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Cauliflower is a popular cruciferous vegetable that belongs to the Brassica genus. Closely related to broccoli, cauliflower also grows a tightly packed head of florets often referred to as “curd.” These florets are well-loved due to their versatile kitchen uses and nutritional value.
Climate can greatly impact the growth of cauliflowers. Similar to other Brassica crops, growing cauliflower from your vegetable garden can be a challenging, but rewarding endeavor. Different types of cauliflower have distinct needs and traits — both of which you should consider before buying from seed markets.
Common Cauliflower Types
In the United States, white varieties are widely available in most grocery stores. Cauliflower of other colors such as orange, purple, and yellow, are more difficult to find commercially. Cultivating your own cauliflower allows you to access these colorful cultivars.
Heirloom and Hybrid Cauliflowers
Cauliflower varieties like Odysseus, Purple of Sicily, Self-Blanche, and Snowball Y are some of the most popular heirlooms. These are true to seed, free from any crossbreeding for at least 40 to 50 years. Various ethnic, familial, or other social units in a geographic area, practice seed saving for these varieties to maintain their unique traits. In some cases, heirloom seeds are maintained by seed companies.
Modernization has paved the way to hardier varieties of the cauliflower plant. Adona, Fioretto 70, Snowbowl, and Snow Crown are some examples of hybrids. Through manual crossbreeding, traits between two cauliflower varieties are imbued in the resulting hybrid. Enhancement on flavor, growth, resistance, and yield can be made in hybrid cauliflowers. Thus, these are often cultivated commercially.
Other Popular Cauliflowers Groupings
Now that we’ve differentiated heirloom from hybrid types, let’s look at some of the most common cauliflower varieties.
Types of Cauliflower Colors
While common types of cauliflower have white heads, some varieties come in bright colors.
| Cauliflower Colors | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Green Cauliflowers | Green Macerata (Rare Seeds) |
| Purple Cauliflowers | DePurple (Territorial Seed Company) Graffiti Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Purple of Sicily (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) |
| Orange/Yellow Cauliflowers | Cheddar (True Leaf Market) Clementine (Territorial Seed Company) Flame Star (Territorial Seed Company) |
| White Cauliflowers | Fioretto 70 (Territorial Seed Company) Goodman (Territorial Seed Company) Odysseus (Territorial Seed Company) Snowball Y Improved (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Snowbowl (Territorial Seed Company) |
Types of Cauliflower Flavors
Cauliflowers generally have a mild to sweet flavor.
| Cauliflower Flavors | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Nutty Cauliflowers | Cheddar (True Leaf Market) De Jesi (Rare Seeds) Green Macerata (Rare Seeds) Odysseus (Territorial Seed Company) Rober (Rare Seeds) |
| Mild and Sweet Cauliflowers | Adona (Territorial Seed Company) Fioretto 70 (Territorial Seed Company) Graffiti Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Snow Crown (Territorial Seed Company) Song TJS-65 (True Leaf Market) |
Types of Cauliflower Textures
Adding cauliflower to your meals can provide extra crunch and richness.
| Cauliflower Textures | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Crisp Cauliflowers | Amazing (Territorial Seed Company) Graffiti Hybrid (True Leaf Market) Song TJS-65 (True Leaf Market) |
| Firm Cauliflowers | Cheddar (True Leaf Market) Odysseus (Territorial Seed Company) Snowball Y Improved (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) |
Types of Geographic Origins
Like broccoli and other Brassica crops, wild cauliflower is believed to have European and Mediterranean roots.
| Geographic Origins | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| European and Mediterranean Cauliflowers | Adona (Territorial Seed Company) De Jesi (Rare Seeds) Green Macerata (Rare Seeds) Purple of Sicily (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Rober (Rare Seeds) Snowball Y Improved (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) |
| North American Cauliflowers | Clementine (Territorial Seed Company) Flame Star (Territorial Seed Company) |
| Asian Cauliflowers | Durgesh 41 (Rare Seeds) Fioretto 70 (Territorial Seed Company) |
Types of Culinary Uses
Cauliflower can be enjoyed in various ways. Simple blanching will result in a mild-tasting side. You can also stir-fry the florets, and soak them in your choice of sauce and spices.
| Culinary Uses | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Cauliflowers for Boiling/Steaming | Adona (Territorial Seed Company) De Jesi (Rare Seeds) Purple of Sicily (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) Snowball Y Improved (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) Violetta Italia (True Leaf Market) |
| Cauliflowers for Sauté/Stir-fry | Amazing (Territorial Seed Company) Durgesh 41 (Rare Seeds) Fioretto 70 (Territorial Seed Company) Goodman (Territorial Seed Company) Odysseus (Territorial Seed Company) |
Types of Disease Resistance
Different varieties have varying degrees of resistance toward disease. As a cool-season vegetable, cauliflower tends to suffer from Botrytis cinerea disease, black rot, and downy mildew.
| Disease Resistance | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Disease-Resistant Varieties | Adona (Territorial Seed Company) |
| Susceptible Varieties | Odysseus (Territorial Seed Company) Purple of Sicily (Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds) |
Types of Preferred Growing Conditions
Before buying your cauliflower seeds, it’s important to note all varieties’ preferred growing conditions. Regular cauliflowers thrive well in cool weather and well-drained soils.
| Preferred Growing Conditions | Common Examples (Where to Buy) |
|---|---|
| Container Cauliflowers | Cheddar (True Leaf Market) Flame Star (Territorial Seed Company) Snowball Y Improved (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market) |
| Field and Greenhouse Cauliflowers | Amazing (Territorial Seed Company) Fioretto 70 (Territorial Seed Company) Self-Blanche (True Leaf Market) Snow Crown (Territorial Seed Company) |
Popular Varieties of White Cauliflowers
Regular cauliflowers tend to have white-colored heads, which are more commercially available in North America compared to colored varieties.
| Variety | Description | Days to Germination | Days to Maturity | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adona | With tolerance to heat and tipburn, Adona is a wonderful white variety to grow in your garden. This dual-season cauliflower produces compact white curds with a sweet flavor. | 5 to 17 days | 68 to 73 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Amazing | Amazing is a favorite cauliflower variety due to dense leaves that wrap around its white heads, protecting the florets from both cold and warm temperatures. | 7 to 10 days | 75 to 80 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Fioretto 70 | Considered a tropical cauliflower, Fioretto 70 is a popular variety from Asia. It can resist heat and thrive in hot conditions, even in tropical areas. If you want to extend your cauliflower harvest until summer, Fioretto 70 is an excellent choice. | 5 to 17 days | 60 to 65 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Goodman | A cold-hardy variety, Goodman yields uniformly shaped heads with packed snow-white florets. Its durable leaves protect the heads from external factors that can ruin your crop during growing season. | 4 to 10 days | 65 to 70 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Odysseus | Odysseus is an early-maturing cauliflower variety, growing white, 8-inch heads at best. This variety is not self-blanching, so you’ll have to manually wrap the outer leaves around the heads for extra protection. | 5 to 17 days | 70 to 75 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Skywalker | Skywalker is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cultivating cauliflowers. This variety grows densely packed heads with uniform color and shape. The resulting cauliflower curds can easily rival the ones in the grocery stores. | 7 to 10 days | 80 to 85 days | Territorial See Company |
| Snowball Y Improved | First introduced in 1947 by the Ferry-Morse Seed Company, Snowball Y Improved is a dependable cauliflower variety with self-blanching ability. Thick green leaves protect the packed cauliflower heads during plant growth. | 8 to 10 days | 70 to 80 days | Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market |
| Snowbowl | Snowbowl is a self-blanching hybrid variety with consistent quality of hefty cauliflower crowns. | 7 to 10 days | 110 to 115 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Snow Crown | An All-America Selections winner, Snow Crown can yield 7- to 8-inch wide cauliflower heads, weighing anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds. Additionally, Snow Crown is an early-maturing cauliflower variety. | 7 to 10 days | 50 to 60 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Twister | This self-blanching cauliflower variety adapts well in both hot and cool temperatures. Twister is a reliable option, growing uniform heads with ivory-white curds. | 5 to 17 days | 62 to 67 days | Territorial Seed Company |
Popular Varieties of Colored Cauliflowers
Learn more about the unique characteristics of these well-known colored cauliflowers.
| Variety | Description | Days to Germination | Days to Maturity | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheddar | The Cheddar hybrid offers vibrant cauliflower heads with a sweet, nutty flavor that further develops when roasted. Cheddar cauliflower has a bright yellow to orange color, similar to the cheese it’s named after. | 7 to 10 days | 70 to 75 days | True Leaf Market |
| Clementine | Clementine is a hybrid cauliflower variety that can add a splash of color to your garden and meals. This orange cauliflower has a sweet taste that can be enjoyed steamed or stir-fried. | 5 to 17 days | 70 to 75 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| DePurple | DePurple produces violet, domed heads about 7 inches wide under ideal conditions. The florets are versatile enough for many cooking applications. | 4 to 7 days | 80 to 85 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Flame Star | Excellent for sowing in early spring or fall, Flame Star grows orange heads like Clementine. The resulting florets are juicy and mild. | 7 to 12 days | 70 to 80 days | Territorial Seed Company |
| Purple of Sicily | Purple of Sicily is an heirloom cauliflower variety with a large head that can reach up to 2 or 3 pounds. From generation to generation, this variety has been served in many vegetable platters due to its health benefits and mouth-watering flavor. | 8 to 10 days | 90 to 95 days | Territorial Seed Company, Rare Seeds |
FAQ About Types of Cauliflower
How many days does cauliflower need before it’s ready for harvest?
Days to harvest will depend on your cauliflower variety. Odysseus, and Snow Crown are excellent examples of early-maturing cauliflowers, taking about 50 to 75 days before harvest. Other common varieties may take anywhere from 50 to 100 days or more.
Which cauliflower varieties are self-blanching?
Adona, Amazing, Snowball Y Improved, Snowbowl, and Twister are some of the most popular self-blanching cauliflowers. Cauliflower without self-blanching ability will require home gardeners to tie the outer leaves around the head once it forms. Doing this will keep the head protected from potentially damaging factors. Opting for a self-blanching variety in your garden will save you from this hassle.
Originally published on Types of Cauliflower
