When to plant cauliflower in North Carolina
North Carolina’s average last spring frost is April 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 25 — about 203 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b). Cauliflower needs 60–90 days to mature, which fits comfortably within North Carolina's growing season.
North Carolina covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant cauliflower in North Carolina: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 15 – Apr 1, with seeds started indoors Feb 15 – Mar 1. 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 North Carolina, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 15 – Mar 1). 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 15 – Apr 1). 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 North Carolina.
- 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 21 – Jun 20). 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 North Carolina’s average frost dates. More in the full cauliflower growing guide.
Cauliflower planting dates by USDA zone in North Carolina
North Carolina spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina (this page) | April 5 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| South Carolina | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
Questions gardeners in North Carolina ask
When is the best time to plant cauliflower in North Carolina?
Plant cauliflower transplants outdoors in North Carolina between March 15 and April 1. That timing is set by North Carolina's average last spring frost of April 5; North Carolina spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in North Carolina?
Start seeds indoors between February 15 and March 1, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 15.
Can I plant cauliflower in the fall in North Carolina?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 16 and August 2, so the crop matures in cool weather before North Carolina's first frost around October 25.
When will cauliflower planted in North Carolina be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, cauliflower is usually ready from about May 21 to June 20, 60-90 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in North Carolina?
On average around April 5, with the first fall frost around October 25 - about 203 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.