When to plant cauliflower
The rule
Days to maturity: 60–75 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: half-hardy (derived from the planting timing above).
Because cauliflower is half-hardy and matures in about 60–75 days, it's a strong fall crop — sow it in mid-to-late summer so it finishes before your first frost.
Cauliflower planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | March 22 – April 5 | April 26 – May 10 | June 3 – June 17 |
| Zone 2b | March 30 – April 13 | May 4 – May 18 | June 11 – June 25 |
| Zone 3b | March 25 – April 8 | April 29 – May 13 | June 15 – June 29 |
| Zone 4a | March 19 – April 2 | April 23 – May 7 | June 23 – July 7 |
| Zone 4b | March 15 – March 29 | April 19 – May 3 | June 26 – July 10 |
| Zone 5a | March 17 – March 31 | April 21 – May 5 | June 27 – July 11 |
| Zone 5b | March 9 – March 23 | April 13 – April 27 | July 4 – July 18 |
| Zone 6a | March 5 – March 19 | April 9 – April 23 | July 11 – July 25 |
| Zone 6b | February 26 – March 12 | April 2 – April 16 | July 16 – July 30 |
| Zone 7a | February 18 – March 4 | March 25 – April 8 | July 22 – August 5 |
| Zone 7b | February 9 – February 23 | March 16 – March 30 | July 28 – August 11 |
| Zone 8a | January 29 – February 12 | March 5 – March 19 | August 4 – August 18 |
| Zone 8b | January 19 – February 2 | February 23 – March 9 | August 11 – August 25 |
| Zone 9a | January 5 – January 19 | February 9 – February 23 | August 21 – September 4 |
| Zone 9b | December 8 – December 22 | January 12 – January 26 | September 3 – September 17 |
| Zone 10a | November 20 – December 4 | December 25 – January 8 | August 28 – September 11 |
| Zone 10b | November 25 – December 9 | December 30 – January 13 | October 21 – November 4 |
What you'll need
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Seed-starting traysBurpee SuperSeed 36-cell trayReusable cells that pop seedlings out with the roots intact at transplant time.See it on Amazon- Seed-starting mixEspoma Organic Seed StarterA fine, sterile mix so small seeds can push through and seedlings don't rot.See it on Amazon
- Grow lightBarrina T5 LED grow lights, 4-packA windowsill is too dim in late winter; a light 2–3 in. above keeps seedlings short and sturdy.See it on Amazon
- Floating row coverAgribon AG-30 row coverAdds a few degrees of frost protection on cold nights and keeps insects off young plants.See it on Amazon
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Calendar computed 2026-09-27. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension — Vegetable Planting Chart (Circular C963) (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.