When to plant Cauliflower in Temperate Australia

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

Direct-sow cauliflower from December to April in temperate Australia, timing the crop so the heads mature in cool weather. Seed sits just 6 mm below the surface and germinates in 6 to 12 days, but the crop itself is a long haul — 100 to 160 days to a cuttable curd, the slowest of the common brassicas. It also demands more than broccoli or cabbage: richer soil, wider spacing at 45–70 cm between plants, and absolutely steady growth, because any check from drought or hunger shows up months later as small, ruined heads. Get the groundwork right and winter cauliflower is deeply satisfying.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: December to April.

Growing notes

Cauliflower is hardy, and the whole strategy in a temperate zone is to exploit that: sow in the warm months from December to April, grow the plant through autumn, and let heads form in the cold. Frost from May onward does no damage — if anything the curds hold better in cool weather, while heads maturing in heat turn grainy and "ricey".

Early sowings in December and January carry the crop through the hottest part of summer, so they need deep watering and thick mulch; February and March are the sweet spot for most temperate gardens; April sowings still work but mature in late winter or early spring at the slow end of the 100–160 day range.

This is the least forgiving brassica. Any check to growth — a dry spell, poor soil, root disturbance — causes buttoning, where plants form tiny premature heads that never size up. Dig in generous compost before sowing and keep moisture even from start to finish. When curds reach tennis-ball size, snap a couple of outer leaves over them to keep the white heads from yellowing in the sun.

Cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth will find cauliflower quickly through summer and autumn, so cover beds with fine exclusion netting from sowing and keep the edges sealed. Give plants their full 45–70 cm spacing in rows 75–90 cm apart — crowded cauliflowers only ever make small heads.

Cauliflower at a glance

Companion planting

Grows well with

Nasturtiums: Trap crop; deters cabbage white butterfly

Marigold: Deters aphids and cabbage moth

Common questions

When do you plant cauliflower in temperate Australia?

Sow direct from December to April. February and March sowings suit most temperate gardens best, growing through mild autumn weather and forming heads in winter.

How long does cauliflower take to grow?

It is a slow crop — 100 to 160 days from sowing to harvest, although the seed itself germinates quickly in 6 to 12 days.

Why are my cauliflower heads so small?

Small premature heads, called buttoning, come from any check to growth — dry soil, poor nutrition or crowding. Rich soil, even watering and the full 45–70 cm spacing are the fix.

Should I cover cauliflower heads while they grow?

Yes. Once curds reach tennis-ball size, bend or snap a few outer leaves over the head to shade it. Sun on the curd turns it yellow or brown.

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