Variety field guide
What to expect from All Year Round Cauliflower Seeds
All Year Round produces a firm white cauliflower head wrapped in dark green leaves.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
All Year Round produces a firm white cauliflower head wrapped in dark green leaves. Its mild flavor and tender texture suit roasting, steaming, curries and crisp raw florets. This open-pollinated favorite is useful for successive cool-season plantings, including protected or mild-winter gardens. The name describes planting flexibility, not a promise of harvest in every climate all year. Give plants an uninterrupted supply of moisture and nutrients so the tightly packed curds can develop without heat or drought stress.
Firm white curds for well-timed, cool-season harvests.
Growing facts
- Botanical name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
- Maturity or display: About 65 days after transplanting in favorable conditions; overwintered crops take longer
- Mature size: Large white heads surrounded by dark green leaves
- Spacing: 18 in between plants; rows 30 in
About the variety
Cauliflower is a cultivated form of Brassica oleracea selected for its dense, immature flower head. All Year Round is a long-established open-pollinated variety used for succession crops and cold-frame growing. Its broad planting reputation still depends on local seasons and suitable temperatures.
Starting seed
Sow 1/2 in. deep indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Sprouts in 3-10 days near 70 F. Harden off; space 18 in., rows 30 in. Grow in cool, fertile conditions.
Care through the season
Time the crop for mild weather and keep growth steady with fertile soil and consistent moisture. Protect newly set plants from severe cold and drying winds. Outer leaves may shade the head; if needed, loosely cover an exposed curd with its own leaves while allowing airflow. Heat, root stress or aged transplants can produce small or loose heads.
Harvest and use
Cut heads while firm, before curds loosen. Fold leaves over exposed white heads if needed. Chill promptly or blanch and freeze. Seed crops need overwintering and isolation.
Saving seed
Cauliflower is usually biennial for seed production. Overwinter several healthy plants and isolate their flowers from other Brassica oleracea crops such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and collards. Allow seed pods to turn dry and tan, harvest before shattering, then dry and clean seed thoroughly.
Common problems
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids and flea beetles; row cover can protect young plants. Avoid planting repeatedly in the same brassica bed. Drought, excess heat and prolonged chilling of stressed young plants can interrupt head development.
Frequently asked questions
When can I start harvesting?
About 65 days after transplanting in favorable conditions; overwintered crops take longer.
How should I grow it?
Time the crop for mild weather and keep growth steady with fertile soil and consistent moisture. Protect newly set plants from severe cold and drying winds. Outer leaves may shade the head; if needed, loosely cover an exposed curd with its own leaves while allowing airflow. Heat, root stress or aged transplants can produce small or loose heads.
Can I save seed?
Cauliflower is usually biennial for seed production. Overwinter several healthy plants and isolate their flowers from other Brassica oleracea crops such as cabbage, broccoli, kale and collards. Allow seed pods to turn dry and tan, harvest before shattering, then dry and clean seed thoroughly.
