Cauliflowers, a traditional component of the British Sunday roast, may become increasingly difficult to cultivate in England due to rising temperatures and changing climate conditions, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has warned. The organization advised home gardeners to reconsider planting cauliflowers and their close relative calabrese, citing the vegetables' high water requirements and sensitivity to heat stress, which can prevent the formation of a proper head.

The RHS suggested that gardeners focus instead on other brassica family members such as cabbages and Brussels sprouts, which are better suited to the warmer, drier climate. Some have already transitioned to kale, which benefits from deeper roots and perennial growth patterns, allowing it to tolerate drought conditions more effectively.

Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS, noted that cauliflowers and related brassicas have been among the most affected by recent extreme weather. He highlighted the practicality of substituting these crops with alternatives that require less intensive watering while still providing flavour and nutritional value. “Swapping them out for an equally as flavourful and nutritious alternative will save on all-important watering and provide a better guarantee of a good harvest,” Barter said.

Simone Bratt, who manages the kitchen gardens at RHS Bridgewater, confirmed that she has not grown cauliflower for several years due to inconsistent yields caused by extreme weather fluctuations. She explained that cauliflowers struggle to thrive without ample water and cooler temperatures, both increasingly scarce in recent seasons.

The difficulties facing domestic brassica cultivation reflect broader agricultural challenges, with poor harvests expected across crops such as broccoli and cabbage this year due to ongoing drought conditions. Farmers have warned that 2026 could be one of the worst years on record for brassica yields.

This summer marked the hottest on record in Britain since official measurements began in 1884. Provisional data from the Met Office showed temperatures in England peaked at 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6 degrees Fahrenheit) at Kew Gardens in London on August 13, while June had already been identified as the warmest month recorded. Scientists attribute the severity and frequency of these heatwaves to the ongoing climate crisis driven primarily by fossil fuel emissions.