Skip to content
SowingDates

When to plant cauliflower

Vegetable, half hardy

CSU lists cauliflower as semi-hardy (0–2 weeks before the last frost) even though Wisconsin's cole-crop guide treats it with the hardy crops and direct-sows spring seed about 3 weeks before the last frost. Curds take about 50–80 days from transplant. CSU's germination minimum is 40°F and Wisconsin's planting minimum is 55°F. A fall sowing 10–12 weeks before the first killing frost is often the better crop.

The general rule

Start indoors
6–8 weeks before the last spring frost
Transplant outdoors
0–2 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow outdoors
0–3 weeks before the last spring frost
Sow for fall
10–12 weeks before the first fall frost
Plant when soil reaches
55°F
Days to maturity
50–80 days

What that means in different climates

The same rule applied to the safer frost dates of cities from cold to frost-free.

Cauliflower planting dates in example cities
CityLast frost · saferStart indoorsTransplant outdoorsSow outdoorsSow for fall
San Jose, CAJan 23Nov 28 – Dec 12Jan 9 – Jan 23Jan 2 – Jan 23Sep 11 – Sep 25
Tucson, AZMar 2Jan 5 – Jan 19Feb 16 – Mar 2Feb 9 – Mar 2Aug 29 – Sep 12
Portland, ORMar 21Jan 24 – Feb 7Mar 7 – Mar 21Feb 28 – Mar 21Aug 18 – Sep 1
Baltimore, MDApr 4Feb 7 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Mar 14 – Apr 4Aug 15 – Aug 29
New York, NYApr 12Feb 15 – Mar 1Mar 29 – Apr 12Mar 22 – Apr 12Aug 14 – Aug 28
Nashville, TNApr 16Feb 19 – Mar 5Apr 2 – Apr 16Mar 26 – Apr 16Jul 26 – Aug 9
Louisville, KYApr 23Feb 26 – Mar 12Apr 9 – Apr 23Apr 2 – Apr 23Jul 29 – Aug 12
Omaha, NEMay 6Mar 11 – Mar 25Apr 22 – May 6Apr 15 – May 6Jul 10 – Jul 24
Colorado Springs, COMay 15Mar 20 – Apr 3May 1 – May 15Apr 24 – May 15Jul 4 – Jul 18
Miami, FLFrost rareFrost is rare: fall and winter (soil 55°F+).

Sources