Planting guide · zone 5a
When to plant cauliflower in zone 5a
In zone 5a, the average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is Oct 1. Here is cauliflower's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 27Start seeds indoorsSpring
May 1Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jun 18Start seeds indoorsFall
Jul 23Transplant into the gardenFall
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Soil & site
The fussiest brassica: rich soil, perfectly steady water, no stress from transplant to harvest.
Seedling care
Handle starts gently and never let them sit rootbound or dry — early stress ruins the head months later.
Growing notes
For white types, blanch: when the head is egg-sized, fold outer leaves over it and clip. Self-blanching and colored types skip this.
Harvest
Cut while curds are tight and smooth, before they separate into “rice.” Don't wait on cauliflower.