When to plant Broccoli
A cool-season brassica grown for its tight flower heads. It heads up best in steady cool weather, so spring and fall are the sweet spots; midsummer heat makes it bolt straight to flower. Cut the main head and many varieties give weeks of side shoots.
Companions: Onion, beets, herbs, dill — avoid tomatoes and strawberries
How to grow Broccoli
Broccoli is usually started indoors and transplanted out, giving this half-hardy crop the head start it needs. Give it full sun and space plants about 18 inches apart. It takes roughly 65 days from planting to its first harvest, so count that against your frost dates to be sure it can finish. It also supports a fall sowing for a second harvest. Classic companions include onion, beets, herbs, dill — avoid tomatoes and strawberries.
Grower's tip: A cool-season brassica. Transplant in early spring or late summer; it bolts in midsummer heat.
When to plant Broccoli by USDA zone
Timing shifts with your climate — the same broccoli goes in weeks earlier in a mild zone than a cold one. Find your zone below for its planting window, or open that zone's full calendar.
| Zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 1a | Start seeds indoors Apr 27–May 11 Transplant outdoors Jun 1–Jun 15 Direct sow outdoors May 9–May 30 |
| Zone 1b | Start seeds indoors Apr 22–May 6 Transplant outdoors May 27–Jun 10 Direct sow outdoors May 14–Jun 4 |
| Zone 2a | Start seeds indoors Apr 17–May 1 Transplant outdoors May 22–Jun 5 Direct sow outdoors May 19–Jun 9 |
| Zone 2b | Start seeds indoors Apr 11–Apr 25 Transplant outdoors May 16–May 30 Direct sow outdoors May 26–Jun 16 |
| Zone 3a | Start seeds indoors Apr 6–Apr 20 Transplant outdoors May 11–May 25 Direct sow outdoors Jun 2–Jun 23 |
| Zone 3b | Start seeds indoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Transplant outdoors May 6–May 20 Direct sow outdoors Jun 6–Jun 27 |
| Zone 4a | Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 10 Transplant outdoors May 1–May 15 Direct sow outdoors Jun 12–Jul 3 |
| Zone 4b | Start seeds indoors Mar 22–Apr 5 Transplant outdoors Apr 26–May 10 Direct sow outdoors Jun 16–Jul 7 |
| Zone 5a | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 31 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 Direct sow outdoors Jun 25–Jul 16 |
| Zone 5b | Start seeds indoors Mar 12–Mar 26 Transplant outdoors Apr 16–Apr 30 Direct sow outdoors Jun 29–Jul 20 |
| Zone 6a | Start seeds indoors Mar 3–Mar 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Jul 11–Aug 1 |
| Zone 6b | Start seeds indoors Feb 25–Mar 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Jul 19–Aug 9 |
| Zone 7a | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Jul 27–Aug 17 |
| Zone 7b | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Aug 4–Aug 25 |
| Zone 8a | Start seeds indoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Transplant outdoors Mar 8–Mar 22 Direct sow outdoors Aug 12–Sep 2 |
| Zone 8b | Start seeds indoors Jan 25–Feb 8 Transplant outdoors Mar 1–Mar 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 19–Sep 9 |
| Zone 9a | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 24 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 Direct sow outdoors Aug 29–Sep 19 |
| Zone 9b | Start seeds indoors Dec 28–Jan 11 Transplant outdoors Feb 1–Feb 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 8–Sep 29 |
| Zone 10a | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Sep 21–Oct 12 |
| Zone 10b | Start seeds indoors Nov 27–Dec 11 Transplant outdoors Jan 1–Jan 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 11a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 11b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 12a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 12b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 13a | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |
| Zone 13b | Start seeds indoors Nov 13–Nov 27 Transplant outdoors Dec 18–Jan 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 24–Oct 15 |