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Cauliflower

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Cool‑season · frost‑tolerant · start indoors

104–149 days from seed to harvest

55–100 days to harvest after transplant

Ideal15 – 27 °C
Tolerates4 – 27 °C

Cauliflower is a cool-season flowering vegetable in the mustard family that tolerates light frost. The usual start is indoors, then transplant, and harvest is about 55–100 days from transplant (about 8 to 14 weeks).

Primary method: start indoors

Cauliflower is usually started indoors, then moved outside when the weather suits the tolerable range.

  1. Start seed. Sow seed indoors. Germination typically takes 3–10 days.
  2. Grow seedlings. Keep seedlings growing indoors until they are ready to harden off. About 5 weeks (32 days)
  3. Harden off. Gradually acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before planting. About 7 days
  4. Transplant. Move seedlings outside once daytime air stays inside the tolerable range. 4 – 27 °C.
  5. Grow to harvest. About 7–9 weeks indoors before transplant (about 49 days total). 55–100 days from transplant (about 8 to 14 weeks).
Typical days from indoor sowing to harvest — not calendar dates.
  1. Start seed
    Day 0–10
    3–10 days
  2. Grow indoors
    Day 10–42
    32 days
  3. Harden off
    Day 42–49
    7 days
  4. Transplant
    ~Day 49
    when days stay within 4 – 27 °C
  5. Grow outdoors
    Day 50–104
    54 days
  6. Harvest
    Day 104–149
    55–100 days from transplant

Direct sowing

Direct sowing is not the usual method for this plant, so there is no separate direct-sow schedule here.

Care basics

Sun: full sun to part shade, at least 6 hours of direct sun.

This plant tolerates light frost.

Types and varieties

Other names: White cauliflower, Romanesco, Purple cauliflower. Variety groups are not listed here.

Growing facts

Growing requirements for this plant. Temperatures are daytime air temperatures in °C.
AttributeValue
Plant nameCauliflower
Scientific nameBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
FamilyBrassicaceae (mustard family)
Time to harvest55–100 days from transplant (about 8 to 14 weeks)
Days to germinate3–10 days
Ideal growing temperature15 – 27 °C
Minimum tolerable temperature4 °C
Maximum tolerable temperature27 °C
Start indoorsYes, usual method
Direct sowNot the usual method
Season typeCool-season, tolerates light frost
Typical start methodStart indoors, then transplant
Lightfull sun to part shade, 6+ hours direct sun

Glossary

Ideal temperature
The preferred daytime range for good growth.
Tolerable temperature
A wider range where the plant can still grow, less optimally.
Harden off
Gradually acclimating indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions before transplanting.
Transplant
Moving seedlings into the garden.
Days to harvest
The usual time to harvest, counted from the start point named beside the number (seed, transplant, or planting).

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