Planting Tips: While cauliflower can be direct seeded in the garden, most gardeners prefer to start their seeds indoors about six weeks before setting the plants out after the last frost. Starting them earlier often backfires — the plants can become root-bound and produce only tiny “button” heads about the size of your thumb. Be patient and time your planting so the seedlings have just two or three sets of leaves and are still growing comfortably in their containers.

Plant the seeds about ⅛″ deep in a good seed-starting mix. Cover the container with a plastic bag to hold in humidity and keep it in a warm spot. Once the seedlings emerge, remove the cover and provide plenty of light.

Transplant the young plants outdoors on a cloudy day, spacing them about 18″–20″ apart. Harvest the heads when they are full-sized and tight, before they begin to separate.

Seed Saving Tips: Cauliflower is a biennial, requiring two years to produce seed. In mild climates, you can overwinter the plants right in the garden by mounding mulch around the base for protection. In areas with harsh winters, dig the plants and replant them into large containers—5-gallon buckets with drainage holes work well. Keep them in a cool, protected place through winter, watering just enough to prevent drying out. Replant them outdoors in spring when conditions improve.

Cauliflower can be a challenge to produce seed from unless you live in a milder climate. If you do get seed stalks to form, allow the pods to dry fully before harvesting. Carefully shatter the seed into a bowl or bag, let it dry thoroughly, and store in an airtight container.