Brassica oleracea (Botrytis Group) 'Boris'

RHS Plant Profile
cauliflower 'Boris'

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A virgorous Summer cauliflower variety perfect for the amateur gardener because it can be grown in any soil and withstands hard weather conditions. It produces large white curds encased in erect, mid-green leaves and has a good holding ability. Harvest between June and September

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand, Chalk, Clay

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand Chalk Clay
Moisture
Well–drained or Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained soil in full sun. Sow indoors between March and April and transplant out in May or sow direct from March for a harvest in late Summer. See cauliflower cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage gall weevil, cabbage root fly, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetle, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails, swede midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildew, grey mould, foot and root rot, leaf spot, white blister