What happens if you let cauliflower grow too long?

Cauliflower that isn’t harvested in time can become discolored, tough, and grainy. Overly mature cauliflower is also prone to bolting. Once cauliflower bolts, it becomes bitter and unpleasant to eat.

How many heads of cauliflower do you get off one plant?

Typically, only one. Unlike broccoli, cauliflower plants rarely produce side shoots, although you can get a larger edible crop out of cauliflower plants by harvesting their crowns, leaves, and stems.

Why are my cauliflower leaves big, but there’s no head?

The main reason cauliflower plants produce leaves but no heads is temperature stress. Too much or too little water, light, or soil nutrients can also result in cauliflower with missing or underdeveloped heads. If you have stunted cauliflower heads and the curds are starting to separate, harvest the heads anyway. They are overly mature and won’t get larger.

How and When to Harvest Cauliflower at the Peak of Freshness

Take the guesswork out of harvesting cauliflower with these simple tips.

By

Lauren Landers

Updated on September 28, 2023

Fresh, steamed, or cooked into curries, soups, and other dishes, cauliflower is a popular cold-hardy vegetable that usually grows in chilly spring and autumn gardens. To harvest the tastiest cauliflower from your vegetable bed, you need to time the cauliflower harvest correctly and pick cauliflower heads before they start to bolt or are damaged by cold weather. This quick guide covers how and when to harvest cauliflower for peak freshness and the tastiest flavor.

When to Harvest Cauliflower

Most gardeners grow cauliflower plants from seeds they sow directly in garden beds in spring or autumn, although the seeds can be started indoors. Cauliflower planted in spring is usually harvested in August or September, while fall crops are typically ready to pick in November or December. When grown from seed, cauliflower plants usually take about 50 to 100 days to reach maturity, but this varies depending on the type of cauliflower and the local weather patterns.

Like other brassica crops, cauliflower plants bolt in the heat, so spring-planted cauliflower should be harvested before temperatures are too hot (above 80ºF). Cauliflower is usually easier to grow in autumn because cauliflower plants are cold-hardy and can withstand a light frost or two.

Extreme cold can damage cauliflower crowns, so harvest your cauliflower crop if a hard freeze is forecast.

harvesting cauliflower — Dean Schoeppner

How to Blanch Cauliflower

While cauliflower plants grow best in full sun, cauliflower crowns can become discolored and bitter when exposed to too much light as they grow. For this reason, most gardeners cover up or “blanch” immature cauliflower heads a few weeks before they intend to harvest their cauliflower crop. Blanching helps cauliflower plants maintain their delicious flavor and brilliant coloring.

Cauliflower heads are ready to blanch when they’re about the size of a tennis ball or 2 to 3 inches in diameter. To blanch cauliflower crowns, roll three or four of the plant’s leaves up and over the exposed cauliflower crown and anchor the leaves in place with a rubber band, tape, or piece of twine. Leave this covering in place until you’re ready to pick the cauliflower.

blanching cauliflower heads — Dean Schoeppner

If you don’t want to bother with blanching cauliflower, select self-blanching varieties. These cauliflower cultivars have leaves that curl over the cauliflower crown as the plant develops and provide all the shade the crown needs.

How to Harvest Cauliflower

Cauliflower heads are ready to pick about 1 to 2 weeks after blanching or when the crowns are about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Cauliflower heads that are ready to be harvested should be compact, uniformly colored, and feel firm to the touch. If cauliflower “curds” start to separate from each other, the cauliflower is becoming overly ripe. Harvest it right away so it doesn’t become bitter.

To harvest cauliflower heads, cut the main stem about 3 to 4 inches below the crown with a sharp knife or pruning shears and leave several leaves attached to the cauliflower head. Cauliflower leaves are edible, and they protect the crowns during storage and help preserve their shelf life.

Unlike broccoli, cauliflower plants rarely produce side shoots after their crowns are harvested, so there’s no reason to leave the stems in your garden. Instead, clip the remainder of the plant’s stem off at the soil line and harvest the edible leaves and stem, or add them to your compost pile. Cauliflower stems can be added to vegetable stock, and the leaves can be cooked like kale or collard greens.

After cutting the cauliflower stem, leave the plant’s roots in place in the vegetable bed. Over time, cauliflower roots naturally degrade in the soil and provide nutrients for next year’s garden.

Storing Fresh Cauliflower

After harvesting cauliflower, soak the crowns in a bowl filled with a gallon of water and a tablespoon of salt for about 20 to 30 minutes. This process draws out any cabbage worms or other insects in the cauliflower and helps to ensure your harvest is of the highest quality.

Next, rinse the cauliflower with fresh water and allow it to dry completely. Then, store the cauliflower in your crisper drawer in a beeswax wrap or a plastic baggy with a few air holes. When stored in this manner, homegrown cauliflower should remain fresh for about 7 to 10 days.

To keep your cauliflower harvest fresh even longer, preserve it by canning, pickling, or freezing. To freeze fresh cauliflower, blanch the crowns for 1 minute in boiling water, then dunk them in an ice bath. Allow them to dry completely in a colander. Spread the dry cauliflower on a baking sheet and pop the sheet in the freezer for about an hour to flash-freeze the produce. Then, package up the cauliflower in airtight baggies and store it in the freezer for up to one year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you let cauliflower grow too long?

Cauliflower that isn’t harvested in time can become discolored, tough, and grainy. Overly mature cauliflower is also prone to bolting. Once cauliflower bolts, it becomes bitter and unpleasant to eat.
How many heads of cauliflower do you get off one plant?

Typically, only one. Unlike broccoli, cauliflower plants rarely produce side shoots, although you can get a larger edible crop out of cauliflower plants by harvesting their crowns, leaves, and stems.
Why are my cauliflower leaves big, but there’s no head?

The main reason cauliflower plants produce leaves but no heads is temperature stress. Too much or too little water, light, or soil nutrients can also result in cauliflower with missing or underdeveloped heads. If you have stunted cauliflower heads and the curds are starting to separate, harvest the heads anyway. They are overly mature and won’t get larger.