US Grow Zones

When to plant broccoli by zone

Last updated · Sources: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals frost dates; timing rules described in our methodology

Brassica oleracea (Italica) is a cool-season crop that is hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 week after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost.

SeasonCoolhardy to frost
Days to maturity60–90from transplant
Min. soil temp45°F7.2°C, at planting
Spacing18 inin the row

Broccoli planting dates by zone

Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Sep 1 – Jan 15.

Broccoli planting windows by hardiness zoneBroccoli planting windows by USDA zone. zone 1a: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 15–Jun 5; zone 1b: indoor Apr 3–Apr 17, transplant May 15–Jun 5; zone 2a: indoor Mar 26–Apr 9, transplant May 7–May 28; zone 2b: indoor Mar 25–Apr 8, transplant May 6–May 27; zone 3a: indoor Apr 9–Apr 23, transplant May 21–Jun 11; zone 3b: indoor Mar 29–Apr 12, transplant May 10–May 31, fall Jun 26–Jul 10; zone 4a: indoor Mar 17–Mar 31, transplant Apr 28–May 19, fall Jul 5–Jul 19; zone 4b: indoor Mar 10–Mar 24, transplant Apr 21–May 12, fall Jul 12–Jul 26; zone 5a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 20–May 11, fall Jul 11–Jul 25; zone 5b: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 20–May 11, fall Jul 17–Jul 31; zone 6a: indoor Mar 9–Mar 23, transplant Apr 20–May 11, fall Jul 17–Jul 31; zone 6b: indoor Mar 1–Mar 15, transplant Apr 12–May 3, fall Jul 29–Aug 12; zone 7a: indoor Feb 25–Mar 11, transplant Apr 8–Apr 29, fall Jul 29–Aug 12; zone 7b: indoor Feb 13–Feb 27, transplant Mar 27–Apr 17, fall Aug 4–Aug 18; zone 8a: indoor Feb 4–Feb 18, transplant Mar 18–Apr 8, fall Aug 11–Aug 25; zone 8b: indoor Jan 25–Feb 8, transplant Mar 8–Mar 29, fall Aug 18–Sep 1; zone 9a: indoor Jan 14–Jan 28, transplant Feb 25–Mar 18, fall Aug 27–Sep 10; zone 9b: indoor Dec 18–Jan 1, transplant Jan 29–Feb 19, fall Sep 10–Sep 24; zone 10a: indoor Dec 1–Dec 15, transplant Jan 12–Feb 2, fall Sep 22–Oct 6; zone 10b: indoor Dec 2–Dec 16, transplant Jan 13–Feb 3, fall Sep 20–Oct 4; zone 11a: ff Sep 1–Jan 15; zone 11b: ff Sep 1–JJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec1a*1b*2a2b*3a*3b*4a4b5a5b6a6b7a7b8a8b9a9b10a10b11a11b*12a*12b13a*13b*Start indoorsPlant outDirect sowFall cropFrost-free climate window · * estimated zone
Planting windows by zone, drawn from the table below. Zones marked * have no major city on this site and use NOAA station estimates.
ZoneMedian last frostStart indoorsTransplant / plant outDirect sowFall crop
1a*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 15 – Jun 5——
1b*May 29Apr 3 – Apr 17May 15 – Jun 5——
2aMay 21Mar 26 – Apr 9May 7 – May 28——
2b*May 20Mar 25 – Apr 8May 6 – May 27——
3a*Jun 4Apr 9 – Apr 23May 21 – Jun 11——
3b*May 24Mar 29 – Apr 12May 10 – May 31—Jun 26 – Jul 10
4aMay 12Mar 17 – Mar 31Apr 28 – May 19—Jul 5 – Jul 19
4bMay 5Mar 10 – Mar 24Apr 21 – May 12—Jul 12 – Jul 26
5aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 20 – May 11—Jul 11 – Jul 25
5bMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 20 – May 11—Jul 17 – Jul 31
6aMay 4Mar 9 – Mar 23Apr 20 – May 11—Jul 17 – Jul 31
6bApr 26Mar 1 – Mar 15Apr 12 – May 3—Jul 29 – Aug 12
7aApr 22Feb 25 – Mar 11Apr 8 – Apr 29—Jul 29 – Aug 12
7bApr 10Feb 13 – Feb 27Mar 27 – Apr 17—Aug 4 – Aug 18
8aApr 1Feb 4 – Feb 18Mar 18 – Apr 8—Aug 11 – Aug 25
8bMar 22Jan 25 – Feb 8Mar 8 – Mar 29—Aug 18 – Sep 1
9aMar 11Jan 14 – Jan 28Feb 25 – Mar 18—Aug 27 – Sep 10
9bFeb 12Dec 18 – Jan 1Jan 29 – Feb 19—Sep 10 – Sep 24
10aJan 26Dec 1 – Dec 15Jan 12 – Feb 2—Sep 22 – Oct 6
10bJan 27Dec 2 – Dec 16Jan 13 – Feb 3—Sep 20 – Oct 4
11aRareSep 1 – Jan 15
11b*RareSep 1 – Jan 15
12a*RareSep 1 – Jan 15
12bRareSep 1 – Jan 15
13a*RareSep 1 – Jan 15
13b*RareSep 1 – Jan 15

Growing tips

Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.

Exact dates for your city

Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.

Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets

Broccoli planting questions

When should I start broccoli seeds indoors?

About 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost. Using the median frost dates of cities on this site: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Mar 9 – Mar 23; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 1 – Mar 15; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Feb 4 – Feb 18.

When can I plant broccoli outside?

Set out transplants from 2 weeks before to 1 week after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 45°F (7.2°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Apr 20 – May 11; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Apr 12 – May 3; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Mar 18 – Apr 8.

Can I grow broccoli as a fall crop?

Yes. Sow or plant 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Jul 23 – Aug 6. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.

How long does broccoli take to grow?

60–90 days from transplant. As a hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.

When do you plant broccoli where frost is rare?

In frost-free climates, plant broccoli Sep 1 – Jan 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.