When to plant cauliflower in Portland

Cauliflower is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Portland'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 23 – May 14
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 22 – Jul 17
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jun 17 – Jul 1
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Aug 23 – Sep 17
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Portland's 165-day season leaves this much room.
Cauliflower on Portland'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
MAY 1
OCT 10

Common questions

When will cauliflower be ready to harvest in Portland?

Expect to harvest from around late June (Jun 22–Jul 17) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.

When should I start cauliflower seeds indoors in Portland?

Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 20–Apr 10) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.

When can I transplant cauliflower outdoors in Portland?

Transplant outdoors around late April (Apr 23–May 14) in Portland, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 86%.

Can I plant cauliflower in autumn in Portland?

Yes — Portland supports a second, autumn sowing of cauliflower around mid June (Jun 17–Jul 1), timed to mature before the first fall frost.

How long is the growing season in Portland?

Portland has roughly 165 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 Portland's frost dates.

Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.