Oregon · Washington · Idaho

When to plant cauliflower

Plant in the garden: Portland and Seattle Mar 15 – Apr 12; Spokane Apr 15 – May 13; Boise Apr 1–29; Bend May 12 – Jun 9.

Cauliflower is grown for its curd, a dense head of undeveloped flower buds, eaten raw, roasted, or mashed and riced as a stand-in for potatoes and grains. White varieties are often blanched by folding leaves over the head to keep sun from yellowing it, while orange, purple and green types need no covering. Romanesco, with its spiraling green points, is grown the same way.

Add to my garden plan

Puts cauliflower on your free plan, with dates for your town and a spot in your beds.

Difficulty: Tricky here
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 18 to 24 inches apart
Planting depth: Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost: Handles light frost
First harvest: About 75 days after planting

Fussier than broccoli: a setback from a cold snap or dry soil makes tiny 'button' heads. Fall crops are often the most reliable here, and west of the Cascades overwintering varieties planted in summer head up the following spring.

Cauliflower planting dates

Towns	Start seeds indoors	Plant in the garden	Plant again for fall
Portland, OR, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 13–27
Boise and Meridian, ID, Astoria, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Bend and Redmond, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	May 12 – Jun 9	—

Dates for six main cities. For any of the other 80 towns, type it in the box at the top of the page or browse all towns.

Gresham, OR, Oregon City and West Linn, OR, Portland, OR, St. Helens and Scappoose, OR, Wilsonville and Canby, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30
Hillsboro and Beaverton, OR	Jan 29 – Feb 12	Mar 19 – Apr 16	Jul 16–30

Corvallis and Albany, OR, Eugene, OR, Salem, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30
Cottage Grove, OR	Feb 6–20	Mar 27 – Apr 24	Jul 16–30
McMinnville and Newberg, OR	Jan 28 – Feb 11	Mar 18 – Apr 15	Jul 16–30

Ashland and Talent, OR	Feb 18 – Mar 4	Apr 8 – May 6	Jul 9–23
Grants Pass, OR, Medford, OR, Roseburg, OR	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30

Astoria, OR, Brookings and Gold Beach, OR, Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, Newport and Lincoln City, OR, Tillamook, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30

Bend and Redmond, OR, Klamath Falls, OR	Mar 24 – Apr 7	May 12 – Jun 9	—
Burns, OR	Mar 26 – Apr 9	May 14 – Jun 11	—
Lakeview, OR	Mar 19 – Apr 2	May 7 – Jun 4	—
Madras, OR	Mar 3–17	Apr 21 – May 19	Jul 5–19
Prineville, OR	Mar 16–30	May 4 – Jun 1	Jun 23 – Jul 7

Baker City, OR	Mar 9–23	Apr 27 – May 25	Jun 16–30
Enterprise and Joseph, OR	Mar 8–22	Apr 26 – May 24	Jul 2–16
Hermiston, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 11–25
Hood River, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 14–28
John Day, OR	Mar 12–26	Apr 30 – May 28	Jun 19 – Jul 3
La Grande, OR	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 2–16
Ontario, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 15–29
Pendleton, OR, The Dalles, OR	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30

Bremerton and Port Orchard, WA, Everett, WA, Kent, Renton and Auburn, WA, Seattle and Tacoma, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30
Olympia, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 15–29
Shelton, WA	Feb 9–23	Mar 30 – Apr 27	Jul 16–30

Anacortes, WA, Bellingham, WA, Friday Harbor and the San Juans, WA, Mount Vernon and Burlington, WA, Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30

Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA, Forks, WA, Long Beach and Ilwaco, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Port Angeles, WA, Port Townsend, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30
Sequim, WA	Feb 3–17	Mar 24 – Apr 21	Jul 16–30

Centralia and Chehalis, WA	Feb 4–18	Mar 25 – Apr 22	Jul 16–30
Longview and Kelso, WA, Vancouver, WA	Jan 25 – Feb 8	Mar 15 – Apr 12	Jul 16–30

Chelan, WA, Wenatchee, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Leavenworth, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 1–15
Omak and Okanogan, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 8–22
Winthrop and Twisp, WA	Feb 27 – Mar 13	Apr 17 – May 15	Jun 23 – Jul 7

Ellensburg, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 8–22
Ephrata and Quincy, WA, Walla Walla, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Goldendale, WA	Mar 3–17	Apr 21 – May 19	Jun 26 – Jul 10
Moses Lake, WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 9–23
Sunnyside, Grandview and Prosser, WA	Feb 13–27	Apr 3 – May 1	Jul 7–21
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WA	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 12–26
Yakima, WA	Feb 20 – Mar 6	Apr 10 – May 8	Jul 5–19

Colville, WA, Pullman, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 3–17
Spokane, WA	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 13–27

Bonners Ferry, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 5–19
Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 16–30
Sandpoint, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jun 29 – Jul 13

Lewiston, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Moscow, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 3–17

Boise and Meridian, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 16–30
Emmett, ID	Feb 12–26	Apr 2–30	Jul 16–30
McCall, ID	Apr 6–20	May 25 – Jun 22	—
Nampa and Caldwell, ID	Feb 11–25	Apr 1–29	Jul 14–28

Burley and Rupert, ID, Twin Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 5–19
Idaho Falls, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 2–16
Pocatello, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jul 12–26
Rexburg, ID	Feb 25 – Mar 11	Apr 15 – May 13	Jun 25 – Jul 9
Salmon, ID	Mar 1–15	Apr 19 – May 17	Jun 25 – Jul 9

Cauliflower year at a glance

Task	J	F	M	A	J	J	O	N
Start indoors	Jan	Feb
Plant			Mar	Apr		Jul
Harvest					Jun	Jul	Oct	Nov

Around Portland. Colder towns, especially east of the Cascades, run a few weeks later; the table above has your town's planting dates.

How to grow cauliflower

Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
Harvest: Cut the head while it's firm and tight, before the curds start to separate. Tie the outer leaves over young heads to keep them white.

Growing cauliflower in your part of the Northwest

The same plant behaves differently on the wet west side, the foggy coast and the dry, colder east side.

West-side valleys

Willamette Valley, Puget Sound, southern Oregon

Cauliflower needs steady growth, so stress from drought or cold can make it button up. Overwintering varieties planted in summer can head up in spring.

Coast

Oregon and Washington coast

The cool, even climate is close to ideal for cauliflower. Spring and fall crops both do well.

East of the Cascades

Columbia Basin, Yakima, Boise, Spokane, north Idaho

Heat during heading ruins curds, so aim for a fall harvest from a summer planting. Water deeply and evenly.

High desert and mountain towns

Central Oregon, high eastern Oregon valleys, McCall, Salmon

Cauliflower can be grown through summer here, but cold spells right after transplanting can make tiny heads. Wait until spring frosts ease a bit.

More cauliflower varieties

More widely sold picks that do well somewhere in the Northwest. The tag says which part of the Northwest suits each one best.

Snow Crown

Hybrid, white, early · 50 to 60 days

Fast and forgiving, with smooth white heads that form even when conditions are not perfect. Its speed makes it one of the easiest cauliflowers for a spring or fall Northwest crop.

Both sides

Amazing

Open-pollinated, white · 75 days

Large, dense white heads with leaves that wrap over the curd to keep it white. It tolerates both heat and cold well, making it a good choice for fall harvests.

Both sides

Graffiti

Hybrid, purple · 80 days

Brilliant purple heads that need no tying to stay colorful. The color fades to lavender when cooked, and the flavor is mild and sweet.

Both sides

Cheddar

Hybrid, orange · 68 days

Bright orange heads with more beta carotene than white types, and the color holds when cooked. Heads stay colorful without blanching, which saves a step.

Both sides

Snowball Y Improved

Heirloom, white · 70 days

A long-trusted open-pollinated variety with medium, solid white heads. A good budget choice that does well from transplants in early spring or late summer.

Both sides

Veronica

Hybrid, Romanesco · 80 days

Lime green, spiraled, pointed heads with a nutty, mild flavor. It does best as a fall crop maturing in cool weather, which suits the long, mild west-side autumn.

West side

How much to grow

How many to plant

For a family of four, 6 to 10 plants per planting.

What to expect

One head per plant, about 1 to 2 pounds.

Storing the harvest

Keep a week in the fridge. Blanch and freeze florets.

What to plant after cauliflower

Around Portland, the cauliflower harvest wraps up around July. These crops can still go into the same bed, and they come from a different plant family, which helps with rotation.

Portland dates. Pick your town at the top of the page for yours.

Key numbers

Soil 50°F or warmerPlant out
6.0–7.0Soil pH
1–1.5 inches a week, evenlyWater
Button headsBiggest risk

Top care tip: Keep the soil evenly moist from planting to harvest, because one dry week can stunt the head.

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Soil and feeding

Cauliflower needs rich, moisture-holding soil with plenty of compost and a pH of about 6.0 to 7.0. It is sensitive to a shortage of boron, a trace nutrient, which can cause hollow stems and brown heads; a good compost or a complete vegetable fertilizer usually covers it. Side-dress with nitrogen about a month after planting. Above all, keep growth steady. Cauliflower has little tolerance for a check in growth, so water evenly and mulch once the soil is warm.

Why cauliflower makes tiny heads

If young plants are stressed by cold, drought, crowding or being root-bound, they can form a small "button" head early instead of a full one. That's why the guide warns against rushing spring planting. Set out young, healthy starts after the worst cold has passed, and don't let them dry out. In the Northwest, fall crops planted in mid-summer are often the most reliable, because heads form in cool, even weather. East of the Cascades, hot early summer weather can also cause loose, ricey heads, which is another reason fall crops shine there.

Blanching, harvest and storage

Sunlight turns white heads yellowish and stronger tasting. When the head is about the size of an egg, pull the outer leaves over it and tie them loosely, or snap a few leaves over the top. Purple types like Graffiti don't need this. Check under the leaves every few days, since heads go from ready to overripe quickly. Cut while the curds are tight and smooth. Cauliflower keeps about a week in the fridge, and blanched florets freeze well.

Good neighbors and crop rotation

Good neighbors

Lettuce. Grows under young plants and is picked before they fill in.
Dill and calendula. Their flowers draw beneficial insects.

Keep apart

Other cabbage-family crops in the same bed every year. Shared pests and clubroot build up; rotate.

Cabbage family: Grow cabbage-family crops in a different bed each year and come back to the same spot only every three or four years. Clubroot, which swells and knots the roots, lives in the soil for many years once it arrives, and root maggot pupae wait in last year's bed.

Pests and problems

What most often goes wrong with cauliflower in Northwest gardens, how to spot it and what to do.

Button heads

Signs: Tiny heads form early.

What to do: Don't plant out too early; cold snaps or dry spells stress the plants.

Cabbage worms

Signs: Holes and green droppings.

What to do: Insect netting from planting.

Yellow, loose heads

Signs: Curds discolor and separate.

What to do: Tie outer leaves over the head and harvest promptly.

Common questions about growing cauliflower

When should I plant cauliflower in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?

Plant in the garden: Mar 15 – Apr 12 in Portland and Seattle, Apr 15 – May 13 in Spokane, Apr 1–29 in Boise and May 12 – Jun 9 in Bend. Pick your town at the top of the page for your own dates.

Why is my cauliflower head so small?

Stress early in life, from cold snaps, dry soil, or pot-bound transplants, makes plants form small button heads. Plant young starts, keep the soil evenly moist and feed well. Fall crops usually do better in the Northwest.

Why is my cauliflower turning yellow or purple?

Sun exposure discolors white heads. Tie the outer leaves over the head when it's small to keep it pale. The color change is harmless, though the flavor gets a bit stronger.

When should I plant fall cauliflower?

Set out starts in mid-summer so heads form in the cool weather of fall. Keep young plants well watered through late summer heat. Check the planting calendar for your area's dates.

Also on these lists:

Plant in fall

See what else to plant in January, February, March, April or July.

More cabbage family

See all 109 plants

When to plant cauliflower

Your dates in

Cauliflower planting dates

Cauliflower year at a glance

How to grow cauliflower

Growing cauliflower in your part of the Northwest

West-side valleys

Coast

East of the Cascades

High desert and mountain towns

More cauliflower varieties

Snow Crown

Amazing

Graffiti

Cheddar

Snowball Y Improved

Veronica

How much to grow

How many to plant

What to expect

Storing the harvest

What to plant after cauliflower

Key numbers

Growing notes

Soil and feeding

Why cauliflower makes tiny heads

Blanching, harvest and storage

Good neighbors and crop rotation

Good neighbors

Keep apart

Pests and problems

Button heads

Cabbage worms

Yellow, loose heads

Common questions about growing cauliflower

More cabbage family