🤍 When to Plant Cauliflower

🥬 Vegetable
Cool Season

Sensitive to temperature swings

📅 Planting Calendar by USDA Zone

Select your zone to highlight your exact planting dates. Dates are calculated from each zone's average frost dates.

Find my zone
Zone Last Frost Start Indoors Transplant Direct Sow
Zone 2A May 30 Apr 4 May 2
Zone 3B May 15 Mar 20 Apr 17
Zone 4A May 8 Mar 13 Apr 10
Zone 4B May 1 Mar 6 Apr 3
Zone 5A Apr 25 Feb 28 Mar 28
Zone 5B Apr 18 Feb 21 Mar 21
Zone 6A Apr 21 Feb 24 Mar 24
Zone 6B Apr 10 Feb 13 Mar 13
Zone 7A Apr 5 Feb 8 Mar 8
Zone 7B Mar 28 Jan 31 Feb 28
Zone 8A Mar 20 Jan 23 Feb 20
Zone 8B Mar 12 Jan 15 Feb 12
Zone 9A Feb 28 Jan 3 Jan 31
Zone 9B Feb 15 Dec 21 Jan 18
Zone 10A Feb 1 Dec 7 Jan 4
Zone 10B Jan 15 Nov 20 Dec 18
Zone 11A Jan 1 Nov 6 Dec 4

Cauliflower is the most challenging brassica but produces beautiful heads when conditions are right.

Top Growing Tips

  • Needs consistent cool temperatures (60-70°F) — very temperature sensitive
  • Blanch heads by tying outer leaves over the curd when it’s 2-3 inches
  • Any stress (heat, drought, cold snap) can cause buttoning (tiny heads)
  • Self-blanching varieties are easier for beginners
  • Fall crops are generally more reliable than spring in most zones

Companion Planting

Good companions: beets, celery, onions, spinach

Avoid planting near: tomatoes, peppers, strawberries

Harvest Timeline

55-80 days from transplant