Rainline Garden

When to plant cauliflower in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Start cauliflower from seed indoors Jan 25 – Feb 8, then plant the young plants in the garden Mar 15 – Apr 12. For a fall harvest, plant again Jul 16–30. In Bend: May 12 – Jun 9. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Tricky here
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
18 to 24 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 75 days after planting

Fussier than broccoli: a setback from a cold snap or dry soil makes tiny 'button' heads. Fall crops are often the most reliable here.

Cauliflower planting dates by city

CityStart seeds indoorsPlant in the gardenPlant again for fall
Astoria, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Baker City, ORMar 9–23Apr 27 – May 25Jun 16–30
Bend and Redmond, ORMar 24 – Apr 7May 12 – Jun 9—
Burns, ORMar 26 – Apr 9May 14 – Jun 11—
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Eugene, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Gresham, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Klamath Falls, ORMar 24 – Apr 7May 12 – Jun 9—
Medford, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Pendleton, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Portland, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Roseburg, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Salem, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
The Dalles, ORFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Wilsonville and Canby, ORJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Bellingham, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Ellensburg, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 13Jul 8–22
Everett, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Forks, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Moses Lake, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 9–23
Olympia, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 15–29
Omak and Okanogan, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 13Jul 8–22
Seattle and Tacoma, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Spokane, WAFeb 25 – Mar 11Apr 15 – May 13Jul 13–27
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 12–26
Vancouver, WAJan 25 – Feb 8Mar 15 – Apr 12Jul 16–30
Walla Walla, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Wenatchee, WAFeb 11–25Apr 1–29Jul 16–30
Yakima, WAFeb 20 – Mar 6Apr 10 – May 8Jul 5–19

How to grow cauliflower

  1. Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 18 to 24 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Plant again on your city's dates for a fall harvest.
  6. Harvest: Cut the head while it's firm and tight, before the curds start to separate. Tie the outer leaves over young heads to keep them white.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

A cold snap or dry spell makes plants form tiny 'button' heads. Keep the soil evenly moist and don't rush spring planting.

More cabbage family

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