When to plant cauliflower in Pennsylvania

Cauliflower
Plant out in Philadelphia
Mar 16–Mar 30

Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 16 and April 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Philadelphia
Jan 19–Feb 2
Plant out, Philadelphia
Mar 16–Mar 30
Fall planting, Philadelphia
Aug 25–Sep 8
Last frost, Philadelphia
Mar 30

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. When heads reach the size of an egg, tie the leaves over them to keep them white.

Cauliflower planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PhiladelphiaMar 16–Mar 30
PittsburghApr 4–Apr 18
AllentownApr 6–Apr 20
ReadingMar 31–Apr 14
ErieApr 12–Apr 26
BethlehemApr 6–Apr 20
ScrantonApr 9–Apr 23
LancasterApr 5–Apr 19
LevittownApr 7–Apr 21
HarrisburgApr 1–Apr 15
YorkApr 12–Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreApr 9–Apr 23
AltoonaApr 11–Apr 25
State CollegeApr 6–Apr 20
Penn HillsApr 2–Apr 16
NorristownMar 25–Apr 8
ChesterMar 16–Mar 30
Mount LebanonApr 4–Apr 18
Bethel ParkApr 4–Apr 18
EastonApr 4–Apr 18
HazletonApr 16–Apr 30
Drexel HillMar 19–Apr 2
MonroevilleApr 8–Apr 22
WilliamsportApr 11–Apr 25
LebanonApr 6–Apr 20
PlumApr 2–Apr 16
King of PrussiaMar 25–Apr 8
ChambersburgApr 4–Apr 18
PottstownApr 6–Apr 20
CarlisleApr 9–Apr 23
All 35 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outFall plantingLast frost
PhiladelphiaJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 16 to Mar 30Aug 25 to Sep 8Mar 30
PittsburghFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
AllentownFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 6 to Apr 20Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ReadingFeb 3 to Feb 17Mar 31 to Apr 14Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 14
ErieFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 12 to Apr 26Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 26
BethlehemFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 6 to Apr 20Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 20
ScrantonFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 9 to Apr 23Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
LancasterFeb 8 to Feb 22Apr 5 to Apr 19Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 19
LevittownFeb 10 to Feb 24Apr 7 to Apr 21Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 21
HarrisburgFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 1 to Apr 15Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 15
YorkFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 12 to Apr 26Jul 27 to Aug 10Apr 26
Wilkes-BarreFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 9 to Apr 23Jul 28 to Aug 11Apr 23
AltoonaFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 11 to Apr 25Jul 29 to Aug 12Apr 25
State CollegeFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 6 to Apr 20Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 20
Penn HillsFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
NorristownJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChesterJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 16 to Mar 30Aug 24 to Sep 7Mar 30
Mount LebanonFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
Bethel ParkFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
EastonFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
HazletonFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Jul 30 to Aug 13Apr 30
Drexel HillJan 22 to Feb 5Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 18 to Sep 1Apr 2
MonroevilleFeb 11 to Feb 25Apr 8 to Apr 22Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
WilliamsportFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 11 to Apr 25Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 25
LebanonFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 6 to Apr 20Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 20
PlumFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
King of PrussiaJan 28 to Feb 11Mar 25 to Apr 8Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 8
ChambersburgFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 18
PottstownFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 6 to Apr 20Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 20
CarlisleFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 9 to Apr 23Jul 26 to Aug 9Apr 23
Allison ParkFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 2 to Apr 16Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 16
New CastleFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
MurrysvilleFeb 11 to Feb 25Apr 8 to Apr 22Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 22
BaldwinFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 18
PhoenixvilleFeb 7 to Feb 21Apr 4 to Apr 18Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 18

Questions

When should I plant cauliflower in Pennsylvania?

In Philadelphia, plant out from March 16 to March 30. Across Pennsylvania the window opens between March 16 and April 16, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out up to 2 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Pennsylvania

Cauliflower in other states

Frost dates for every city in Pennsylvania