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- Start indoors
- Sow outdoors
- Plant out
- Plant
- Fall crop
- Today
Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Start cauliflower seeds indoors 6–9 weeks before your last spring frost and plant them out from 3 weeks before that date up to the frost date itself. For a fall crop, plant out 13–16 weeks before your first fall frost. Cauliflower needs steady cool weather to form a good head.
- Frost tolerance
- Semi-hardy: light frost
- Soil temperature
- Germinates from 40°F; best 45–85°F
- Days to harvest
- 55–100 days from transplant
The rule we use
- Start seeds indoors: 6–9 weeks before the last spring frost
- Plant out: from 3 weeks before the last spring frost up to that date
- Plant out for fall: 13–16 weeks before the first fall frost
Starting and planting out
Sow seeds ¼–½ inch deep indoors and grow them cool, around 60–70°F, in good light. Plant out at about 5–7 weeks old. Seedlings left too long in small pots, or chilled hard after planting, can form tiny "button" heads early instead of growing properly.
Cauliflower is less hardy than cabbage or kale. Light frost is fine, but protect young plants with a row cover if a hard freeze is forecast after planting. Harden seedlings off for a week first.
Why fall cauliflower is easier
Cauliflower is the fussiest member of the cabbage family. Heat, drought or a check in growth at the wrong time leads to small, loose or discolored heads. In many areas spring crops run straight into summer heat just as heads form.
A fall crop matures as the weather cools, which suits it far better. Plant out 13–16 weeks before your first fall frost, keep plants well watered through late summer, and they'll head up in cool fall weather.
Blanching and harvest
White varieties stay white if the head is shaded. When the head is about the size of an egg, tie the outer leaves loosely over it, or snap a few leaves over the top. Many newer varieties curl their own leaves over the head. Orange, green and purple types don't need blanching.
Cut the head while it's still tight and firm, usually 1–2 weeks after blanching. Once the curds start to separate, it's past its best.
Seeds and supplies for cauliflower
- Cauliflower seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- LED grow lights stop seedlings stretching toward a window.
- Frost cloth to cover plants if a late cold night is forecast.
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Questions about planting cauliflower
Can cauliflower survive frost?
Light frost, yes. A hard freeze can damage young plants and developing heads, so cover them if temperatures in the mid-20s°F are forecast.
Why are my cauliflower heads so small?
Usually stress: plants that were too old at planting, a cold snap just after planting, heat, or dry soil. Grow transplants quickly, plant them young and keep them watered.
When should I plant cauliflower for fall?
Plant out transplants 13–16 weeks before your first fall frost. Enter your ZIP above for the dates.
Do I have to blanch cauliflower?
Only white varieties, and only if you want them pure white. Covering the head with its leaves keeps the sun off; colored varieties don't need it.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 13: Propagation, NC State Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination, Oregon State University Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)