While cauliflower can be direct seeded in the garden, most folks choose to start their seed indoors about six weeks before setting the plants into the garden after the last frosts have passed. Cauliflower will not do well if planted inside sooner as the plants get root-bound and large. The heads you then harvest will be small button heads about the size of the end of your thumb. So have patience and plant a little later so your plants have only two or three sets of leaves and are not root-bound in small cell packs.
Plant the seeds about 1/8″ deep in good seed starting medium. Then cover the container with a plastic bag to retain humidity and place in a warm location. When the seedlings emerge, provide abundant light and grow on. Plant in your garden on a cloudy day so the plants stand about 18″ to 20″ apart. Harvest heads when they are large but have not begun to separate.
Cauliflower is a biennial, requiring two years to produce seed. In some milder climates, you can simply mound mulch around your cauliflower plants, leaving them rooted in the garden. But in severe winter areas, you must dig the plants and re-plant them into large containers; I use 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage. These plants are then moved indoors into a very cool location and kept over winter, watering just enough to keep the plants from drying out. In the spring, replant the cauliflower.
Cauliflower is one of the hardest vegetables from which to harvest seed unless you live in a milder climate. But if you succeed in producing seed stalks, allow the seed to dry then carefully shatter the seeds out into a bag or bowl. Allow to dry thoroughly, then store in an airtight container.
CAULIFLOWER about 30 seeds per package.
Amazing
Amazing Very tight 10″ heads which are self-blanched to protect the color. This is a hardy variety, not bothered by heat or cool weather. We love it! 68 days
Purple of Sicily
Purple of Sicily Here’s an heirloom Italian cauliflower with a new twist; a lavender tinge to the top of the white curds. It’s simply beautiful on a vegetable tray! The flavor is top notch as well. You’ll love this beautiful addition to your garden. 80 days
White Flag Self-Blanching
White Flag Self-Blanching
We never seemed to get around to tying the leaves over the developing heads of cauliflower and ended up with yellowish heads, instead of pure white. This old variety takes care of that chore for us. Not only is it a great tasting variety but it grows so that the leaves mostly cover the heads leaving them nice and white. It likes cooler weather and matures in about 75-80 days.
