Cauliflower is the most temperamental of the brassicas, it requires a long, cool, consistent growing season and is highly sensitive to temperature stress, which causes the curd to 'button' (form tiny, immature heads) prematurely. However, successfully grown cauliflower from a home garden is incomparably superior to supermarket specimens and well worth the effort.
Plant Spacing
60 cm apart
70 cm between rows
Days to Harvest
80-120 days
Germination: 5-10 days
Sun Needs
Full sun (6+ hours daily)
Water Needs
High, consistent moisture throughout; water stress causes premature heading
Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Expected Yield
1 head per plant (500g-1.5kg); possible side shoots
Planting times vary significantly across Australia's five climate zones. Find your zone below for the best planting windows.
| Climate Zone | Best Planting Months |
|---|---|
| Tropical (Darwin, Cairns) | April-July |
| Subtropical (Brisbane, Northern NSW) | February-June |
| Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth) | January-May, July-September |
| Cool/Alpine (Canberra, Hobart, high country) | August-October, January-March |
| Arid (Alice Springs, outback) | February-June |
Not sure of your climate zone? Enter your postcode to get personalised planting advice.
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Cauliflower is the most demanding brassica to grow and the most sensitive to growing conditions. Its ideal growing temperature is 10-18°C, too cold and the plant 'bolts' to button heads; too warm and it produces the same result. In most Australian climates, this means autumn to late winter is the cauliflower season.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting. Seedlings should be well established (6-8cm tall, stocky) before transplanting into the final bed. Handle roots carefully and water in with seaweed solution to reduce transplant shock.
Prepare the bed with generous compost, aged manure, and complete fertiliser, cauliflower is a heavy feeder. Plant at 60cm spacing (cauliflower becomes very large) and stake in windy positions. Water in well and mulch immediately.
Feed with a high-nitrogen fertiliser every 2 weeks during vegetative growth. Consistent watering is critical, never allow the plant to wilt. When the curd (white head) begins to form, tie the outer leaves over it ('blanching') to protect it from sunlight, which turns it yellow-green and slightly bitter. Use a rubber band or soft tie to hold 3-4 large outer leaves over the developing curd.
Choose reliable Australian varieties: 'All Year Round' is the standard; 'Graffiti' is a striking purple variety; 'Orange Bouquet' is a vivid orange. Coloured varieties need less blanching and are more striking on the plate.
From the makers
Plant Planner calculates how many cauliflower plants your family needs, assigns them to the right beds, and generates a personalised planting schedule for your climate zone.
These plants make excellent neighbours for cauliflower in your raised beds, they help deter pests, improve pollination, or enhance growing conditions.
Avoid planting cauliflower near these crops, they can inhibit each other's growth, attract shared pests, or compete aggressively.
Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars devastate cauliflower, use fine insect exclusion netting or Bt spray from transplanting.
Buttoning (tiny premature heads) is caused by temperature stress, root damage, or drought, plant at the right time and maintain consistent moisture.
Hollow stem indicates boron deficiency, apply borax solution preventively.
Club root is a serious soilborne disease, lime the bed to maintain pH above 7.0.
Harvest cauliflower when the curd is compact, tight, and white (for white varieties), at 15-20cm diameter. Once the surface begins to separate and take on a grainy texture, it is overripe. Cut the whole head with a sharp knife, leaving some of the stem and surrounding leaves attached. Side shoots sometimes develop after harvest, producing smaller but edible secondary curds.
1 head per plant (500g-1.5kg); possible side shoots
Yield depends on variety, growing conditions, and management. These are typical results for well-maintained Australian raised beds.
Plant Planner checks every crop assignment against the full companion database, it knows that Cauliflower grows well with Dill and Sage and warns you about antagonists automatically.
Unlock FreePlant 6-8 plants staggered over 4-6 weeks for sequential harvest for a family of 4
These estimates are based on average Australian household consumption. Adjust up if you plan to preserve, freeze, or use heavily; adjust down for occasional use.
Cauliflower germinates in 5-10 days and is ready to harvest in 80-120 days. Harvest cauliflower when the curd is compact, tight, and white (for white varieties), at 15-20cm diameter.
Space cauliflower plants 60 cm apart, with 70 cm between rows. Correct spacing gives each plant room for airflow and root development and is one of the easiest ways to lift your yield in a raised bed.
Full sun (6+ hours daily). High, consistent moisture throughout; water stress causes premature heading.
It depends on your climate zone. In temperate areas (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide) plant cauliflower January-May, July-September. Other zones: tropical, April-July; subtropical, February-June; cool, August-October, January-March; arid, February-June.
Cauliflower grows well alongside Dill, Sage, Thyme, Celery, Beetroot, Onion. Keep it away from Tomato, Strawberry, Fennel, which can compete with it or attract shared pests.
Plant 6-8 plants staggered over 4-6 weeks for sequential harvest for a family of 4
Plant Planner automatically calculates how many cauliflower plants your family needs, assigns them to the right beds, and generates a personalised planting schedule for your climate zone.
Calculate how many cauliflower plants I needFree for 2 beds · No credit card required