Depends on where you are. Cauliflower does not head well well with sustained temps in the upper 90's. If you have 70 days between transplants and triple didgit temps you can grow cauliflower. I don't think many zone 5's get triple digit temps. Early varieties do well here in the spring.
{{gwi:22564}}

Cauliflower is best raised as a fall crop around here. However...if an early variety was raised, set out as early as feasible, shaded some after late May, well watered, and the heads were absolutely kept perfectly covered, it might work.

I grew White, purple and green romanesco cauliflower last spring/summer. Had more than I could eat. All started inside late winter; then transplanted.

Had a fall crop too.

bob

bigbob -

I have failed a few times with cauliflower. Any advice?

Did you start the seeds roomtemperature ~70+/- a few degrees? At what age/outdoor temp did you set out?

Not bob, But I start cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage in a cold frame. Transplant at about 6 weeks. 3 weeks or so before last frost date.

I decided to try broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, and kohlrabi this spring here. The results were mixed. The kohlrabi were great, followed by cauliflower. Brussels Sprouts made sprouts, but were not very tasty, and I didn't get a single good broccoli.

I started all of these from seed indoors in early January. I planted them outside around mid-February as soon as it warmed into the 50s for highs and was not freezing at night. I began harvesting these in late April until the end of May when it became too hot and they began getting fungal diseases.

The cauliflower performed better than I expected. By the time the heads formed, temperatures were in the upper 70s and low 80s; however, they still formed nice heads. The broccoli made tiny heads at these temperatures, and I won't try them again in the spring. Also, the 60 to 70 day cauliflowers did better than the 90 day types (which I expected). If you try them, I would do mostly early types.

I set out broccoli and cauliflower at 25 or 26 days from seeding. They do splendidly when set out small. They come up in 3 days.

I had good look with the purple graffiti cauliflower in the spring. Start them early and get them out ASAP.... I grew great cabbage in the spring.

good advice - very encouraging!

will give it a try this spring, plant up the seeds around jan 15-20th, with an aim to plant out late feb to march under protection.

will see what happens....

T-Bird,

Sorry about the delay. I just checked my log and I started cauliflower from seed inside at a soil temp of 80 (had bottom heat- 2 flourescents facing up). Planted 3/6, sprouted 3/9. Set out 1st week of may.

I've always been able to get spring and fall crops from broccoli, Cauli., brussel sprouts. Even when they weren't ready to eat until temps in the 80's, they continued to grow (very fast, I might add). All the cauliflower did very well.

I was surprised at how well the green Romanesco did; since all the packages said they were difficult. They were just as easy as the rest. I was really pleased at the purples too. They were beautiful and quite fun to show.

bob