When to plant cauliflower
Start cauliflower seeds indoors 7 to 11 weeks before the last frost, plant them out 1 to 4 weeks before the last frost, sow seed outdoors 1 to 2 weeks before the last frost and plant again for fall 5 to 10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Your dates for cauliflower
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant cauliflower where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Cauliflower planting dates by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Plant out | Sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Mar 3 to 31 | Apr 21 to May 12 | May 5 to 12 | Jun 27 to Aug 1 |
| Zone 3a | Mar 10 to Apr 7 | Apr 28 to May 19 | May 12 to 19 | Jul 6 to Aug 10 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 1 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 10 | May 3 to 10 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Zone 4a | Feb 25 to Mar 25 | Apr 15 to May 6 | Apr 29 to May 6 | Jul 20 to Aug 24 |
| Zone 4b | Feb 20 to Mar 20 | Apr 10 to May 1 | Apr 24 to May 1 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Zone 5a | Feb 15 to Mar 15 | Apr 5 to 26 | Apr 19 to 26 | Jul 26 to Aug 30 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 13 to Mar 13 | Apr 3 to 24 | Apr 17 to 24 | Aug 1 to Sep 5 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 11 to Mar 11 | Apr 1 to 22 | Apr 15 to 22 | Aug 8 to Sep 12 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 16 | Apr 9 to 16 | Aug 13 to Sep 17 |
| Zone 7a | Jan 29 to Feb 26 | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | Apr 2 to 9 | Aug 16 to Sep 20 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 18 to Feb 15 | Mar 8 to 29 | Mar 22 to 29 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 11 to Feb 8 | Mar 1 to 22 | Mar 15 to 22 | Aug 29 to Oct 3 |
| Zone 8b | Dec 30 to Jan 27 | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Mar 3 to 10 | Sep 4 to Oct 9 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 15 to Jan 12 | Feb 2 to 23 | Feb 16 to 23 | Sep 17 to Oct 22 |
| Zone 9b | Nov 15 to Dec 13 | Jan 3 to 24 | Jan 17 to 24 | Sep 30 to Nov 4 |
Spring dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Where frost is rare
Grow as a fall/winter crop in frost-rare areas; plants are cold hardy but heads are not, and heat spoils curds.
| Zone | Planting months in Extension guides |
|---|---|
| Zone 9 | Sep-Oct and Jan-Feb (North Florida); mid-Aug to mid-Jan (Phoenix area) |
| Zone 10 | Sep-Feb (Central Florida) |
| Zone 11 | Sep-Jan (South Florida) |
Based on UF/IFAS VH021 Table 1 planting dates (North FL ~ zone 8b-9a used for zone_9, Central FL ~ 9b-10a used for zone_10, South FL ~ 10b-11 used for zone_11); University of Arizona AZ1005 Maricopa County (Phoenix low desert, ~zone 9b-10a) added to zone_9; Texas A&M AgriLife RGV Homeowner Vegetable Guide (Lower Rio Grande Valley, ~zone 9b-10a) cited in summary. RGV: same timing as broccoli (sow early Sep to early Dec, transplant from October). Warm-winter areas are matched to zones approximately, so use the months for your region.
How to grow cauliflowerYour full planting calendar
Sources
- Cauliflower in the Garden (How to Grow Cauliflower in Your Garden) · Utah State University Extension
- Cauliflower (HGIC 1326) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Growing Cauliflower in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Growing Cauliflower in the Home Garden · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- RGV Homeowner Vegetable Guide (rev. 2022) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination (Garden Notes GN 154) · University of California Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County
- Easy Container Vegetables and How to Grow Them · N.C. Cooperative Extension, Onslow County Center
- Cole Crops for the Home Vegetable Garden · Penn State Extension