When to plant cauliflower in USDA Zone 6b

Plan your cauliflower planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Boone NC, northern VA, central KY, southern IN. Average last spring frost April 24, first fall frost October 8 — a 167-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Cauliflower is well suited to Zone 6b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
March 6 – March 20
Transplant outdoors
March 27 – April 17
Expected first harvest
June 12 – July 10
Fall planting window
July 9 – July 30
Fall harvest window
September 24 – October 22

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
18″
Row spacing
30″
Seed depth
0.25″
Soil temperature
55–75°F
Frost tolerance
half-hardy
Days to harvest
70 days

Grower notes for Zone 6b

Blanch heads by folding outer leaves over developing curds when they reach 2 inches, unless growing a self-blanching variety.

Plant near: celery, onions

Keep away from: tomatoes, strawberries

Other brassicas for Zone 6b

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.