🥦When to Plant Cauliflower (2026)
Fussier brassica that wants steady cool weather. Transplant early.
- Type: Cool-season
- Method: Transplant
- Days to harvest: 75
- Spacing: 18" apart
- Sun: Full sun
- Companions: beans, onion, celery
Is Cauliflower right for your USDA zone?
Cauliflower is a cool-season crop, which means it thrives in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. Gardeners in zones 3a through 7b get the longest cauliflower season — you can plant in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. In warmer zones (8a-10b), grow cauliflower as a winter crop from October through February when temperatures are coolest.
Cauliflower needs about 75 days from transplant to harvest, so any zone with at least 89frost-free days can grow it successfully. Check your zone's specific dates in the table below.
Cauliflower planting dates by zone (2026)
| Zone | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 1 | Jul 15 |
| Zone 3b | Apr 3 | May 1 | Jul 15 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 29 | Apr 26 | Jul 10 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 24 | Apr 21 | Jul 5 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 19 | Apr 16 | Jun 30 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 11 | Jun 25 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 9 | Apr 6 | Jun 20 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 4 | Apr 1 | Jun 15 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 27 | Mar 27 | Jun 10 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 22 | Mar 22 | Jun 5 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 11 | Mar 11 | May 25 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 1 | Mar 1 | May 15 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 14 | Feb 11 | Apr 27 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 30 | Jan 27 | Apr 12 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 20 | Jan 17 | Apr 2 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Jan 1 | Mar 17 |