Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Botrytis Group)
7 sources cited · Verified
The short answer
- Plant out
- Mid January to late January
- Ready in
- 60–70 days
- Site
- soil pH 6.5–6.5
- Biggest risk
- White blister
In the UK, cauliflower planted out mid January to late January, 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 7 separate regional planting out windows, ranging from mid January in southern England to late February 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 |
|---|---|
| Deep South & Gulf Coast derived | mid January to late January |
| Pacific Northwest derived | late February to early March |
| Mid-Atlantic & Upper South derived | late March |
| Northeast & New England derived | late March |
| Lower Midwest & Ohio Valley derived | early April |
| N. Plains & Upper Midwest derived | mid April |
| Intermountain West derived | late April |
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.
Deep South & Gulf Coast - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 2 February (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 19 January to 26 January. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Pacific Northwest - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 8 March (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 22 February to 1 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Mid-Atlantic & Upper South - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 4 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 21 March to 28 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Northeast & New England - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 6 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 23 March to 30 March. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Lower Midwest & Ohio Valley - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 16 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 2 April to 9 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
N. Plains & Upper Midwest - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 25 April (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 11 April to 18 April. Your own local frost date is what matters — a region spans a range, and this figure comes from one representative station within it.
Intermountain West - detail & sources
DERIVED from this region's own frost normal, not quoted for the region. Transplants may be planted 1-2 weeks before the last frost free date, with 4-6 mature leaves and a well-developed root system. Applied to a mean last frost of 6 May (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 for the USA; Environment and Climate Change Canada normals for Canada), that gives 22 April to 29 April. 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 mid January. In northern England and Scotland, wait until late February. 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
Almost everything on this page resolves to your own frost dates rather than the calendar — the last spring frost moves by roughly two months between zone 3 and zone 10. The USA Garden Planner works from your zone so the timing is already decided before the season starts.
Get the USA Garden Planner →Instant PDF download · Written for US growing conditions
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.