Rising cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis comes with many challenges.
However with shut consideration to temperature, moisture, drainage, and air circulation, there’s each motive to count on success with this cool-weather crop.
Cauliflower could be traced again to fifteenth-century Cyprus, the place it started as a mutation of a sort of untamed cabbage.
Via the centuries, this new-found vegetable started to adapt to the climates of the locations during which its seeds have been cultivated.
Europe and India are two areas the place these “authentic” cauliflower varieties turned a staple meals.
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Cauliflower grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 to 11 as both a half-hardy biennial or an annual. It’s wealthy in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber.
Our information to rising cauliflower has all you might want to develop this cool-weather crop in your vegetable backyard.
In the present day’s cultivars are available in shades of white, purple, orange, and inexperienced. We’ve chosen 19 of the most effective varieties to develop at residence.
Right here’s the lineup:
19 of the Finest Cauliflower Varieties for the Dwelling Backyard
1. Adona
‘Adona’ is a hybrid cauliflower cultivar with five-inch, dense flavorful heads that mature in about 68 days. For a fall planting, permit 80 to 85 days.
This versatile selection has tight leaves that assist to self-blanch however the outer leaves could be tied if desired.
‘Adona’
The intense white curds are dense, with a candy, delicate taste. Vegetation develop as much as 30 inches tall with a diffusion of about 24 inches.
You will discover ‘Adona’ seeds obtainable in a wide range of packet sizes from Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
2. Bermeo
With rounded, barely flattened heads, ‘Bermeo’ is heat-tolerant cauliflower hybrid that produces five- to seven-inch white, uniform heads in simply 68 days.
The crisp, dense curds are barely candy with a nutty taste. The interior leaves are tight, lowering the necessity for guide tying for blanching.
‘Bermeo’
Vegetation develop to about 18 to 24 inches large and 20 to 24 inches tall.
Seeds can be found at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds in a wide range of packet sizes.
3. Cheddar
‘Cheddar’ is an early orange hybrid cauliflower selection that matures in about 60 to 70 days.
It has easy, uniform, four- to seven-inch heads that comprise nutritious beta-carotene and deepen in shade when cooked. The flavour is delicate and candy.
‘Cheddar’
This selection might attain a top of 24 inches. No blanching is required to retain its vibrant shade.
You will discover seeds obtainable at True Leaf Market in packages of 100.
4. Clementine
The intense orange ‘Clementine’ is a hybrid that matures in 55 to 75 days.
With six- to seven-inch, domed heads, this cauliflower options dense, agency curds with a nutty taste that keep their vibrancy even after cooking.
‘Clementine’
The vigorous vegetation develop as much as 14 inches tall with a diffusion of 12 to 18 inches.
If you wish to add some shade to your cooking, you will discover seeds obtainable at Burpee.
5. Depurple
Purple florets on white stems characterize the distinctive ‘Depurple’ hybrid cauliflower. It matures in roughly 80 to 100 days, and is nicely well worth the wait.
Dense, six- to seven-inch heads comprise antioxidant anthocyanins, with flavorful hints of butter and nuts.
Some purple sorts flip inexperienced throughout cooking, however chances are you’ll attempt including vinegar or lemon juice to assist retain the colour.
‘Depurple’
Anticipate a mature top of about 20 inches. No blanching is required to retain shade throughout progress.
‘Depurple’ seeds can be found from Burpee in packages of 30 or as a bundle of six vegetation.
6. Early White
For a strong and fast-growing cauliflower, contemplate ‘Early White.’ This hybrid might mature in as few as 52 days, and produces tight, pure white heads that measure as much as 9 inches throughout.
‘Early White’
This selection displays extra chilly tolerance than common, and will attain 30 inches in top. Firmness and a traditional delicate cauliflower taste characterize this winner.
‘Early White’ seeds can be found from Burpee.
7. Fioretto 60
Right here’s an early sort that matures in 33 to 60 days, making ‘Fioretto 60’ a good selection for spring.
It is a “sprouting” cauliflower selection, with five- to six-inch heads made up of free white florets on lengthy, mild inexperienced stems. It resembles broccoli rabe.
‘Fioretto 60’
Vegetation prime out at about 18 inches and are extremely pest resistant.
The flavour is considerably nutty, and the feel holds its crunch nicely, remaining crunchy even after cooking. Blanching is advisable.
‘Fioretto 60’ is offered from Burpee. Select from packets of fifty seeds or a set of six vegetation.
8. Flamenco
‘Flamenco’ is a cauliflower hybrid that produces vivid white, six- to seven-inch heads with a really delicate, candy taste in about 72 days.
The curds are dense, held in rounded, dome-shaped heads. With excellent warmth tolerance, ‘Flamenco’ is right for rising within the south, the place the warmth may cause issues.
‘Flamenco’
It is a self-blanching cultivar and the vegetation develop 20 to 30 inches tall with a 24-inch unfold.
You will discover ‘Flamenco’ seeds obtainable at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
9. Flame Star
Paler than cheddar sorts, ‘Flame Star’ is an early orange hybrid that matures in roughly 55 to 60 days.
Its heads are agency, with dense, easy curds and a diameter of about seven inches. This kind displays higher than common warmth tolerance and reaches a top of about 14 inches.
‘Flame Star’
Think about this compact sort for container gardening and small plots. It has an exceptionally candy taste and requires no blanching.
‘Flame Star’ is offered from Burpee in packets of fifty seeds, or units of six vegetation.
10. Graffiti
‘Graffiti’ has a surprisingly vivid purple dome of dense curds that attain about six to seven inches throughout.
This hybrid cauliflower matures in 70 to 80 days.
It has higher than common tolerance of humidity and fungal illness, and tops out at roughly 24 inches.
‘Graffiti’
Antioxidant anthocyanins increase the vitamin of this colourful selection that has a mildly candy taste. No blanching is critical.
‘Graffiti’ seeds can be found from True Leaf Market in packages of 10 or 100.
11. Purple of Sicily
‘Purple of Sicily’ is a placing Italian heirloom cauliflower with good purple heads, additionally known as Sicilian purple cauliflower.
It produces seven- to eight-inch heads with a candy, nutty taste after 70 to 90 days and doesn’t require blanching.
The colour fades with cooking and turns a lightweight inexperienced hue, so if you wish to benefit from the vibrant purple, you have to to serve it uncooked!
‘Purple of Sicily’
Vegetation develop to about 24 inches tall with a 12-inch unfold.
Discover seeds obtainable in a wide range of packet sizes at True Leaf Market.
12. Skywalker
Hybrid ‘Skywalker’ is cold-tolerant and produces six- to seven-inch white heads with dense curds after 75 days.
This cultivar is partially self-blanching however can profit from having the leaves tied to make sure the pure white shade. The plant grows 12 to 18 inches tall and large.
‘Skywalker’
With a light taste, the crisp curds are perfect for serving uncooked or cooked.
Discover seeds obtainable at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds in a wide range of packet sizes.
13. Snowball
This heirloom white cauliflower harks again to the “originals” in Europe.
‘Snowball’ is a self-blanching cultivar that matures in 65 to 75 days. Its leaves defend growing heads that vary from roughly six to eight inches throughout.
‘Snowball’
This conventional selection reaches a top of as much as 30 inches and has a light taste.
Self-blanching ‘Snowball’ seeds can be found from Burpee in packages of 100 or 1000.
14. Snowball Y Improved
An heirloom selection initially developed in France, ‘Snowball Y’ is an improved model of ‘Snowball’ that matures in about 70 to 80 days.
Heads are easy and compact, with pure white curds that attain a diameter of about six to seven inches.
‘Snowball Y’ Improved
Vegetation prime out at 24 to 30 inches, and plentiful leaves usually present for self-blanching. This kind has a pleasantly delicate taste.
‘Snowball Y’ seeds can be found from Eden Brothers.
15. Tessaury
‘Tessaury’ is a heat-tolerant cauliflower hybrid that produces creamy white, dense heads after 72 days. The dense florets kind six- to seven-inch uniformly spherical heads.
The flavour is delicate, nutty, and candy, good for roasting or consuming recent.
‘Tessaury’
Vegetation develop to 18 to 24 inches large and an identical top.
You will discover ‘Tessaury’ seeds in a wide range of packet sizes at Excessive Mowing Natural Seeds.
16. Tornado
Hybrid ‘Tornado’ displays wonderful warmth tolerance and matures in simply 62 days.
The title comes from the best way the leaves twist and spiral across the heads, blanching them to provide vivid white curds.
‘Tornado’
Heads are 4 to 6 inches in diameter and vegetation develop as much as 24 inches tall with an identical unfold.
You will discover seeds or bundles of six vegetation obtainable at Burpee.
17. Veronica Romanesco
The ‘Veronica’ Romanesco appears like a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, that matures in about 85 days.
Heads measure roughly seven inches throughout, and encompass unusually pointy and visually attention-grabbing lime inexperienced whorls of curds that develop in a fractal sample.
Vegetation attain a top of 18 to 24 inches.
Typically referred to as “broccoflower,” this distinctive vegetable has a mildly candy, savory/nutty taste.
‘Veronica’ Romanesco
It has been bred for higher than common resistance to fungal illness and warmth, and blanching will not be required.
‘Veronica’ Romanesco seeds can be found from True Leaf Market in packages of 100 or 1,000.
Learn extra about rising Romanesco right here.
18. Violet Queen
‘Violet Queen’ produces placing mild purple heads as much as eight inches large after about 85 days.
The curds are dense and lose their shade when cooked, however the candy, nutty taste is right for consuming uncooked.
Vegetation develop as much as 18 inches tall with a 24-inch unfold. They like cool circumstances and don’t tolerate warmth.
‘Violet Queen’
This cultivar is an RHS Award of Backyard Benefit winner.
Decide up ‘Violet Queen’ seeds from True Leaf Market in a wide range of packet sizes.
19. White Corona
If you happen to’re in search of a fast-growing conventional white cauliflower for a container or small plot, this one’s for you. ‘White Corona’ is a hybrid that matures in 30 to 33 days.
Its vivid white heads measure three to 5 inches throughout at maturity.
‘White Corona’
Vegetation prime out at a compact 12 to 14 inches and will tolerate a lightweight frost. Blanching could also be required.
‘White Corona’ is offered from Burpee in packages of 100 seeds or units of six vegetation.
