Planting guide · zone 9a
When to plant cauliflower in zone 9a
In zone 9a, the average last spring frost is Feb 28 and the first fall frost is Dec 1. Here is cauliflower's whole year, counted from those dates.
Jan 10Start seeds indoorsSpring
Feb 14Transplant into the gardenSpring
Aug 18Start seeds indoorsFall
Sep 22Transplant 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.