Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea (Cauliflower Group)
About it
- Kind
- Vegetables · Annual
- Family
- Brassicaceae
- Frost
- Semi-hardy — takes a light frost
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 18 in apart
- Soil depth in a pot
- At least 12 in
- Water
- About every 7 days
ⓘ We don't know this plant's soil pH, feeding needs and mature size yet.
When to plant
- Start indoors
- 6 weeks before planting out
- Plant out
- Plant out 2 weeks before the last frost
- Soil temperature
- Germinates from 40°F
- Ready
- About 85 days from sowing
Based on your last frost date. Outside the US, check local advice.
Planting partners
What has been claimed about growing Cauliflower near other plants, grouped by how well it has been tested. Most companion planting advice has never been tested; the notes say which is which.
Tested in field trials
- With Chinese Cabbage Napa cabbage grown as a trap crop beside other brassicas draws flea beetles away from them; in trials only a mix of three trap-crop species improved the protected broccoli's yield. UMN Extension ↗Europe PMC ↗
- With Mustard Greens Mustard grown as a trap crop beside other brassicas draws flea beetles away from them; in trials only a mix of three trap-crop species improved the protected broccoli's yield. UMN Extension ↗Europe PMC ↗
Mixed evidence
- With Green Onion Green onions are often planted to keep flea beetles off brassicas, but little research supports it and some contradicts it. UMN Extension ↗
- With Marigold Marigolds are often planted to keep flea beetles off brassicas, but little research supports it and some contradicts it. UMN Extension ↗
Safety for pets and children
- Cats No information in our sources
- Dogs No information in our sources
- Horses Listed as a problem for horses (NC State Extension)
- Children No information in our sources
If a pet or child eats part of this plant, call your vet or poison control.
Read from NC State Extension ↗.
"No information" means our sources do not say, not that the plant is harmless. A non-toxic listing is not a reason to let anyone eat a plant.
Pests and diseases
No pest or disease notes for Cauliflower yet.
Check the label and your local extension service before using any product.
Where this comes from
- category NC State Extension ↗ Listed in Table 16-4, "Garden Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs"
- climate requirement NC State Extension ↗ Ch. 16 lists cauliflower among the cool-season annuals, which it defines as cold-hardy. No zones: an annual has no winter to survive (see the header)
- climate requirement NC State Extension ↗ Ch. 16 lists cauliflower among the cool-season annuals, which it defines as cold-hardy. No zones: an annual has no winter to survive (see the header)
- days to maturity NC State Extension ↗ Table 16-4: T=55-65, S=85-95; the from-seed low end
- family npgsweb.ars-grin.gov ↗ GRIN page: Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.
- frost hardiness cmg.extension.colostate.edu ↗ CSU #720 (Colorado) semi-hardy class lists cauliflower
- indoor start weeks cmg.extension.colostate.edu ↗ UNH (New Hampshire) 4-6 weeks, NC State (North Carolina) Table 16-3 5-7, CSU #720 (Colorado) transplant age 5-7: 6 is in all three
- indoor start weeks NC State Extension ↗ UNH (New Hampshire) 4-6 weeks, NC State (North Carolina) Table 16-3 5-7, CSU #720 (Colorado) transplant age 5-7: 6 is in all three
- indoor start weeks extension.unh.edu ↗ UNH (New Hampshire) 4-6 weeks, NC State (North Carolina) Table 16-3 5-7, CSU #720 (Colorado) transplant age 5-7: 6 is in all three
- life cycle NC State Extension ↗ The Toolbox page is the Cauliflower & Broccoli Group
- life cycle NC State Extension ↗ The Toolbox page is the Cauliflower & Broccoli Group
- maturity counted from NC State Extension ↗ The 0069 row took NC State (North Carolina) Table 16-4's S=85-95 (from seed), not T=55-65
- min soil depth in NC State Extension ↗ Not in Table 18-1; 12 in as collards (12), the same analogy migration 0039 used for broccoli and cabbage. A group figure, as every ch. 18 depth is
- min soil temp f cmg.extension.colostate.edu ↗ CSU #720 (Colorado) Table 1: cauliflower germination minimum 40°F
- space requirement NC State Extension ↗ Table 16-4 distance between plants: 18 in. The table publishes no row distance, so rows equal plants -- the square spacing of an intensive bed
- species NC State Extension ↗
- sunlight NC State Extension ↗ Toolbox Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- toxicity NC State Extension ↗ toxic for horse from the page's "Problem for" listing.
- transplant weeks rel last frost extension.unh.edu ↗ UNH (New Hampshire) table: cauliflower 2 weeks before last frost (a single week, so no window); inside CSU #720 (Colorado) semi-hardy 0-2 weeks before
- water frequency days UMN Extension ↗ UMN "Growing cauliflower": "If the planting does not receive one inch of rain each week, soak the soil thoroughly at least once a week."