Johnny's CAULIFLOWER Planting Program

Cauliflower Succession Planting & Season Extension

Johnny's Planting Programs are designed to take the guesswork out of succession planting, allowing you to easily extend your harvest throughout the growing season.

Successive plantings of different cauliflower varieties in the appropriate seasonal slots and sequence will allow you to maximize your yield, quality, and harvest window. Choose from a dozen cauliflower varieties by type, days-to-maturity, heat and cold tolerance, color, and optimal sowing/harvesting periods.

BLANCHING WHITE CAULIFLOWER

For the most deliciously tender, attractive, and marketable results with standard white cauliflower varieties, follow our simple blanching tips.

Standard Cauliflower Varieties & Features

Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Performs better in heat and below-average fertility and sweeter and more tender than standard white-stemmed, heading cauliflowers. 42 Very good Good White with green stems
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Reliable, widely adaptable first-early. Produces medium-size plants with average wrapping of heads. 45 Very good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Extra early and adaptable. Medium-size heads. AAS Winner. 50 Good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Adaptable; large heads mature between 'Snow Crown' & 'Bishop'. 60 Good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Superior wrap and adaptability. Big heads with large, protective wrapper leaves. 62 Very good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
For summer and fall crops. Vigorous and widely adaptable. Produces well-wrapped heads. 65 Very good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
For summer and fall-harvested crops. High resistance to club root races 0–2. Produces large, welf-wrapping heads. 67 Very good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Tolerant to both heat and cold stress. Plants produce self-blanching, upright wrapper leaves when well-fed. 68 Good Good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
For fall production; widely adapted. Large, self-wrapping heads. 73 Good Excellent White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Best organic variety for late summer and fall harvest. Medium-size, self-wrapping heads. 80 Average Very good White
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Produces big and sturdy plants, even under less-than-ideal conditions. Earliest orange variety for summer and fall harvest. 55 Very good Good Vibrant orange
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Beautiful, early, and orange; holds well in the field and retains color upon cooking. 58 Very good, but less than 'Flame Star' Good Orange
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Favorable tolerance to heat and stress. Performs very well in both spring and fall. 62 Very good Good Pastel-orange
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Widely adapted: exceptionally early; best-performing purple variety in warm weather; excellent fall crop. 62 Good Good Purple
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Performs best for fall crops but may also be grown successfully for summer crops. 70 Good Good Violet
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Large and heavy heads. Suitable for both cool and warm weather production. 71 Very good Very good Green
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Best for fall harvest, but also can be sown in spring. Produces true cauliflower heads on large plants. 80 Very good Very good Purple

Romanesco Cauliflower

Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Most reliable all-season Romanesco. 78 Very good Good Green
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Note Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
Summer plant for fall to midwinter harvest. 78 Poor Good Green
Sowing & Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Cold/
Winter
TRANSPLANT
HARVEST
Features
Notes Days to Maturity Heat Tolerance Cold Tolerance Color
First white hybrid Romanesco! 80 Good Average White

Tech Tip: How to Blanch White Cauliflower Varieties

Exposure to the sun can cause the heads of white cauliflower varieties to turn yellow or light purple. Some varieties are self-wrapping, which helps prevent this process from occurring. For varieties that are not self-wrapping, a simple blanching method can be used to produce the creamy-white heads that many look for in cauliflower. Follow these tips for uniformly white heads.

  • The time to begin blanching is when the developing heads are just visible through the leaves, about 1–2" in diameter.
  • Gather the outer wrapper leaves and pull them over the heads, securing them together with twine, clothespins, or a rubber band.
  • Another method is to crack the midribs of the leaves and fold them over the head until it is completely covered. Do not break the leaves, or they may blow away.
  • Check the heads as they develop. Tied or covered heads may be subjected to increased humidity levels, increasing their susceptibility to Alternaria.
  • Blanching becomes less important in the cooler, shorter days of fall.

Note there is no need to tie the leaves around the heads of colored cauliflower varieties — to achieve their rich coloration they require exposure to light!

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