If you’re looking to cultivate cauliflower in San Antonio, Texas, you’re in luck! With the right conditions and a bit of know-how, you can enjoy this sometimes-tricky-to-grow, versatile vegetable straight from your garden. Let’s explore how to successfully grow cauliflower in the San Antonio region, focusing on the essentials you’ll need to get the results you want.

Understanding Cauliflower’s Needs
This cool-season crop thrives when planted as transplants in late fall and again in late winter, capitalizing on the region’s milder, and cooler temperatures during these times. If you want a shot at growing cauliflower this year, you should get moving on it. You need to give it enough time to mature before the average daytime temps rise above 75°.
Light Exposure: Full sun is ideal for cauliflower, which means it requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. This will help the plants grow strong and healthy.
Soil Requirements: Cauliflower prefers well-draining, well-prepared, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Enrich your soil with lots of organic matter, such as compost, to ensure it has the necessary nutrients and structure. Add 2-3″ of this compost and till it in to a depth of 8-10″. We’ve found raised beds to be excellent for growing cauliflower as they provide for excellent drainage, which these shallow rooted vegetables definitely need. Water a few days before planting.

Fertilizing Tips: Start by working a balanced and complete fertilizer into the soil before planting. You could try Espoma Garden-Tone, or Nelson’s Garden and Vegetable fertilizer; the bags will have application the information. As the cauliflower grows (about 4=6 weeks after planting), apply a side dressing of a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage robust leaf development. Ammonium sulfate is a great options (21-0-0) which is essential for forming a healthy head.
Planting Tips: Set transplants fairly deep, up to the first set of leaves. Space cauliflower transplants at least 15 – 18″ apart to allow for full mature growth. As well as prepping your bed with a complete fertilizer, we also advise adding a diluted liquid soluble fertilizer into the hole at planting time; try ÂĽ to ½ strength. Water immediately after planting.
Watering Needs: Consistent moisture is crucial. Aim to water deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. Drip irrigation systems can be particularly effective, as they deliver water directly to the roots.
Pests of Concern: One of the most prevalent pests you may need to be aware of when growing cauliflower is the cabbage looper. These little worms can devour both the leaves and heads of the vegetable quickly. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye on your crops, as cabbage loopers are sneaky and can blend in with the plant and hide in crevices and under leaves. At the first sight of these pests, or their damage, treat with Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis). For a lot more info on cabbage loopers, check out this post. Other pests you may need to watch out for are aphids and cutworms.

Special Cauliflower Growing Tips
To maximize your cauliflower harvest, consider these additional tips:
- Multiple Harvests: While typically one head is harvested per plant, you can encourage side shoots by cutting the main head while leaving the plant intact. This might result in smaller, secondary heads.
- Blanching for Color: To achieve the whitest heads of cauliflower, once the small inner leaves of cauliflower begin to cup and fold over, pull the leaves up over the developing head and secure them with a clothespin or string. This process, known as blanching, shields the head from sunlight, preventing it from turning yellow.
- Fun Varieties to Explore: Try experimenting with colorful cauliflower varieties like ‘Cheddar’ with its vibrant orange hue, or ‘Graffiti’, which offers a striking purple color. These varieties add visual interest to your gardens and to your culinary dishes.

Cooking and Enjoying Cauliflower
Once you have your homegrown cauliflower, the culinary possibilities are endless. Here are a few unique ways to savor your harvest:
- Cauliflower Rice: Pulse raw cauliflower florets in a food processor to create a low-carb rice alternative perfect for stir-fries or as a base for dishes.
- Roasted Cauliflower Steaks: Thick slices of cauliflower roasted with olive oil, garlic, and herbs make a delicious and hearty vegetarian main course.
- Cauliflower Tacos: Spice up taco night by using roasted cauliflower as a filling, topped with avocado, salsa, and lime for a fresh twist.
We hope you’ve found these tips and ideas for growing cauliflower in San Antonio helpful and we wish you the best success. Come see us for any help.
~The Happy Gardener, Lisa Mulroy