When to plant broccoli
Start broccoli indoors 3–4 weeks before your last spring frost, then transplant 3 weeks before the frost date.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Start indoors; set out 2–4 weeks before the last frost. [src]Cited: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”
Start indoors 3–4 weeks before setting out. [src]Cited: Johnny's Selected Seeds — Seed-Starting Date Calculator chart
Days to maturity: 60–80 days [src]
Method: Start seeds indoors, then transplant. Frost tolerance: frost-hardy (derived from the planting timing above).
Because broccoli is frost-hardy and matures in about 60–80 days, it's a strong fall crop — sow it in mid-to-late summer so it finishes before your first frost.
Broccoli planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant / sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | November 27 – December 4 | December 18 – January 1 | August 23 – September 6 |
| Zone 10b | December 2 – December 9 | December 23 – January 6 | October 16 – October 30 |
| Zone 2a | March 29 – April 5 | April 19 – May 3 | May 29 – June 12 |
| Zone 2b | April 6 – April 13 | April 27 – May 11 | June 6 – June 20 |
| Zone 3b | April 1 – April 8 | April 22 – May 6 | June 10 – June 24 |
| Zone 4a | March 26 – April 2 | April 16 – April 30 | June 18 – July 2 |
| Zone 4b | March 22 – March 29 | April 12 – April 26 | June 21 – July 5 |
| Zone 5a | March 24 – March 31 | April 14 – April 28 | June 22 – July 6 |
| Zone 5b | March 16 – March 23 | April 6 – April 20 | June 29 – July 13 |
| Zone 6a | March 12 – March 19 | April 2 – April 16 | July 6 – July 20 |
| Zone 6b | March 5 – March 12 | March 26 – April 9 | July 11 – July 25 |
| Zone 7a | February 25 – March 4 | March 18 – April 1 | July 17 – July 31 |
| Zone 7b | February 16 – February 23 | March 9 – March 23 | July 23 – August 6 |
| Zone 8a | February 5 – February 12 | February 26 – March 12 | July 30 – August 13 |
| Zone 8b | January 26 – February 2 | February 16 – March 2 | August 6 – August 20 |
| Zone 9a | January 12 – January 19 | February 2 – February 16 | August 16 – August 30 |
| Zone 9b | December 15 – December 22 | January 5 – January 19 | August 29 – September 12 |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-16. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.