Holly's Homestead — Brassica
Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis · Brassica family
DIFFICULTY Moderate–hard
TYPE Annual, seedling
MATURITY 80–100 days
TYPE Annual, seedling
MATURITY 80–100 days
Sun
Full sun
Water
Consistent, deep
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
Spacing
50–60cm
Depth
as per seedling
01Blanching keeps it white
For pure white heads, tie the outer leaves over the developing curd once it's egg-sized to block sunlight — this stops it yellowing or discolouring.
02Planting
Method
Transplant seedlings; firm well.
Soil
Rich, well-drained, consistently fertile.
Timing
Plant in cooler months; the most temperature-sensitive brassica.
Planting timing varies significantly by Australian climate zone. Set your zone above (or use the Find My Climate Zone tool) for guidance tailored to your own area.
03Growing care
- Water deeply and consistently — stress causes small, poor-quality heads.
- Feed generously throughout growth.
- Tie outer leaves over the curd once it appears, to blanch it.
- Net against cabbage moth from planting.
04Problems
- Cabbage moth — net or hand-pick.
- Small, premature heads (buttoning) — from stress or checked growth; keep conditions steady.
- Clubroot — rotate beds, keep pH up.
- Boron deficiency — hollow stems; feed with compost or seaweed tonic.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Curd is tight, firm, and full-sized, before it starts to separate.
Method
Cut at the base with a sharp knife.
Curing
None needed.
Storage
Fridge crisper, about a week.
Preserving
See Fermenting (sauerkraut and fermented brassicas) or Freezing Produce (blanching and freezing a glut) for ways to keep a harvest surplus.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
OnionCeleryBeansAvoid nearby
TomatoStrawberryRotation note
Rotate brassicas on a 3–4 year cycle.
