Sprouting Cauliflower
Fioretto 70 is a fast-maturing cauliflower that delivers dense, tight heads in just 60 to 65 days, making it one of the quickest routes to harvest in the garden. This Botrytis Group brassica thrives in cool weather and handles frost well, opening possibilities for both spring and fall crops in most climates. Packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate, it's a nutritional powerhouse that adapts beautifully to small spaces with just 12 inches between plants. The relatively low water needs and full-sun preference make it straightforward to grow, while its compact spacing allows gardeners to tuck multiple plants into tight garden beds.
Full Sun
Low
?-?
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The speed of Fioretto 70 stands out among cauliflower varieties, reaching maturity in under two months while maintaining the tight, dense heads that signal peak quality at harvest. Its frost-hardy nature and preference for cool growing temperatures (around 55°F) make it especially reliable for spring and fall gardens where other vegetables falter. The low water requirement combined with full-sun tolerance means you can grow it in drier beds without constant attention, and the tight 12-inch spacing lets you squeeze multiple heads into small plots.
Fioretto 70 serves the full range of cauliflower applications in the kitchen. Steamed and mashed, it makes a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate substitute for traditional mashed potatoes. The dense, tight florets also pickle and freeze beautifully; frozen pieces should be blanched in lightly salted water before storing. Its firm structure holds up well to roasting, stir-frying, and raw preparations in salads or vegetable platters.
Start seeds indoors in a warm environment of 65 to 75°F for germination. Sow 4 to 6 weeks before your target transplant date to develop sturdy seedlings ready for the garden.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when they've developed 2 to 3 true leaves and soil conditions match your growing window. Space plants 12 inches apart with 18 inches between rows. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before planting to prevent transplant shock.
Harvest Fioretto 70 when heads reach 6 to 8 inches in diameter and feel tight and dense to the touch. Use a clean, sharp knife to cut the head, leaving some outer leaves around it for protection. Watch for heads that have begun to open or separate; these signal overmaturity and should be removed even if undersized. Once florets begin to appear ricey or the head takes on a coarse appearance, discard it rather than harvest.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.