Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea (Botrytis)
The fussiest brassica; steady water and cool weather keep heads tight.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: June to October
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Cauliflower came out of the eastern Mediterranean and Italy and was a luxury of 16th-century French and Italian courts; it is the fussiest brassica, needing steady cool weather, and the one gardeners earn.
Planting
Full sun, rich soil, and steady cool weather; set out plants in early spring or, more reliably, late summer, 18 inches apart.
Growing
Water constantly and evenly; any check makes it button. Feed with compost. Tie the leaves over the white head to blanch it.
Harvest and use
Cut when the curd is full and tight, before it loosens; one head per plant. Autumn crops are best.
What to watch for
Cabbage worms, stress from heat or drought, and buttoning.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home