Crops › Cauliflower
How to grow Cauliflower
in the US
Sow March to August, plant out September, harvest May to November. About 75 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Cauliflower, it's a proper rewarding vegetable, even if it does make you work a bit for it. There's nothing quite like cutting your own big, white heads from the plot, you know what I mean. It's a cool season crop, so planning is key.
Sowing
Cauliflower is a cool season crop, so you'll want to sow seeds for a spring or fall harvest. Check your USDA zone, but generally, you're looking to sow in early spring after the last frost, or mid-to-late summer for a fall crop. You can sow them indoors in trays about 4-6 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow outside where they'll grow. Plant seeds about half an inch deep, giving them a good inch or two between each. They need that steady, cool temperature to get going, not too hot.
Growing on
If you started your seeds indoors, prick them out gently when they have a few true leaves and give them their own small pots. Then, like with most things, you need to harden them off for a week or two before planting out. Once they're ready and the risk of a hard frost has passed, set them out in your garden about 18 to 24 inches apart. They need that space to grow a proper head, you know. They don't really need support, just good soil.
Looking after it
Cauliflower needs consistent moisture, no drying out, especially when the heads are forming. A good mulch around the plants will really help keep the soil damp and stop those weeds from taking over. Give them a feed with some balanced fertilizer every few weeks, especially if your soil isn't the richest. Keep an eye on them through the season; they like steady conditions.
What goes wrong
Cabbage worms are the main nuisance, they'll make lace of your leaves if you let them. I'd proper recommend using row covers from the start to keep them off. Aphids and flea beetles can also be a bother; a good spray with soapy water can often sort the aphids out. Keep an eye on the undersides of leaves, that's where they hide.
Harvest
You're looking at about 75 days from sowing to harvest, generally. The heads are ready when they're firm, dense, and a good size, usually 6-8 inches across. Don't let them get loose or start to flower. Just cut the main stem right below the head with a sharp knife. You can store them in the fridge for a week or so, or if you've got a proper glut, blanch and freeze them.
To be honest, the best bit of advice I can give for cracking white cauliflowers is to 'blanch' them. Just tie a few of the outer leaves over the developing head when it's about the size of an egg. It keeps the sun off and stops them going yellow.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Snowball Y A classic white cauliflower, Snowball Y is a tried and true variety that's been around for ages. It produces lovely, compact heads, making it a good choice for those who want a reliable crop. | No club votes yet |
| Snow Crown Snow Crown is a solid choice for a maincrop white cauliflower, known for its consistent performance. It's quite adaptable and grows well direct-sown in the garden. | No club votes yet |
| Amazing This variety truly lives up to its name, giving you fine, dense white heads. Starting it undercover helps give it a good strong start before planting out. | No club votes yet |
| Cheddar (Orange) If you fancy something a bit different, Cheddar produces a beautiful orange head that's packed with nutrients. It's a cracking variety to start indoors and transplant for a vibrant harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Graffiti (Purple) Graffiti is a visually striking purple cauliflower that holds its color even after cooking. It's a robust variety that does well direct-sown, adding a splash of color to your dinner plate. | No club votes yet |
| Romanesco This one's a bit special, with its striking, spiraled lime-green heads that look almost too good to eat. Romanesco has a nuttier, milder flavor and really benefits from an undercover start. | No club votes yet |
| Candid Charm Candid Charm is a dependable white cauliflower, known for its uniform heads and good size. It's a great option for those aiming for a steady supply from their spring or fall plantings. | No club votes yet |
| Denali Denali is a resilient variety that produces firm, bright white heads, even in slightly tougher conditions. It performs well when direct-sown and is a good choice for consistent outdoor growing. | No club votes yet |
| Skywalker This variety offers excellent vigor and produces substantial, high-quality white heads. Starting Skywalker undercover ensures a strong root system for robust growth. | No club votes yet |
| Flame Star Flame Star is a lovely orange cauliflower, similar to Cheddar, bringing a vibrant color to your meals. It's best started indoors to get those seedlings strong before planting out. | No club votes yet |
| Fremont Fremont is a reliable maincrop variety, known for its firm, dense white heads and good disease resistance. It's a cracking choice for direct sowing, giving you a proper harvest. | No club votes yet |
| Attribute Attribute produces uniform, well-protected white heads, making it a good choice for quality and consistency. Giving it an undercover start really helps get this one going strong. | No club votes yet |
| Panther Panther is a robust purple cauliflower, offering good vigor and eye-catching deep violet heads. Starting it indoors helps ensure a healthy start for these colorful plants. | No club votes yet |
| Symphony Symphony is a dependable white cauliflower that yields consistently good-sized, firm heads. It's well-suited for direct sowing and provides a steady supply for your kitchen. | No club votes yet |
| Clapton Clapton is a cracking disease-resistant variety, producing very uniform, solid white heads. Giving it an undercover start sets it up well for a healthy and abundant crop. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Cauliflower seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April to July | July to September |
| Zone 4 | April to August | June to October |
| Zone 5 | March to August | June to October |
| Zone 6 | March to August | May to November |
| Zone 7 | February to September | May to November |
| Zone 8 | February to September | April to December |
| Zone 9 | January to October | March to December |
| Zone 10 | January to November | March to December |
Cook the harvest
An entire head of cauliflower roasted whole until the outside is deeply golden and the inside is tender enough to cut with a spoon, then blanketed in chermoula — the North African herb and spice sauce made with cilantro, parsley, cumin, and lemon. It is the kind of centerpiece dish that makes people forget there's no meat on the table.
75 min · easyThe classic North Indian dry curry of potatoes and cauliflower cooked with turmeric, cumin, coriander, and ginger until tender and fragrant. This is humble, deeply flavorful comfort food at its best — the kind of dish that fills the kitchen with the most incredible smell. Serve with warm roti or basmati rice and a dollop of yogurt.
45 min · easyA rich, golden curry where cauliflower florets and chickpeas are simmered in a fragrant tomato and coconut milk sauce until everything is creamy and deeply spiced. It is a weeknight staple that comes together quickly from pantry ingredients and gets better the next day. Serve over basmati rice with naan for a complete dinner.
40 min · easyDeeply spiced, caramelized cauliflower florets piled into warm corn tortillas with creamy chipotle slaw, pickled red onions, and a squeeze of fresh lime. These tacos are satisfying enough to convert the most dedicated meat eater at the table. The key is getting genuine color and char on the cauliflower — roast high and do not crowd the pan.
45 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: onions, celery, dill, potatoes, beets
Questions people ask
When do you sow Cauliflower in the US?
Sow Cauliflower from March to August in zone 6, earlier or later by zone. Plant out September, after the last frost.
How long does Cauliflower take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 75 days, with the harvest May to November.
Which Cauliflower varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Snowball Y, Snow Crown, Amazing, Cheddar (Orange) and more.
Track your Cauliflower from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.