Cauliflower is a garden vegetable grown for its white curd, or head. People eat the curd cooked, pickled, or raw. It is a good source of vitamin C and several B vitamins. Cauliflower belongs to the same species (kind) of plant as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collards, and kale.
The cauliflower plant grows a single, thick stalk. A swirl of leaves encloses the flower head, which consists of many branches of undeveloped flower shoots. The shoots fuse together to form the creamy white curd.
Cauliflower grows best in relatively cool weather, with temperatures from 57 to 68 °F (14 to 20 °C). Farmers grow it in the winter and spring in the southern United States. In the North, it is grown in summer and fall. In California, cauliflower is grown the year around. China, France, India, and Italy also grow large amounts of cauliflower.
