When to plant broccoli in zone 2a
In zone 2a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 19, start broccoli indoors March 3 to 24 and plant out April 21 to May 5. For a fall crop, plant June 20 to July 18.
The zone 2a schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- March 3 to 24
- Plant out
- April 21 to May 5
- Sow outdoors
- April 28 to May 5
- First harvest, roughly
- June 10 to July 19
- Plant for a fall crop
- June 20 to July 18
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 10 ZIP codes in zone 2a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for broccoli.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 2a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 2a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 13 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 1 to September 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- May 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 19Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- June 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for broccoli
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant broccoli where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 3aAbout zone 2a
Sources
- Broccoli in the Garden (How to Grow Broccoli in Your Garden) · Utah State University Extension
- Broccoli (HGIC 1301) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Growing Broccoli in a Home Garden · University of Maryland Extension
- Growing Broccoli in the Home Garden · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- RGV Homeowner Vegetable Guide (rev. 2022) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Soil Temperature Conditions for Vegetable Seed Germination (Garden Notes GN 154) · University of California Cooperative Extension, Sacramento County
- Easy Container Vegetables and How to Grow Them · N.C. Cooperative Extension, Onslow County Center
- Vegetable Gardening in Containers (E-545) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service