Planting guide · zone 6a
When to plant cauliflower in zone 6a
In zone 6a, the average last spring frost is Apr 28 and the first fall frost is Oct 15. Here is cauliflower's whole year, counted from those dates.
Mar 10Start seeds indoorsSpring
Apr 14Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 2Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 6Transplant 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.