How to Grow Cauliflower

Updated June 2026

A cool-season brassica for the home garden across the warmer US.

What it looks like as it grows

Cauliflower is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Cauliflower is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the cauliflower page for exact timing.

Varieties

• Snowball Y Improved, Self-blanching standard (Southern Exposure Seed Exchange)

How to grow it

• Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
• Spacing: about 22 in between plants.
• Sowing: sow about 0.5 in deep.
• Water: roughly 1.6 gal per plant every 2 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Cabbage moth. In humid regions, Clubroot and Black rot can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Cauliflower is usually ready to harvest in about 3 months. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant cauliflower where you garden.

See also: Cauliflower in the plant library →

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