How to Grow Cauliflower

Here are the top tips for growing cauliflower. For more detailed information, keep reading below.

• Timing: Cauliflower is a cool-season crop; plant young plants outdoors about two weeks before your area's last spring frost date.
• Sun & Soil: Choose a location with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Improve the soil by mixing in Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil or use Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix in containers
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, watering whenever the top inch is dry.
• Blanching: For white varieties, cover the developing head with leaves once it reaches the size of an egg to keep it from yellowing.
• Feeding: A month after planting, feed regularly with Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food. 
• Harvesting: Harvest heads when they are 6-8 inches in diameter.

Cauliflower may be a bit more challenging to grow than other garden vegetables, but with a few simple steps, you'll be able to grow this hearty vegetable. It's high in fiber and vitamin C, and its versatility in the kitchen makes it worth a little extra effort. Here are our tips for growing cauliflower.



When and Where to Plant Cauliflower

Cauliflower likes things on the cool side, so you can plant this vegetable outdoors about two weeks before your last frost date. If you're starting seeds indoors, wait until seedlings have 5 leaves before transplanting them into your garden, which takes about 4 to 6 weeks.

Cauliflower likes to grow in full sun and rich, moist, well-drained soil with a pH between 6 and 7. To prepare your garden, loosen the soil to a depth of 12-15 inches. Then, work a 3-inch layer of nutrient-rich compost or garden soil, such as Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil, into the top 6 inches of your native soil. If you're planting in outdoor containers, use Miracle-Gro Organic™ Outdoor Potting Mix.

How to Plant Cauliflower

The fastest way to grow cauliflower is to start with young plants, like those available from Bonnie Plants. If you start from seed indoors, be sure to harden off your seedlings before planting by gradually adjusting them to outdoor conditions.

When planting cauliflower in-ground, space young plants 24 inches apart. If you decide to start from seed outdoors, sow cauliflower seeds ½ inch deep and 24 inches apart. When growing cauliflower in containers, use one 12-inch wide pot per plant. Make sure your container has a drainage hole. Remember to water thoroughly after planting. 

How to Care for Cauliflower Plants

While cauliflower needs a little extra attention, these simple care steps will lead you to a successful harvest.

• Watering: Water as necessary to keep the soil consistently moist, which helps prevent bolting (see below). This means watering whenever the top inch of soil is dry. Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool.
• Feeding: To give cauliflower the nutrition it needs to grow big heads, feed the plants with Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Purpose Plant Food. Be sure to follow the directions on the label.
• Blanching White Cauliflower: To ensure a bright white head, you will need to "blanch" it, or cover it as it grows. When the head reaches the size of an egg, pull the plant's longest leaves up and over it, then secure them with twine. Self-blanching and colorful cauliflower varieties do not need to be blanched.
• Preventing Bolting: One of the challenges with cauliflower is its tendency to bolt, or go to flower, often due to weather fluctuations. If your cauliflower starts to bolt, harvest it right away.

When to Harvest Cauliflower

Your cauliflower will be ready to harvest when the heads are 6-8 inches in diameter, which is often about 10 days after you begin blanching. Harvest by cutting the stalk just below the head, leaving a stem of about 1-2 inches. 



How to Use Cauliflower in Your Kitchen

Cauliflower is a versatile veggie that can be roasted, sauteed, grilled, baked, fried, and even pickled. Try pulsing it in a food processor to create cauliflower rice, which can be used as a gluten-free rice substitute in many dishes. It's also a popular choice for making delicious pizza crust. For a classic take, try this Cauliflower Crust Margherita Pizza recipe from Martha Stewart.

Growing your own cauliflower may take a little extra attention, but the reward is a delicious, versatile vegetable perfect for any meal. Enjoy the satisfaction of bringing this garden favorite to your kitchen table.