BrassicasBrassicaceae
Cauliflower.
Cool seasonDeer favorite
At a glance
The spec sheet.
- Indoor start
- Mar 15
- Direct sow / out
- Jul 15 (best as fall crop)
- Germ
- 5–10 days
- Days to harvest
- 60–100
- Spacing
- 24" apart, rows 30"
- Depth
- ¼"
- Square-foot
- 1 per square (loves cool fall — often better than spring)
- Qty target
- 4–8 heads for occasional roasting/soup use.
Plant
Fall planting more reliable than spring in NJ heat.
Care
When head reaches 2", blanch by folding outer leaves over the curd (unless growing self-blanching variety). Row cover for cabbage moth.
Harvest
When head is tight and full but before curds separate. Cut with several leaves attached for storage.
Blanch 3 min & freeze; pickled cauliflower; giardiniera.
Companion planting
What cauliflower likes, and doesn’t.
More in this family