Cauliflower Seeds — 1 g

Grow cauliflower in your home garden from seed to harvest. Cauliflower is a vegetable for mild to cool weather and needs steady growth from the seedling stage until the head forms. Hedera's 1 g pack is suitable for starting seedlings in trays before transplanting into the ground or a spacious planting bed.

Quick Facts

• Crop: Cauliflower.
• Pack weight: 1 g of seeds; the seed count varies with seed size and packing batch.
• Season: Autumn and winter in most parts of Jordan. Adjust seedling timing to local temperatures and the variety.
• Site: 6–8 hours of direct sun daily, with fertile, well-drained soil that retains moderate moisture.
• Sowing depth: About 0.5–1 cm.
• Spacing after transplanting: 45–60 cm between plants and about 60–75 cm between rows.

Growing Cauliflower from Seed, Step by Step

1. Plan your planting time: Start seedlings as the heat begins to ease, aiming for head development during mild weather. In hot areas such as the Jordan Valley, planting is usually later than in the highlands. Do not use a single date for all of Jordan.
2. Sow in a seedling tray: Fill the cells with clean, well-drained seedling medium. Place a seed in each cell, cover lightly to a depth of 0.5–1 cm, and moisten gently. Keep the medium moist without waterlogging. Germination may take about 5–20 days, depending on temperature and seed conditions.
3. Care for the seedlings: Provide strong light and good ventilation, and water when the medium's surface begins to dry. Transplant when the seedling is strong and has 4–6 true leaves, often after about 4–6 weeks. Gradually acclimatise seedlings to outdoor conditions before moving them, and avoid leaving them too long in cramped cells.
4. Move to the final growing position: Prepare well-drained soil with mature compost. Leave 45–60 cm between seedlings and about 60–75 cm between rows, and water immediately after transplanting. In a container or bed, allow enough space for a plant instead of crowding seedlings together.
5. Maintain steady growth: Check soil moisture and water deeply as needed, especially after transplanting and while heads form. Provide balanced feeding according to soil fertility, with a suitable additional feed during leafy growth when needed. Drought, intense heat or interrupted seedling growth may produce small or loose heads.
6. Protect the head and harvest: If a white variety's head starts to appear and the leaves do not cover it naturally, gently gather the outer leaves over it to keep it white. Cut the head with a clean knife when firm, before the curds separate or the flowers open. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather.

Tips from Hedera's Agricultural Engineer

• Check leaf undersides regularly to spot aphids and caterpillars early, and use suitable insect netting when needed.
• Avoid planting cauliflower in the same place immediately after cabbage, broccoli or another brassica crop, to help reduce pest and disease build-up.
• If soil is calcareous or highly alkaline, test it before adding micronutrients. Do not add boron or other micronutrients indiscriminately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should cauliflower be direct-sown or transplanted?

Both methods are possible, but starting in trays gives better control over germination and protection for young seedlings before they move to their final position.

Why are cauliflower heads sometimes small?

This can happen when seedlings or plants are stressed by drought, heat, extreme cold or inadequate nutrition, or when transplanting is delayed. Maintain steady growth and choose a planting time suited to your area.

When is cauliflower ready to harvest?

When the head is dense and firm, before the curds begin to separate. The time needed to reach this stage depends on the variety, planting date and weather.

Note: The image illustrates the expected crop. Head size and maturity timing are affected by the variety, care and weather.