold climate. An agronomist told me the other week cauli, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce need it to be cool/cold to form a head. I have tried growing them but end up with huge leafy plants and no or little head, reason, over fertile soil. To really be on the ball on growing them you would have to have a soil test done, then a specific fertiliser would have to be applied. You may only have a small time window to plant them, say April to mid May. Talk to an agronomist in your area if you can.

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