Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Cauliflower demands a steady cool season to produce a clean white curd. Transplants started indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost bridge spring weather, but stress from drought, heat, or uneven feeding can stall curd formation even when leaves look vigorous. Maturity is typically 55–85 days from transplanting when moisture stays even.
Plant family Brassicaceae · Also called garden cauliflower
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Transplant into steady cool weather.
Sow indoors 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost about 0.6 cm deep. Germination typically takes 5–10 days. Move hardened transplants outdoors from four weeks before the frost through the frost date.
Hardy classification helps early establishment, yet curd development remains sensitive. Indoor lead time is shorter than for Brussels sprouts because maturity from transplant is 55–85 days.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Leave room for wrapping leaves.
Allow 45–60 cm between plants and 75 cm between rows. Large wrapper leaves shade the developing curd, so crowding increases humidity and pest pressure.
Containers need 30 cm depth minimum and about 20 litres of volume. Optional blanching by tying leaves is easier when a single plant has space on all sides.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Prevent moisture swings at curd set.
Six hours of direct sun is the minimum. Bright light without extreme heat supports compact curds; sudden warm spells during heading are a common failure point.
High water at 35–50 mm weekly and pH 6.0–7.5 are listed. The key tip stresses even moisture because stress can prevent good head formation entirely.
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
High water need.
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during establishment and harvest development.
Harvest while the head stays tight.
Count 55–85 days from transplanting. Curds should be harvested while grain-like buds stay tight; delay leads to ricey separation and off flavors.
A 21-day succession interval can stagger plantings where summers stay mild. Variety choice strongly affects whether you land near the short or long end of the range.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Even moisture and cool weather are important because stress can prevent good head formation.
Cauliflower growing questions
Why might cauliflower fail to form a head?
Stress from uneven moisture or warm weather can interrupt curd development even when foliage looks healthy.
How long after transplant is cauliflower ready?
The profile lists 55–85 days with harvest basis transplanting.
Is cauliflower direct-sown outdoors?
This profile emphasizes transplanting with indoor starts 4–6 weeks before the last frost.
What water classification does cauliflower use?
High need with 35–50 mm weekly, reflecting steady moisture during curd formation.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S3,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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