When to plant cauliflower in Boston
Cauliflower is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Boston's frost dates of Apr 4.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Feb 21 – Mar 14
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 7 – Apr 28
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 6 – Jul 1
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jul 17 – Jul 31
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Sep 22 – Oct 17
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Boston's 220-day season leaves this much room.
Cauliflower on Boston'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
APR 4
NOV 9
Common questions
When will cauliflower be ready to harvest in Boston?
Expect to harvest from around early June (Jun 6–Jul 1) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in Boston?
Start seeds indoors around late February (Feb 21–Mar 14) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant cauliflower outdoors in Boston?
Transplant outdoors around early April (Apr 7–Apr 28) in Boston, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.
Can I plant cauliflower in autumn in Boston?
Yes — Boston supports a second, autumn sowing of cauliflower around mid July (Jul 17–Jul 31), timed to mature before the first fall frost.
How long is the growing season in Boston?
Boston has roughly 220 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 Boston's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.