Hybrid

Song TJS-65

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Wikimedia Commons via Brassica

Green-stem cauliflower is popular in Asia, where it is commonly grown. Sweeter and more tender than standard white-stemmed varieties, and with longer stems that are exceptional for dipping. Kitchen prep work is quick, as a few knife strokes will cut most of the florets from the heads. Typically harvested after florets have elongated and curds have started to separate, though harvesting at the same stage as standard types is acceptable. Song TJS-65 performs better in hot weather and below-average fertility than standard types. Also known as sweet stem, soft curd, or loose curd cauliflower.

Harvest

42d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

6–9

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

10-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Song TJS-65 in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Song TJS-65 · Zones 6–9

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18-24 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile loam with consistent moisture

WaterRegular, consistent moisture; 1-2 inches per week

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorSweet, tender, and mild with exceptional stem flavor superior to standard white cauliflower varieties.

ColorGreen stems with white curds

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	April – May	June – July	June – July	July – September
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	May – July	June – September
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – February	January – December
Zone 3	March – April	May – June	May – June	June – October
Zone 4	March – April	May – June	April – June	June – October
Zone 5	February – March	April – May	April – May	May – November
Zone 6	February – March	April – May	April – May	May – November
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	March – May	April – November
Zone 8	January – February	March – April	March – April	April – December
Zone 9	January – January	February – March	February – March	March – December
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	January – March	February – December

Succession Planting

Song TJS-65 matures in 42 days, which is fast enough for two solid successions in a zone 7 Georgia season. Start the first round indoors in late February, transplant in April, and sow a second batch indoors in mid-March for a late May harvest before summer heat arrives. For a fall run, start transplants indoors in late July and get them in the ground by mid-August — you're working backward from first frost and trying to stay ahead of peak heat, since cauliflower heads will button prematurely or refuse to form if daytime highs sit above 80°F during curd development. A September transplant date rarely gives Song TJS-65 enough growing days before cold shuts things down.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Song TJS-65 reaches harvest at 42 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

The fruits dry and split when ripe.

Color: Brown/Copper, Green. Type: Siliqua. Length: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: The foliage is edible raw or cooked but when cooked can emit an unpleasant odor.

Storage & Preservation

Song TJS-65 cauliflower heads store best at 32–35°F with 95% relative humidity in perforated plastic bags or ventilated crates; avoid sealing tightly, as condensation promotes rot. Fresh heads maintain quality for 2–3 weeks under these conditions. For longer preservation, blanch curds for 3–4 minutes, cool quickly in ice water, and freeze in airtight containers for up to 10 months. Freezing is ideal for this variety's tender florets. Pickling works well too: pack blanched florets into hot jars with vinegar brine, process for 10 minutes, and store for several months. Drying is less common but possible if you slice heads thinly and dry at 140–160°F until brittle. Because Song TJS-65 matures quickly at 42 days, harvest heads while curds remain compact and creamy-white; delay harvesting past peak ripeness and they'll become granular and discolor rapidly, reducing storage longevity.

History & Origin

Song TJS-65 is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: W. Europe

Advantages

+Exceptionally sweet and tender stems ideal for fresh dipping applications
+Quick harvest and prep with easily separated curds requiring minimal knife work
+Superior heat tolerance allows reliable production in hot summer conditions
+Thrives in below-average fertility soils, reducing fertilizer input costs
+Fast 42-day maturity enables multiple succession plantings per season

Considerations

-Loose curd structure may reduce shelf life and transport durability
-Less familiar to Western markets, limiting commercial seed availability and adoption
-Separated curds are more prone to yellowing and oxidative browning
-Requires careful timing as over-mature heads become woody and less palatable

Companion Plants

Dill and nasturtiums pull the most weight here — dill draws in parasitic wasps that target cabbageworms and aphids, while nasturtiums act as a trap crop, pulling aphid colonies off the developing heads. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are worth planting at bed edges; university research supports their role against soil nematodes, and in our zone 7 Georgia gardens, nematode pressure is real enough that the 6–8 inches of bed edge they occupy is a fair trade. Keep tomatoes and mustard well away — mustard is a brassica relative that draws the same flea beetles and Pieris moths straight to your planting, and tomatoes compete for similar nutrient uptake at root depth and can share fungal disease cycles across a crowded bed.

Plant Together

Dill

Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms

Onions

Repel cabbage maggots, aphids, and flea beetles with their strong scent

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, drawing pests away from brassicas

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and various garden pests while attracting beneficial insects

Celery

Improves growth and flavor while repelling cabbage white butterflies

Lettuce

Makes efficient use of space as ground cover and has compatible root systems

Spinach

Compatible growth habits and helps maximize garden space utilization

Chamomile

Enhances flavor and growth while attracting beneficial predatory insects

Keep Apart

Tomatoes

Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt brassica growth

Strawberries

Inhibit brassica growth and compete for soil nutrients

Mustard

Attracts same pests like flea beetles and cabbage root maggots

Nutrition Facts

Calories

31kcal(2%)

Protein

2.57g(5%)

Fiber

2.4g(9%)

Carbs

6.27g(2%)

Fat

0.34g(0%)

Vitamin C

91.3mg(101%)

Vitamin A

8mcg(1%)

Vitamin K

102mcg(85%)

Iron

0.69mg(4%)

Calcium

46mg(4%)

Potassium

303mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #747447)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Cabbage worms, flea beetles, cabbage moths, aphids

Diseases

Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, leaf spot

Troubleshooting Song TJS-65

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Leaves develop yellow, water-soaked patches that turn tan or purple-gray on the underside — usually showing up in cool, wet stretches

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Peronospora parasitica) — spores spread fast in humid air and wet foliage
Overhead irrigation or rain that keeps leaves wet overnight

What to Do

1.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base; wet leaves after sunset accelerate spread significantly
2.Pull and trash (not compost) affected outer leaves to slow progression
3.Space transplants the full 18–24 inches apart so air can move through the canopy

Plants wilt and yellow starting from the lower leaves; cutting the stem crosswise shows dark tan or brown discoloration in the vascular tissue

Likely Causes

Black rot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris) — a bacterial disease that enters through leaf margins and moves inward through the vascular system
Infected transplants or seed brought in from outside

What to Do

1.Remove and bag any affected plants immediately — black rot spreads through rain splash and contaminated tools
2.Sanitize pruners and knives with a 10% bleach solution between plants
3.Rotate this bed out of all brassicas — cabbage, kale, broccoli, turnips — for at least 2 full seasons

Small, irregular holes punched through leaves on seedlings shortly after transplant or direct-sow emergence

Likely Causes

Flea beetles (Phyllotreta spp.) — tiny, fast-jumping beetles that feed heavily on young brassicas
Imported cabbageworm (Pieris rapae larvae) on older transplants already past the seedling stage

What to Do

1.Cover transplants with floating row cover (Agribon AG-19 or similar) and seal the edges with soil — nothing else comes close for season-long flea beetle control
2.For cabbageworm pressure on uncovered plants, apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) at first sign of feeding and reapply after rain
3.Check leaf undersides for yellow egg clusters from cabbage moths; crush them before they hatch

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Song TJS-65 cauliflower take to mature?▼

Song TJS-65 has a days-to-harvest of approximately 42 days from transplanting. This relatively short maturity window makes it ideal for succession planting and extends your harvest window throughout the growing season.

Is Song TJS-65 cauliflower good for beginners?▼

Yes, Song TJS-65 is rated as easy to grow and performs better in challenging conditions than standard cauliflower varieties. It tolerates hot weather and below-average fertility well, making it forgiving for new gardeners who may not have ideal growing conditions.

What makes Song TJS-65 different from regular cauliflower?▼

This green-stem variety has longer, sweeter, and more tender stems than standard white-stemmed cauliflower. The curds separate more loosely, and it's harvested at a different stage. It's also heat-tolerant and thrives in less-than-perfect soil, unlike conventional types.

Can you grow Song TJS-65 cauliflower in containers?▼

While container growing is possible, Song TJS-65 is traditionally field-grown. If attempting containers, use large pots (5+ gallons) with rich soil, and provide consistent moisture and nutrition. Container plants may produce smaller heads than in-ground plantings.

What does Song TJS-65 cauliflower taste like?▼

Song TJS-65 has a sweeter, more tender flavor profile compared to standard cauliflower. The elongated stems are particularly prized for their mild, pleasant taste and exceptional texture, making them excellent for dipping or stir-frying.

How much sun does Song TJS-65 cauliflower need?▼

Song TJS-65 performs well in full sun to partial shade, requiring 4-6+ hours of sunlight daily. The partial shade tolerance is beneficial in hot climates, as it reduces heat stress while still providing adequate light for proper development.