The fussiest brassica. Wants steady cool weather and even moisture to form a clean white curd.
The free tool tailors timing to your climate and lets you save this plant.
Full sun
Zones 3–11
18–24 in apart, rows 30 in apart.
Rich, moisture-retentive, well-draining soil; pH 6.5–7.0.
Never let it dry out: 1.5–2 in/week. Any check in growth ruins the curd.
Mar – Apr
Jun – Jul
Start indoors and transplant, or sow in summer for fall. When the curd is golf-ball sized, blanch it by tying the outer leaves over the head (unless it is a self-blanching variety).
Good with Beet, Onion, Spinach, Celery. Keep apart from Tomato, Strawberry, Pole bean.