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When to plant broccoli in zone 5a

In zone 5a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 3, start broccoli indoors February 15 to March 8 and plant out April 5 to 19. For a fall crop, plant July 19 to August 16.

The zone 5a schedule for broccoli

Start seeds indoors
February 15 to March 8
Plant out
April 5 to 19
Sow outdoors
April 12 to 19
First harvest, roughly
May 25 to July 3
Plant for a fall crop
July 19 to August 16

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,200 ZIP codes in zone 5a, 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 5a

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 5a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 27 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 21 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 25 to October 13. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 3Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 17Safe: 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.

Enter your ZIP code

Broccoli in zone 5a cities

CityTypical last frostStart indoorsPlant out
Minneapolis, MNApr 23Feb 5 to 26Mar 26 to Apr 9
St. Paul, MNApr 23Feb 5 to 26Mar 26 to Apr 9
Anchorage, AKMay 5Feb 17 to Mar 10Apr 7 to 21
Sioux Falls, SDMay 1Feb 13 to Mar 6Apr 3 to 17
Cedar Rapids, IAApr 28Feb 10 to Mar 3Mar 31 to Apr 14
Billings, MTMay 10Feb 22 to Mar 15Apr 12 to 26
Bloomington, MNApr 23Feb 5 to 26Mar 26 to Apr 9
Sioux City, IAApr 29Feb 11 to Mar 4Apr 1 to 15
Brooklyn Park, MNApr 30Feb 12 to Mar 5Apr 2 to 16
Woodbury, MNApr 24Feb 6 to 27Mar 27 to Apr 10
Plymouth, MNApr 29Feb 11 to Mar 4Apr 1 to 15
Blaine, MNApr 30Feb 12 to Mar 5Apr 2 to 16

How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 4bBroccoli in zone 5bAbout zone 5a

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