When to plant cauliflower by city
Start cauliflower indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost, plant them out up to 2 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow 10–14 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Start indoors | Plant out | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Aug 11 – Sep 8 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 | Aug 25 – Sep 22 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | Sep 9 – Oct 7 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Nov 10–24 | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Sep 27 – Oct 25 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 | Aug 2–30 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 | Jul 6 – Aug 3 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Jan 5–19 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Aug 23 – Sep 20 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 9–23 | Jul 10 – Aug 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Jul 27 – Aug 24 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Jul 30 – Aug 27 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6–20 | Jul 18 – Aug 15 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 | Jul 25 – Aug 22 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 10–24 | Aug 2–30 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 | Aug 2–30 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Feb 2–16 | Mar 16–30 | Aug 11 – Sep 8 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | Feb 7–21 | Mar 21 – Apr 4 | Aug 3–31 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: grow cauliflower from fall through winter.
Cauliflower spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 1 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 18 inches apart with 30 inches between rows.
The fussiest brassica. Steady water and cool weather make tight heads.
How to grow cauliflower
Cauliflower is the fussiest brassica. It needs steady cool weather, constant moisture and an unchecked start; any stress tends to produce small, loose heads. Fall crops are usually more reliable than spring ones, and the result is worth it for gardeners who like a challenge.
Sun and soil
Full sun and rich, well-drained soil that holds moisture, pH about 6.0–7.0. Never let the soil dry out; aim for 1–2 inches of water a week.
Planting
- Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before transplanting, ¼–½ inch deep.
- Transplant from about 2 weeks before the last frost up to the frost date, when soil is at least 45°F. Protect young plants from hard frost.
- Use young transplants with 4–6 leaves; stunted or root-bound plants often "button."
- Space 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. For fall, transplant 10–14 weeks before the first fall frost.
Care
- Water evenly from planting to harvest; dry spells are the main cause of poor heads.
- Side-dress with nitrogen 3–4 weeks after transplanting.
- Blanch white varieties: when the curd is 2–3 inches across, pull the outer leaves over it and tie them loosely. Self-blanching and colored varieties skip this step.
- Mulch to keep roots cool in spring.
Harvest
Check tied heads every few days. Harvest when the head is full size for the variety (often 6–8 inches), still compact and smooth, usually 1–2 weeks after tying. Cut below the head, leaving a few leaves around it to protect the curd.
Common problems
- Buttoning: Small heads form early on stunted plants. Avoid cold shock, drought and old transplants.
- Loose, grainy ("ricey") heads: Usually heat or water stress during heading. Time plantings to mature in cool weather and keep plants watered.
- Yellow or purple-tinged curds: Sun exposure on white varieties. Blanch heads promptly.
- Cabbageworms and aphids: Use row cover from planting, apply Bt for caterpillars, and spray aphids off with water.
Varieties to try
- 'Snow Crown' — early, vigorous and among the easiest
- 'Amazing' — large white heads, good wrapper leaves
- 'Self Blanche' — inner leaves curl over the head
- 'Cheddar' — orange curds, no blanching needed
Crop rotation
Cauliflower belong to the cabbage family (Brassicaceae). Clubroot and cabbage pests build up in the soil. Rotate for at least 3 years. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussels sprouts, radish, turnip, arugula, bok choy, kohlrabi.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant cauliflower?
What grows well with cauliflower?
What should not be planted with cauliflower?
How far apart should I plant cauliflower?
How long do cauliflower take to grow?
Can cauliflower handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023
- Brassica flea beetles, UMass Amherst Vegetable Program
- Trap Cropping, Washington State University Extension Master Gardener Program
- Trap cropping: a review of the state of the art, Sarkar et al., 2018 (open-access review)
- Cauliflower — Clemson Cooperative Extension (HGIC)
- Cauliflower in the Garden — Utah State University Extension