Violet Queen Cauliflower is a stunning open-pollinated variety that produces rich purple heads against dark green foliage, reaching maturity in 80 to 89 days. Hardy from zones 3 through 9, this annual brassica thrives in full sun and delivers sweet, delicious curds that make a striking addition to raw vegetable trays and salads. The deep purple color fades when cooked, but the flavor remains reliably excellent, and the variety is highly productive whether grown in sunny containers or traditional garden beds.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Consistent Moisture
Preferred Temp60-75°F
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
—
Width
18 in
Spacing
80–89
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The deep purple heads of Violet Queen stand out dramatically in the garden and on the plate, creating visual interest that standard green varieties simply cannot match. Its sweetness and tender texture make it equally at home in raw preparations or cooked dishes, while the relatively quick 80 to 89 day maturity means you're not waiting half the season for your harvest. This is a non-GMO, open-pollinated variety that rewards full sun with abundant, productive heads.
Common Uses
Violet Queen's tender, sweet curds excel in raw vegetable trays and salads where their striking purple color adds visual appeal. The variety handles both raw and cooked preparations well, though gardeners should know the color fades when heated, making it less visually dramatic on the cooked plate but no less flavorful.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Not Applicable
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your average last frost date, maintaining soil temperature at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Barely cover seeds with soil. Indoor starting is recommended for best results.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Since Violet Queen is frost-hardy, it tolerates light frost, allowing for somewhat flexible timing. Harden off transplants gradually before moving to full outdoor sun.
Harvesting
Harvest heads when they reach full size and the curds are still tight and compact, typically around 80 to 89 days after sowing. Cut the main head with a sharp knife at the base, leaving the plant in place; many varieties will produce smaller secondary heads from the side shoots. Check regularly once maturity approaches, as heads are best harvested at peak firmness.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Brassica oleracea L.
Family
Brassicaceae
Genus
Brassica
Duration
Perennial
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)GL (W)