When to plant Cauliflower
The most temperamental of the brassicas: it demands cool, uninterrupted growth or the curds turn loose and 'ricey'. Tie the outer leaves over the developing head to blanch it white (or grow a self-blanching variety).
Companions: Beans, celery, onion — avoid tomatoes and strawberries
How to grow Cauliflower
Cauliflower is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this half-hardy crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 70 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. Classic companions include beans, celery, onion — avoid tomatoes and strawberries.
Grower's tip: Fussier than broccoli — it needs cool, even conditions. Blanch heads by tying leaves over them.
When to plant Cauliflower by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same cauliflower goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 27–May 11 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 22–May 6 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 6–Apr 20 Transplant outdoors May 11–May 25 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Transplant outdoors May 6–May 20 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 22–Apr 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 26–May 10 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 27–Dec 11 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 |