Zone 8 · Brassicas Growing Guide

When to Plant Cauliflower
in Zone 8

The most demanding brassica. Needs consistent temperatures — too hot or too cold and the head won't form. 'Blanching' (tying leaves over the head) keeps it white. Rewarding when it works.

Plant outdoors
Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 1 – Oct 1
Start indoors
Jan 1 – Jan 15
Last Frost
~Feb 15
Days to harvest
75–100 days
Difficulty
Hard
Ready to harvest — Zone 8
Harvest window: Mar – May, Nov – Feb

Planting Calendar

In Zone 8, Cauliflower should be planted outdoors Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 1 – Oct 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Feb 15. Start seeds indoors around Jan 1 – Jan 15 for a head start.

Fall/winter is best. Spring possible but narrow window.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-draining
Days to maturity
75–100 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 8

Fall/winter is best. Spring possible but narrow window.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
high nitrogen then balanced
Key timing
switch to balanced when curds form

Same as broccoli — nitrogen early, balanced once the head appears. Consistent moisture matters more than feeding.

Succession Planting

Sow every 4 weeks

Start a spring crop and a late-summer crop for autumn harvest. Cauliflower is tricky — succession helps spread risk as individual plants often fail.

Companion Planting for Cauliflower

What you plant next to cauliflower makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Hyssop
  • Spinach
Keep away from
  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Beans
  • Fennel

These guides get better when growers like you contribute. If something’s wrong or you’ve learned something worth sharing, we’d love to hear it.

What needs correcting?

What should it say?

Your zone (optional)

Thanks — we'll review this and update the guide if needed.

Your growing tip for Cauliflower

Your name (optional)

Your zone (optional)

Tips are reviewed before publishing. Accepted tips earn you a Founding Grower badge when the plant app launches.

Thanks for contributing! We'll review your tip and be in touch before launch.

Common questions

In Zone 8, cauliflower has two planting windows: Feb 1 – Mar 15, Sep 1 – Oct 1. The spring window opens after your last frost around Feb 15. The fall window lets you grow a second crop before first frost around Dec 1. Fall/winter is best. Spring possible but narrow window.
Zone 8 has an average last spring frost of approximately Feb 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 1. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for cauliflower include Celery, Onions, Hyssop, Spinach. Avoid planting near Tomatoes, Strawberries, Beans, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Cauliflower typically takes 75–100 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 8. Expected harvest window: Mar – May, Nov – Feb.

Free app · iOS February 2028

Track your Cauliflower in plant

Get a live traffic light for every crop in your garden — zone-aware planting calendar, real-time weather alerts, and a community of growers near you.

Be first to back on Kickstarter and lock in the founding price.

Cauliflower in other zones
Crop Guides