How to grow Cauliflower in New Zealand

Cauliflower is the fussiest of the cabbage family, but a firm white curd you grew yourself is worth the effort. It needs steady moisture, fertile soil and cool weather as the heads form, so the main sowings are in late summer for autumn and winter heads, and in early spring. Insect mesh against white butterfly is essential.

📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Cauliflower in New Zealand

At a glance

Sow

January to March and August to September

Germination

5 to 10 days at 15 to 25°C

Harvest

75 to 85 days from transplanting; 14 to 18 weeks from sowing

Sun

Full sun

Soil

Fertile, moist, well drained, pH 6.5 to 7.5

Spacing

About 50 cm

Height

45 to 70 cm

Pot

Possible, but not ideal

When to sow by region

Region	When to sow	Regional note
Northland	August and September, January to March
Auckland	August and September, January to March
Waikato & Bay of Plenty	August and September, January to March
Central North Island	September, January to March	Skip August in the central North Island. Plant from September and cover young plants on frosty nights.
Wellington & Lower North Island	August and September, January to March
Nelson & Marlborough	August and September, January to March
Canterbury	August to October, January to March	Sow Aug to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to mid October. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
Otago & Southland	August to October, January to March	Sow Aug to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.
Central Otago	September and October, January to March	Sow Sep to Oct and Jan to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to early November. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops.

Where to plant

Plant cauliflowers in full sun in fertile, moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost, and give them steady water from start to finish. Any check to growth, from drought, heat or poor soil, can make plants form small, early 'button' heads. Do not plant them where cauliflower, broccoli or cabbage grew in the last two years, to reduce soil-borne disease such as clubroot.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Wellington, and Nelson and Marlborough: sow from January to March for autumn and winter heads, and in August and September for spring heads. In the warm north, plant early so heads mature before hot weather.
Central North Island: skip August. Sow in September and from January to March, covering young plants on frosty nights.
Canterbury and Otago and Southland: sow from August to October and January to March, covering early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth. Get the last sowing in by March.
Central Otago: sow in September and October and from January to March, with early sowings under cover.

Choosing a variety

All Year Round: highly adaptable, tolerant of heat and cold, with a solid white curd. Sow at intervals from spring to autumn.
Winter Love: a professional variety used by New Zealand growers for compact, bright white cool-season curds. Sow December to March.
Snowball: the classic white home variety, with heads protected by the outer leaves.
Violet Sicilian: a purple cauliflower, best used raw, as the colour fades in cooking.

How to plant

Sow seed about 6 mm deep in trays of seed raising mix.
Keep moist; seedlings appear in 5 to 10 days.
Transplant seedlings about 50 cm apart into firm, compost-rich soil.
Water in well, mulch with pea or lucerne straw, and cover with insect mesh straight away against white butterfly and diamondback moth.

Watering and feeding

Water regularly and deeply so growth never checks; steady moisture is the key to good heads. Mulch to hold moisture.

Feed every couple of weeks with a liquid fertiliser for leafy vegetables while the plants are growing.

Pruning and care through the year

As the curd forms, bend one or two of the inner leaves over it to shade it. This keeps it white and stops it being sunburnt.
Keep insect mesh on while white butterfly is active, from spring to autumn.

Harvesting

Cut the head while the curd is still firm, tight and smooth, at about 15 to 20 cm across, before it loosens and turns grainy. Cauliflowers do not reshoot, so harvest the whole head at once.

Heads keep up to a week in a sealed bag in the fridge, and blanch and freeze well.

Growing in pots

Cauliflowers can be grown in a pot at least 30 cm wide and deep in full sun out of strong wind, but they need steady water and food and usually give smaller heads than in the ground.

Using it

Steam, roast or bake cauliflower, mash it, or grate it into low-carb cauliflower rice. Purple and green varieties are colourful raw in salads.

Companion planting

Aromatic herbs and flowers around cauliflowers bring in beneficial insects.

Good companions

Beetroot A quick root crop that fits between the plants.
Celery Likes the same cool, moist, fertile conditions.
Onion A slim crop that fits between rows.
Dill Its flowers attract hoverflies and parasitic wasps.
Rosemary A strongly scented herb traditionally grown near brassicas.
Sage Another aromatic herb traditionally grown near brassicas.
Chamomile Its flowers bring in beneficial insects.

Keep apart

Avoid planting these close to cauliflower.

Strawberry Traditionally kept away from cabbage family crops.
Tomato A summer crop that wants different conditions and shades young brassicas.
Climbing beans Traditionally kept away from brassicas, and they shade the bed.

Pests and diseases

Caterpillars, aphids and slugs are the main problems, and insect mesh prevents most damage.

Pests to watch for

White butterfly Irregular holes and caterpillar droppings on leaves and in the curd.
Diamondback moth Small green caterpillars that wriggle when touched, and leaves with small holes.
Aphids New leaves distorted and yellow, with sooty mould and grey colonies.
Slugs Large ragged holes and slime trails.

Diseases to watch for

Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days, with swollen, distorted roots. Rotate brassica beds.
Black rot Yellow, V-shaped patches from the leaf edges with blackened veins. Remove affected plants.

All pests and diseases

Common questions

Why is my cauliflower so small?

Small 'button' heads usually come from a check to growth: dry soil, heat, poor soil or seedlings that were held too long in pots. Keep watering steady and plant into rich soil.

How do I keep cauliflower white?

Bend one or two leaves over the curd as it forms to shade it from the sun.

When do I plant cauliflower in New Zealand?

From January to March for autumn and winter heads, and in August and September for spring heads, in most regions. In the south, sow August to October and January to March.

When is cauliflower ready to pick?

When the curd is firm, tight and smooth, about 15 to 20 cm across, usually 14 to 18 weeks from sowing. Cut it before it loosens and turns grainy.

Does cauliflower grow back after cutting?

No. Unlike broccoli, it does not send up side shoots, so harvest the whole head at once.

How do I stop caterpillars in my cauliflower?

Cover plants with fine insect mesh from planting, so white butterflies and diamondback moths cannot lay eggs on them.

Sources we checked: Yates NZ: How to grow cauliflower; Yates NZ: Common problems of cauliflower; Kings Seeds: Cauliflower All The Year Round; Kings Seeds: Cauliflower Winter Love F1; Kings Seeds: Cauliflower Violet Sicilian.