Cauliflower is a delicious vegetable easily grown in Australia and served in recipes like this baked cauliflower cheese.
Watch: Spiced cauliflower brown rice
The best part is that they are easy to grow as long as they’re in the ground at the right time and well-fed.
Kevin Parker is a senior horticulturist at The Greenery Garden and Home. He says, “You can grow certain varieties of cauliflower throughout the year but they are best grown through the winter when they get that chill.”
Here’s how to grow cauliflower in Australia.
Growing cauliflower
Cauliflower varieties
Several cauliflower plant varieties to grow in Australia. Here are some popular options:
Snowball: This is a classic variety that is easy to grow and produces large, dense heads. It is a cool-season crop and can be planted in autumn or early winter.
All year round: As the name suggests, this variety can be planted throughout the year and produces many medium-sized heads. It is a good choice for those who want to have a continuous harvest.
Graffiti: This variety has a vibrant purple colour and is highly nutritious. It is a cool-season crop that can be planted in autumn or early winter.
Mini or baby cauliflower: These are smaller varieties of cauliflower that are becoming increasingly popular in Australia. They are perfect for smaller gardens or those wanting to try something different.
Romanesco: This variety has a unique appearance, with lime-green spiky heads that form a fractal pattern. It is a cool-season crop that can be planted in autumn or early winter.
The cauliflower type you choose to grow will come down to various factors, including the climate you live in, the growing season of the variety of cauliflower, the head size, flavour and texture of the cauliflower variety you prefer and availability.
How to plant cauliflower
Both seedlings and seeds can be used to grow cauliflower.
If you start your cauliflower from seeds, sow individual seeds in single-seed pots and fill them with soil and water. Keep them inside at night; when they are 2-3 weeks old or about 7cm, they will be translated into the garden.
If you don’t have the time or resources to start your seeds. Cauliflower seedlings are usually available from nurseries or garden centres, and they can be transplanted directly into your garden.
How to prepare the soil for planting cauliflower seedlings
Before your cauliflower seedlings are ready for transplanting into your garden, it’s important to prepare the soil. Read our article on how to plant seedlings.
“Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are all leafy vegetables and love high nitrogen type fertiliser, so the ground before planting needs to be well prepared with lots of animal manure with high nitrogen like cow manure, for instance,” says Kevin.
“Even when they are growing, if you use high nitrogen fertiliser regularly, like blood and bone or dynamic lifter, they help to promote a lot of leafy growth.”
One of the biggest problems when growing cauliflower is it can start to flower before producing the vegetable, also known as bolting.
If this is your cauliflower, Kevin says, “That’s often because the soil is poorly prepared, and your cauliflower isn’t getting enough fertiliser.”
Can you grow cauliflower plants in pots?
Cauliflower can be grown in large pots but prefers a veggie patch.
Caring for cauliflower plants
Aspect: Cauliflower prefers full sun. However, the head can get sunburnt once it appears. Blanching is a way to protect it from the sun and involves covering the white top with 1 or 2 cauliflower leaves. Doing this, allows it to stay white and tender.
Soil: PH level 6.5-7.5. Growing cauliflower prefers well-draining soil.
Spacing: At least 30-40cm apart.
Common pests: Common garden pests you will encounter when growing cauliflower include white cabbage moths and aphids.
Disease: To help avoid diseases in your cauliflower, avoid planting them in the same garden bed where you’ve grown cauliflowers, broccoli or cabbages in the last 2 years.
Water: Water cauliflower 2-3 a week for the first month, reducing it to once or twice a week, depending on how much rain there’s been.
Mulch: mulch with an organic mulch, such as sugar cane or pea straw and water in well.
Harvesting a cauliflower plant
How long does cauliflower take to grow?
Your delicious cauliflower is ready to harvest when the head is firm and about 20cm. This can take between 14–18 weeks, depending on the variety.
How to harvest a cauliflower plant
Cut the cauliflower high on the stem just below the head, then remove the entire plant from your garden.
Companion plants:
- Onion
- Dill
- chamomile
Growing cauliflower in Australia is an excellent addition to any home vegetable garden. With a wide variety of cauliflower available, it’s essential to consider your climate, planting season, head size, flavour and texture preferences, and availability.
Both seeds and seedlings can be used to grow cauliflower, but it’s important to prepare the soil before transplanting seedlings into your garden.
Go forth and enjoy your delicious cauliflower.
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