When to plant cauliflower in Kansas
Kansas’s average last spring frost is April 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 188 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a). Cauliflower needs 60–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Kansas's growing season.
When to plant cauliflower in Kansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 25 – Apr 11, with seeds started indoors Feb 25 – Mar 11. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow cauliflower in Kansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 25 – Mar 11). Sow seeds ½ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 75°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 25 – Apr 11). Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Kansas.
- Water and feed. It needs plenty of water; keep the soil evenly moist and never let it dry out.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: cabbage worm, cabbage looper, aphids, cabbage root maggot. Diseases and disorders: clubroot, black rot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about May 31 – Jun 30). Cauliflower takes 60-90 days to reach harvest. The fussiest brassica - any check from cold, heat, or drought ruins the head. Fall crops are far more reliable than spring. Blanch white types by tying leaves over the curd.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Kansas’s average frost dates. More in the full cauliflower growing guide.
Cauliflower planting dates by USDA zone in Kansas
Kansas spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the cauliflower dates shift with them.
When to plant cauliflower in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas (this page) | April 15 | Mar 25 – Apr 11 |
| North Dakota | May 15 | Apr 24 – May 11 |
| South Dakota | May 10 | Apr 19 – May 6 |
| Nebraska | April 30 | Apr 9 – Apr 26 |
| Oklahoma | April 1 | Mar 11 – Mar 28 |
Questions gardeners in Kansas ask
When is the best time to plant cauliflower in Kansas?
Plant cauliflower transplants outdoors in Kansas between March 25 and April 11. That timing is set by Kansas's average last spring frost of April 15.
When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in Kansas?
Start seeds indoors between February 25 and March 11, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 25.
Can I plant cauliflower in the fall in Kansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 11 and July 28, so the crop matures in cool weather before Kansas's first frost around October 20.
When will cauliflower planted in Kansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cauliflower is usually ready from about May 31 to June 30, 60-90 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Kansas?
On average around April 15, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 188 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.