Broccoli
Dates below are counted from the average last spring frost or the average first fall frost. Enter a ZIP in the calendar for NOAA 1991–2020 station averages, or pick a zone and use the zone table.
When to plant
Soil and site
Rich, firm, consistently moist soil. Stress at any point risks “buttoning” — tiny premature heads.
Seedlings
Set starts slightly deeper than the pot, up to the first leaves. Water in well and shade for a day if it's hot.
In the garden
Row cover at transplant blocks cabbage moths. Steady water is non-negotiable for good heads. Rows 24–30 in.
Picking
Cut the main head while buds are tight, with 5–6 in of stem. Side shoots keep coming for weeks after.
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Dates by zone
These pages turn the same frost offsets into calendar dates for each zone the calendar covers.