How to grow broccoli
Cut the main head before the buds open yellow; side shoots keep coming for weeks.
Rotation and family
Broccoli belongs to the brassicas (Brassicaceae). Hungry for nitrogen; clubroot spores persist in soil for years.
In a four-bed crop rotation it goes in the leaf & brassica bed. Avoid growing it where any brassicas grew in the last three years.
When to plant broccoli by zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow / plant out | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jun 10 – Jul 1 |
| 4 | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | Apr 21 – May 12 | Jun 20 – Jul 11 |
| 5 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Apr 9 – Apr 30 | Jul 2 – Jul 23 |
| 6 | Mar 2 – Mar 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | Jul 14 – Aug 4 |
| 7 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 8 | Jul 24 – Aug 14 |
| 8 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Mar 5 – Mar 26 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 |
| 9 | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Feb 1 – Feb 22 | Aug 27 – Sep 17 |
| 10 | Dec 14 – Dec 28 | Jan 11 – Feb 1 | Sep 11 – Oct 2 |
Based on typical frost dates for each zone; b half-zones run about a week earlier in spring. Zones 11–13 are frost-free in most years.
Broccoli questions
When should I plant broccoli?
Plant broccoli outdoors 3 weeks before your last spring frost. Start seeds indoors about 7 weeks before your last frost. For a fall crop, sow about 14 weeks before your first fall frost.
How far apart should I plant broccoli?
About 18 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square foot garden.
What grows well with broccoli?
Traditional companions include beet, dill, lettuce, onion, swiss chard. Keep it away from strawberry, tomato.
How long does broccoli take to grow?
Typically 55–80 days from transplanting to first harvest, depending on variety and weather.