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(Best months for planting Cauliflower in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

• Harvest in 110-155 days
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 60-100cm

Large leafed cabbage-like with a white 'curd' or flower forming in the centre. It can be hard to grow successfully. More frost sensitive than most brassicas, it's also not particularly heat tolerant. They tend to fail if stressed when transplanting.

Watch for cabbage white butterfly. Grow better in cooler temperatures. Not suitable for warm areas. Break a leaf over the head to prevent the curd becoming discoloured

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cauliflower

Cauliflower can be steamed.
Young ones can be broken into small pieces and added raw to salad.
Cook briefly and add to curry mix.
Traditionally served with cheese sauce.
Add tomato slices for colour.

Your comments and tips

02 Feb 09 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi Kyle, cauliflowers are now showing. I did some work on the site and forgot to reset the caulis. Thanks for the reminder. I think that you are probably in a temperate zone, but you may need to be flexible round planting times if you have many frosts.

04 Feb 10 greg (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Have really vigorous growing "White Cloud" plants , but no sign of heads appearing. Anyone ???

21 Nov 10 Don (New Zealand - temperate climate)

This is the first time i have planted cauliflowers,i notice that the leaves are huge should i cut a few back or just leave them. Yours sincerely, Don. New Plymouth.

21 Nov 10 (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Don, Cauliflowers need large leaves to produce a decent sized flower-head, so just leave them. They will take about 4 to 6 months to produce a 'head'.

02 Feb 11 Sue (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Why has my "White" cauliflowers turned purple? they seem healthy and taste fine but have purple blotches on them

06 May 11 Gloria (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Hi, I live in Hastings and have just planted cauli and broc two weeks ago, I am wanting to know when to feed and what to feed them?

29 Jul 11 Andy (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I planted som colis a few months back and they are really small and pail leafed, and they are already getting heads on , but look really stunted . I hav masive ones in cummer in a diferent part of the garden . Is it just the wrong time .? I'm new to gardening in NZ.

12 Aug 11 Tnyc (New Zealand - temperate climate)

My cauliflower start great but just as the head begins to grow, it breaks up in to a mass of tiny florets which are completely useless. Any idea - too hot maybe?