Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group)
7 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant out
- Mid March to early April
- Ready in
- 60–70 days
- Site
- soil pH 6.5–6.5
- Biggest risk
- White blister
In the UK, cauliflower planted out mid March to early April, and are ready to harvest 60–70 days after sowing.
Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group) — annual/biennial, grown as annual.
Timing is the decision that matters most in the UK: there are 6 separate regional planting out windows, ranging from late April in southern England to early June further north.
Core growing advice on this page is checked against named horticultural and university-extension sources — see References.
Regional Planting Calendar
| Region | Plant out |
|---|---|
| Pacific Coastal Mild derived | mid March to early April |
| Central Continental derived | late April to mid May |
| Inland Valleys & Southern Lakes derived | late April to mid May |
| Atlantic Maritime derived | early May to late May |
| Prairies & Short-Season Continental derived | late May to early June |
| Far North & Alpine derived | early June to mid June |
Rows marked derived are interpolated between regions our sources do state, because no source we consulted gives a figure for that region specifically. They are deliberately wider to reflect that uncertainty.
Pacific Coastal Mild - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 18 March (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 18 March to 1 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Central Continental - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 30 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 30 April to 14 May. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Inland Valleys & Southern Lakes - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 30 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 30 April to 14 May. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Atlantic Maritime - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 7 May (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 7 May to 21 May. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Prairies & Short-Season Continental - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 21 May (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 21 May to 4 June. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Far North & Alpine - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplant once daytime temperatures reach 10C and night temperatures are not below -2C for several nights in a row; mature brassicas are frost tolerant but young transplants much less so. Applied to a mean last frost of 5 June (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 5 June to 19 June. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Quick Facts
| Factor | Value |
|---|---|
| Soil pH | 6.5 - 6.5 |
| Optimal growing temp | 10-25C |
| Minimum survivable temp | -5C |
| Time to harvest | 60-70 days |
| Drainage | RHS: cauliflowers grow well in soil with a pH of about 6.5; chalk, clay, loam or sand soil types, rich and well-drained with high moisture-holding capacity. |
| Lifecycle | annual/biennial, grown as annual |
| Edible parts | flower buds (curd) |
At a Glance
Soil & Growing Conditions
Growth Stages
| Stage | BBCH | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Germination & seedling | 0 | Cauliflower is raised from seed, sown thinly about 1.5cm (¾in) deep in modules or a seedbed rather than sown direct, so plants can be grown on and transplanted without a check to growth. RHS: sow indoors from late winter for early summer crops, or outdoors from spring; Clemson notes transplants are produced in about five to eight weeks. Keep the compost consistently moist and harden plants off before planting out — any check at this stage can trigger premature "buttoning" (tiny, useless curds). |
| Vegetative growth (transplanting & leafing) | 3 | Transplant when plants are 10–15cm (4–6in) tall, at about six weeks old, into firm, fertile, moisture-retentive soil — loose or poor soil gives small, distorted curds. Spacing depends on type: RHS spaces summer/autumn cauliflowers 45–60cm (18–24in) apart in rows 60cm (24in) apart, winter/spring types about 70cm (28in) each way, and mini-caulis just 15cm (6in) apart; Clemson sets plants 18in apart in rows 3ft apart. Water in well, keep weed-free, feed with nitrogen for strong leaf growth, and net against pigeons and cabbage white caterpillars. |
| Curd formation (heading) | 4 | As the plant matures the growing point forms a tight curd of immature flower buds. Even, uninterrupted moisture is critical now: RHS says cauliflowers grow best in soil that is damp at all times — dry soil can stop growth so the head fails to form correctly — and Clemson stresses plants should never be short of water or fertiliser. To keep white curds pale, snap and fold the inner leaves over the curd (or tie them) to shade it from sun; in winter, bunch and tie the leaves over the curd and use fleece to protect it from hard frost. |
| Maturity & harvest | 8 | Cut the curd as soon as it is large enough while still firm and compact — RHS warns that once the head starts to separate it is past its best; Clemson gives roughly 60–70 days from transplanting, though winter types take far longer (three to six months from sowing overall). Harvest in the cool of the morning by cutting through the stem with a sharp knife, leaving a few wrapper leaves around the curd to protect it. Curds do not store for long, so cut as needed or keep in the fridge for a few days. |
Harvest & Storage
Diseases
Pests
Cauliflower, Seed to Harvest
References
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Tier 1. Canadian source: start transplants 5-6 weeks before planting out; germinates in 5-6 days at 24C; transplant once days reach 10C and nights hold above -2C for several nights running, in Saskatoon any time after 13 May; 30-45 cm in row, 60-85 cm between rows; mature brassicas frost tolerant but young transplants much less so; blanch by tying outer leaves; harvest firm and dense; store near 0C at high humidity.
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Tier 1. US extension source: transplant 1-2 weeks before the last frost-free date with 4-6 mature leaves; 12-18 in in row, rows 2-3 ft; grows best below 75F; growth, yield and head quality all fall at 32F or above 80F; blanch when heads reach silver-dollar size; harvest at 6-12 in, compact and blanched; 1-2 in water per week; stores 3 weeks at 32F.
7 independent sources are cited for this crop. Where they disagree - soil pH is the clearest case - every figure is preserved rather than averaged into false precision.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant cauliflower out in the UK?
In southern England, from late April. In northern England and Scotland, wait until early June. Treat these as a guide rather than a fixed date — the governing rule is to plant out only once frost risk has passed and temperatures are reliably warm enough.
How long do cauliflower take to grow?
Typically 60–70 days, depending on cultivar and growing conditions.
What soil pH do cauliflower need?
A pH of about 6.5–6.5. That span reflects genuine variation between the authorities we cite rather than a single agreed figure — the References section lists each source's exact range.
What problems affect cauliflower?
Our data links 2 diseases and 5 pests to this crop. See the sections above for each one and how to manage it.
Plan next season before the problems start
Short-season growing is arithmetic before it is technique: days to maturity against frost-free days decides what will finish at all. The Canada Garden Planner does that subtraction for your region before you sow.
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Vegetable Growing Guides Canada
Last verified 2026-08-05
Where To Go From Here
Take this crop from reading into a written plan for your own beds.
Plan the next step
Use the printable SoilCommander planner for your region to turn this guide into sowing dates, bed layouts and weekly garden tasks.