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When to Plant Cauliflower in Sioux County, NE

Cauliflower is a cool-season brassica that produces dense white, purple, or green heads called curds. It is more finicky than broccoli but rewards with a mild, nutty flavor.

Sioux County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 129 days.

At an elevation of 775 feet, Sioux County receives approximately 24.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Cauliflower to ensure they mature before fall.

Sioux County, NE (Zone 4a) Short season
129 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
129 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Sioux County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 30 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 4 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 28 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Oct 6

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 972 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Cauliflower needs ~1,008 GDD — county provides 1,677 GDD Excellent fit

Cauliflower Planting Timeline โ€” Sioux County, NE

Cauliflower Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 4 Apr 4 โ€“ Apr 18
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 โ€“ May 30
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 โ€“ May 30
Fall Sowing June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Jul 14
Harvest July 11 Jul 11 โ€“ Sep 12

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Fall Sowing
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

High โ€” keep soil consistently moist

Days to Maturity

55โ€“100 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4a

Growing Season

129 days

Growing Tips for Sioux County

Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before transplanting. Blanch white varieties by tying outer leaves over the head. Provide consistent moisture and avoid temperature extremes.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Cauliflower in Sioux County, NE?

Sioux County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Cauliflower planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sioux County, NE?

Sioux County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sioux County gardeners in Zone 4a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sioux County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.