Crop lessons · Brassicas (cabbage family)
Growing Cauliflower in Florida
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis · Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Cauliflower is a cool-season cole crop that UF/IFAS describes as difficult to grow. The plants handle cold but the heads do not, and white heads need shading ('blanching') to stay white unless you grow a self-blanching variety. Stress from too little water or nutrients, or a long cool spell, can make plants form tiny premature heads ('buttoning').1, 2
Planting1, 2
| How to start | transplant (easily transplanted; Gardening Solutions calls transplants the most foolproof) |
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| Seed depth (inches) | ¼ to ½ |
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| Spacing in the row (inches) | 12 to 18 |
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| Between rows (inches) | 24 (SP 103); Gardening Solutions says 12 to 40 depending on variety |
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| Days to harvest | 75 to 90 from seed; 50 to 70 from transplant |
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SP 103 planting dates: central Sept to Feb, south Sept to Jan (the north Florida cell reads 'Jan–Feb / Sept–Oct–Feb'). Gardening Solutions: north late Aug to Jan, central and south Sept to Jan. Grow transplants at 55°F or warmer; 10 or more days between 35°F and 50°F can cause buttoning.
Varieties UF/IFAS lists for Florida1
- Snowball strains
- Snow Crown
- Brocoverde
Growing2, 1
| Sun | Full sun. SP 103 advises a garden spot with at least six hours of direct sun a day (general advice, not specific to this crop). |
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| Soil pH | 6.0 to 7.0 |
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| Water | Keep plants watered; lack of irrigation is one cause of buttoning. |
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| Fertilizer | Fertilize before, at or soon after planting and as needed through the season, especially after heavy rain; test soil fertility first to avoid over-applying. |
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Self-blanching varieties curl their leaves over the head on their own. Colored-head varieties (orange, green, purple) and early types are also available.
Pests and diseases in Florida2
- Caterpillars: cabbage looper, diamondback moth larvae, imported cabbageworm, cutworms: Named on the Gardening Solutions cauliflower page.
- Aphids, leafminers, flea beetles, grasshoppers, wireworms, mole crickets: Also named on that page.
- Diseases: damping-off, wire-stem, downy mildew, leaf spot, black rot, blackleg, anthracnose, bacterial soft rot: Contact the county Extension office for treatment advice.
Harvest2, 1
When the head is about the size of a teacup (Gardening Solutions says about 3 inches across; SP 103 says 2 to 3 inches), pull the long outer leaves over it and tie them loosely so no light reaches it. Harvest when the head is fully developed but before it begins to separate; heads develop much faster in warm weather. Refrigerate promptly and use soon.
In an aquaponics system3
suited with care
The FAO manual says cauliflower thrives in media beds with enough spacing (45 to 60 cm) but has a relatively high nutrient demand (nitrogen and phosphorus, plus potassium and calcium for the heads). Too much sun, heat or nitrogen gives 'ricey' heads, and temperatures below 12 °C can cause buttoning. Transplant at 3 to 5 weeks with 4 to 5 true leaves, about 50 cm apart. pH 6.0 to 6.5.
What this lesson doesn't cover yet
- SP 103's north Florida planting-date cell reads 'Jan–Feb / Sept–Oct–Feb', which looks garbled in the source; it is quoted as printed.
- The seed depth on the Gardening Solutions cauliflower page did not render (shows as unreadable characters), so SP 103's ¼ to ½ inch is used.
Your county extension office and its Master Gardener volunteers can fill these in for your garden.