When to Plant Broccoli

Broccoli likes cool weather. Spring plants must head before summer heat; fall plantings often produce better heads.

Broccoli planting dates in major cities

CityStart indoorsTransplant outsideFall planting
Mesa, AZDec 7 – Dec 21Jan 18 – Feb 1Sep 17 – Oct 1
Phoenix, AZNov 13 – Nov 27Dec 25 – Jan 8Oct 2 – Oct 16
Tucson, AZDec 11 – Dec 25Jan 22 – Feb 5Sep 16 – Sep 30
Anaheim, CANov 10 – Nov 24Dec 22 – Jan 5Oct 2 – Oct 16
Bakersfield, CADec 6 – Dec 20Jan 17 – Jan 31Sep 15 – Sep 29
Fresno, CANov 19 – Dec 3Dec 31 – Jan 14Sep 21 – Oct 5
Irvine, CANov 10 – Nov 24Dec 22 – Jan 5Oct 2 – Oct 16
Long Beach, CANov 14 – Nov 28Dec 26 – Jan 9Oct 13 – Oct 27
Los Angeles, CANov 7 – Nov 21Dec 19 – Jan 2Oct 3 – Oct 17
Oakland, CANov 12 – Nov 26Dec 24 – Jan 7Sep 30 – Oct 14
Riverside, CANov 14 – Nov 28Dec 26 – Jan 9Oct 2 – Oct 16
Sacramento, CANov 17 – Dec 1Dec 29 – Jan 12Sep 23 – Oct 7
San Diego, CANov 11 – Nov 25Dec 23 – Jan 6Sep 28 – Oct 12
San Francisco, CANov 4 – Nov 18Dec 16 – Dec 30Oct 2 – Oct 16
San Jose, CANov 7 – Nov 21Dec 19 – Jan 2Oct 2 – Oct 16
Stockton, CADec 11 – Dec 25Jan 22 – Feb 5Sep 15 – Sep 29
Aurora, COMar 12 – Mar 26Apr 23 – May 7Jul 16 – Jul 30
Colorado Springs, COMar 8 – Mar 22Apr 19 – May 3Jul 16 – Jul 30
Denver, COMar 9 – Mar 23Apr 20 – May 4Jul 16 – Jul 30
Washington, DCFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Mar 29Aug 16 – Aug 30
Jacksonville, FLDec 7 – Dec 21Jan 18 – Feb 1Oct 13 – Oct 27
Orlando, FLNov 30 – Dec 14Jan 11 – Jan 25Oct 18 – Nov 1
Tampa, FLNov 25 – Dec 9Jan 6 – Jan 20Oct 20 – Nov 3
Atlanta, GAJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 10 – Mar 24Aug 16 – Aug 30
Chicago, ILFeb 13 – Feb 27Mar 27 – Apr 10Aug 13 – Aug 27
Indianapolis city, INFeb 23 – Mar 9Apr 6 – Apr 20Jul 29 – Aug 12
Wichita, KSFeb 14 – Feb 28Mar 28 – Apr 11Aug 6 – Aug 20
Lexington-Fayette, KYFeb 16 – Mar 2Mar 30 – Apr 13Aug 5 – Aug 19
Louisville/Jefferson County metro government, KYFeb 9 – Feb 23Mar 23 – Apr 6Aug 9 – Aug 23
New Orleans, LANov 27 – Dec 11Jan 8 – Jan 22Oct 13 – Oct 27
Boston, MAFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Aug 17 – Aug 31
Baltimore, MDJan 27 – Feb 10Mar 10 – Mar 24Aug 29 – Sep 12
Detroit, MIMar 2 – Mar 16Apr 13 – Apr 27Aug 2 – Aug 16
Minneapolis, MNFeb 26 – Mar 12Apr 9 – Apr 23Jul 24 – Aug 7
Kansas City, MOFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Aug 10 – Aug 24
Charlotte, NCFeb 2 – Feb 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Aug 11 – Aug 25
Raleigh, NCJan 31 – Feb 14Mar 14 – Mar 28Aug 16 – Aug 30
Omaha, NEFeb 19 – Mar 5Apr 2 – Apr 16Jul 26 – Aug 9
Albuquerque, NMFeb 26 – Mar 12Apr 9 – Apr 23Jul 28 – Aug 11
Henderson, NVNov 25 – Dec 9Jan 6 – Jan 20Sep 22 – Oct 6
Las Vegas, NVNov 29 – Dec 13Jan 10 – Jan 24Sep 17 – Oct 1
New York, NYFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 18 – Apr 1Aug 27 – Sep 10
Cleveland, OHFeb 11 – Feb 25Mar 25 – Apr 8Aug 20 – Sep 3
Columbus, OHFeb 23 – Mar 9Apr 6 – Apr 20Aug 1 – Aug 15
Oklahoma City, OKFeb 7 – Feb 21Mar 21 – Apr 4Aug 10 – Aug 24
Tulsa, OKFeb 3 – Feb 17Mar 17 – Mar 31Aug 12 – Aug 26
Portland, ORDec 31 – Jan 14Feb 11 – Feb 25Sep 8 – Sep 22
Philadelphia, PAFeb 2 – Feb 16Mar 16 – Mar 30Aug 25 – Sep 8
Memphis, TNJan 19 – Feb 2Mar 2 – Mar 16Aug 24 – Sep 7
Nashville-Davidson, TNFeb 4 – Feb 18Mar 18 – Apr 1Aug 8 – Aug 22
Arlington, TXJan 12 – Jan 26Feb 23 – Mar 9Aug 29 – Sep 12
Austin, TXDec 26 – Jan 9Feb 6 – Feb 20Sep 10 – Sep 24
Dallas, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Feb 16 – Mar 2Sep 6 – Sep 20
El Paso, TXJan 5 – Jan 19Feb 16 – Mar 2Aug 28 – Sep 11
Fort Worth, TXJan 8 – Jan 22Feb 19 – Mar 5Sep 1 – Sep 15
Houston, TXDec 8 – Dec 22Jan 19 – Feb 2Oct 2 – Oct 16
San Antonio, TXDec 31 – Jan 14Feb 11 – Feb 25Sep 5 – Sep 19
Virginia Beach, VAFeb 1 – Feb 15Mar 15 – Mar 29Aug 20 – Sep 3
Seattle, WAJan 11 – Jan 25Feb 22 – Mar 8Aug 31 – Sep 14
Milwaukee, WIMar 1 – Mar 15Apr 12 – Apr 26Jul 26 – Aug 9

Calculated from each city's average (50%) frost dates. In a cold spring, lean toward the later end of each window.

Other crops

TomatoesPeppersEggplantBasilCucumbersZucchini and summer squashPumpkins and winter squashWatermelons and melonsGreen beansSweet cornLettuceSpinachPeasKaleCabbageCarrotsRadishesBeetsOnions (sets or transplants)PotatoesGarlic