Cauliflower

Botanical name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Cauliflower is an annual cool season crop that is frost hardy. It germinates best at 18 – 25°C soil temperature. In temperate areas sow late December to May; in very cool, highland areas sow October to February; in inland areas sow February to September; in subtropical areas sow March to June; in tropical areas sow April to July. It can be difficult to grow cauliflowers well in subtropical and tropical areas as they are not as hardy as cabbage in hot weather and quality can be poor. Hot weather results in bolting to seed before developing curds and can also cause browning or discolouring of the curd. It only takes a few days of hot weather to cause this effect.