When to plant cauliflower in Mississippi
Mississippi’s average last spring frost is March 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 230 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Cauliflower needs 60–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Mississippi's growing season.
When to plant cauliflower in Mississippi: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 27 – Mar 16, with seeds started indoors Jan 30 – Feb 13. 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 Mississippi, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 30 – Feb 13). 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 (Feb 27 – Mar 16). 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 Mississippi.
- 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 5 – Jun 4). 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 Mississippi’s average frost dates. More in the full cauliflower growing guide.
Cauliflower planting dates by USDA zone in Mississippi
Mississippi spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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
Questions gardeners in Mississippi ask
When is the best time to plant cauliflower in Mississippi?
Plant cauliflower transplants outdoors in Mississippi between February 27 and March 16. That timing is set by Mississippi's average last spring frost of March 20.
When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in Mississippi?
Start seeds indoors between January 30 and February 13, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 27.
Can I plant cauliflower in the fall in Mississippi?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 27 and August 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before Mississippi's first frost around November 5.
When will cauliflower planted in Mississippi be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cauliflower is usually ready from about May 5 to June 4, 60-90 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Mississippi?
On average around March 20, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 230 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.