Best Cauliflower Varieties for Scotland

Cauliflowers split into types by when they crop, from early summer through to the following spring, and the types differ in how much cold they take. In Scotland that decides which ones are worth growing over winter. For the rest, the choice comes down to clubrootA soil-borne fungal disease of the brassica family that swells and distorts roots, and survives in soil for years. Full definition → and to the traits each variety is bred for.

What Scotland means for the choice

Summer and autumn types are harvested before hard weather, so their H3The RHS's H1a–H7 scale for how much cold a plant can survive outdoors, H1a being tender indoor-only and H7 hardy anywhere in the UK. Full definition → rating (hardy only in mild parts of the UK, -5°C to 1°C) doesn't hold them back. Types that stand through winter are different. Triomphant is H4, hardy to between -10°C and -5°C, but not reliably in inland valleys, at altitude or in central and northerly locations, which covers much of Scotland. Jerome is H5, hardy in most places even in severe winters. The other Scottish factor is soil: much of Scotland's soil is naturally acidic, which favours clubroot. The cauliflower growing guide covers sowing times, liming, avoiding buttoning and protecting curdsThe tight, edible white (or coloured) head of a cauliflower, made up of undeveloped flower buds packed closely together. Full definition → in winter.

All ten hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGMThe RHS's Award of Garden Merit: a UK-wide trials award for reliable performance, not a Scotland-specific recommendation. Full definition →), a UK-wide award rather than a Scottish one.

Clapton

Clapton "shows excellent resistance to club root", with large, uniform, solid white heads in late summer and autumn. It's the only variety here with any clubroot resistance, which makes it the first choice on acidic ground or where clubroot has been before. Keep liming and rotating as well: the variety and the soil treatment tackle the same problem from two sides.

Jerome and Triomphant, for winter and spring

Jerome is a vigorous spring cauliflower with medium, deep white heads that "stand well through Winter", cut in late March and April. At H5, it's the one to overwinter on a cold or exposed plot. Triomphant gives pure white curds protected by semi-erect leaves, often ready at Christmas, but at H4 it's better suited to a milder, more sheltered garden.

The summer and autumn types

Raleigh "copes well in stressful conditions and is resistant to 'pinking'", a discolouring of the curd surface brought on by cold and stress, which suits an unsettled summer. Candid Charm is vigorous and quick to mature, good at close spacing for mini caulis in a small bed or container. Nautilus gives pure white, solid, heavy curds that stay white a long time rather than yellowing. Moby Dick has crisp, sweet, dense white curds on robust plants that stand well until harvest, running into December. Tirza is the earliest of the season, a heavy-cropping summer cauliflower with a compact head that suits small spaces or containers. It's sown in October and overwintered under glass before planting out in March or April, so it needs a greenhouse or cold frame.

Graffiti and Veronica, for colour

Graffiti has dense, deep purple curds that "become darker the more they are exposed to sunlight", so a shadier spot gives a paler head. Veronica is a romanesco, with pointed lime-green florets arranged in whorls. Both grow like white cauliflower, and neither resists disease any better.

Other varieties

Aalsmeer, a spring type without the AGM, is also H5, described as having "outstanding Winter hardiness" and cropping in March and April, so it's the alternative if you can't find Jerome. Sunset is a compact summer/autumn type with golden yellow to orange curds. Walcheren Winter Pilgrim is winter hardy, with creamy white, compact heads, and Depurple is another purple variety.

Which one for your situation

• Clubroot in the plot, or acidic ground: Clapton.
• A spring crop on a cold or exposed plot: Jerome, or Aalsmeer.
• A Christmas cauliflower, in a sheltered garden: Triomphant.
• The earliest crop, with glass to overwinter under: Tirza.
• Summer, in unsettled weather: Raleigh.
• A small space or container: Candid Charm or Tirza.
• Colour: Graffiti, Veronica or Sunset.

Apart from Clapton's clubroot resistance, variety makes no difference to caterpillars, cabbage root fly, flea beetle, downy mildew, slugs or pigeons.

Common questions

Sources