When to plant broccoli in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, start broccoli indoors February 11 to March 4 and plant out April 1 to 15. For a fall crop, plant August 1 to 29.
The zone 6a schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- February 11 to March 4
- Plant out
- April 1 to 15
- Sow outdoors
- April 8 to 15
- First harvest, roughly
- May 21 to June 29
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 1 to 29
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, 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 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: 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.
Broccoli in zone 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Feb 16 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 20 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 19 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Feb 16 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 20 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Feb 11 to Mar 4 | Apr 1 to 15 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Apr 7 to 21 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 19 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 |
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 5bBroccoli in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
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