Growing guide

Best time to plant cauliflower in Australia

Brassica oleracea

Also called Romanesco

The part of cauliflower that reaches the plate is the curd, a dense head of flower buds that have not yet developed. White is usual, although green, orange and purple heads exist, and Romanesco forms spiral patterns. It can be eaten raw, steamed or roasted.

On a shared plot: suits a plot

Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.

When to sow

ZoneMonthsHow well checked
CoolNov to AprMatches local guides
TemperateDec to AprMatches local guides
SubtropicalJan to MayBroadly matches local guides, with some differences
AridFeb to JulMatches local guides

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Growing details

How to start
Raise seedlings, then transplant
Sowing depth
1-2cm
Plant spacing
30cm
Row spacing
60cm
Height
75cm
Germination
Soil 7-29°C, fastest at 20-28°C
Time to harvest
70-98 days from planting out
Frost
Semi-hardy, protect from hard frost
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
biennial, usually grown as an annual

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Further reading on this plant