Planting guide · zone 8a
When to plant cauliflower in zone 8a
In zone 8a, the average last spring frost is Mar 25 and the first fall frost is Nov 12. Here is cauliflower's whole year, counted from those dates.
Feb 4Start seeds indoorsSpring
Mar 11Transplant into the gardenSpring
Jul 30Start seeds indoorsFall
Sep 3Transplant 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.