Last Updated on April 11, 2022 by Marco C.
Cauliflower is a very healthy vegetable and a popular dinner ingredient with many people asking about growing cauliflower from seed indoors. You can add this little plant as a side dish or even make it the focus of your dinner. Whatever your plans are, in today’s article we’ll be taking a look at how to grow your cauliflower indoors.
Growing Cauliflower From Seed Indoors
To get it out of the way immediately – it’s entirely possible to grow your cauliflower indoors from seed. However, it’s likely that you won’t see the same fruits of your labor as you would if you planted your cauliflower outside. This, however, doesn’t matter if you live in an enclosed space and this is your only way of growing cauliflower.
The Basics
It’s completely your call on what kind of containers you’re going to use, but it’d be best to use larger pots and spread your seeds at least 10 inches out. Remember that cauliflower has leaves that have to sustain the plant by drinking up the sun. You don’t want the leaves of two plants covering one another and creating a shade.
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Another thing to keep in mind is the temperature. If it’s at all possible for you to keep the temperature of the entire room around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, the cauliflowers would be very grateful for that. These plants are used to a bit cooler temperatures. It definitely won’t wilt or die because of higher temperatures, but 60 would be ideal.
These plants also love the sun and they need complete exposure to sunlight if you want them to produce. They should get at least 12 hours of light every day and you should keep the soil moist.
Care
It usually takes about 10 weeks for the cauliflower to become ready for harvesting, so you’re going to have to take care of it for about two and a half months. You’ll be happy to know, however, that you’re not going to have to break your back over it – cauliflower is rather simple to take care of.
There are a few important things to take care of to ensure the best results. Firstly, try to keep the temperature on a regular. If you can keep it at 60 degrees – that’s great. However, if that’s not possible, then please try not to let the temperatures fluctuate from day to day – this will actually stunt the growth.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that you should add aged manure after 4-5 weeks of growing.
Even though professional gardeners usually grow their cauliflower outside, there’s also the practice of seeding the cauliflower outside and then moving it inside. This isn’t uncommon at all. In theory – you should be able to grow cauliflower at any point in the year, as long as you can regulate the temperature and provide enough sunlight.
Growing Cauliflower Outdoors
Unlike growing it indoors, if you decide to grow your cauliflower outdoors you’re most likely going to see much better and higher-quality vegetables. However, the drawback is that you can’t just grow the cauliflowers whenever you feel like it, since they need specific temperatures to grow properly.
Since cauliflower can be planted multiple times a year, you can plant them from February to May, and then late in the year from October to December. According to experts, sowing them from February to May is actually the best period to plant the seeds, but you can also be a step ahead for early crops and plant the seed in the winter if you’re able to keep them under glass.
Outdoor care is a bit different from indoor care, as you need to water them at least every ten days to keep the plant healthy. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about sun exposure and the temperature as that’s something you can’t possibly regulate.
Keeping that in mind, cauliflowers will yield better crops when planted outside, but it might actually be easier to take care of them inside. When you plant them inside, you can easily regulate the temperature, this isn’t the same with growing them outdoors. A sudden rush of frost will kill the cauliflowers if it stays for too long.
However, because of the higher exposure to sun and air in the outdoor soil, it’s likely that outdoor cauliflower will be more plentiful.
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FAQ
Can cauliflower be grown indoors?
Yes, you can grow cauliflower indoors just as well as growing it outside. However, cauliflower grown outside will most likely yield better crops (and in greater numbers).
How long does it take to grow cauliflower from seed?
Barring any problems, it usually takes about 10 weeks from seed to harvest. This, however, can depend on the temperature and the fertilizer you're using.
Does cauliflower need a lot of sun?
These veggies love the sun and they need at least 12 hours of sun exposure a day - the more sun, the better. This is why it's best to keep them next to a window if you're growing them inside.
Is it hard to grow cauliflower?
Cauliflower is a fairly rudimentary plant and they're not hard to grow at all. Just make sure that the temperatures are right and that you're giving it enough water.
What’s the difference between indoors and outdoors growing?
Indoor-grown cauliflower will most likely be a bit lesser in quality, while outdoor-grown cauliflower is higher quality and it also grows in greater numbers.
To End
Cauliflower is a very versatile ingredient when it comes to cooking, and you’ll be happy to know that you can grow it all year long in closed spaces, as long as you can regulate the temperature and sun exposure. These vegetables need at least 12 hours of sun exposure a day and they’ll also appreciate regular watering.
You can grow them from seed or plant them outside and then take them inside later on. You can also keep them outdoors if you’d like, which is something that most gardeners prefer, but it’s easier to take care of them indoors.