When to plant cauliflower in Edinburgh
Cauliflower is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Edinburgh's frost dates of May 1.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 20 – Apr 10
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 17 – May 8
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 16 – Jul 11
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Edinburgh's 170-day season leaves this much room.
Cauliflower on Edinburgh's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
MAY 1
OCT 18
Common questions
When will cauliflower be ready to harvest in Edinburgh?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 16–Jul 11) in Edinburgh, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 74%.
When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in Edinburgh?
Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 20–Apr 10) in Edinburgh, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.
When can I transplant cauliflower outdoors in Edinburgh?
Transplant outdoors around mid April (Apr 17–May 8) in Edinburgh, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 82%.
How long is the growing season in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has roughly 170 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow cauliflower to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow cauliflower as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Edinburgh's frost dates.
Confidence 82/100 · NOAA GHCN-Daily · 1991–2020 normals · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.