Planting guide · zone 7a
When to plant cauliflower in zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average last spring frost is Apr 12 and the first fall frost is Oct 29. Here is cauliflower's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 22Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 29Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 16Start seeds indoorsFall
Aug 20Transplant 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.