When to plant broccoli in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, start broccoli indoors February 5 to 26 and plant out March 26 to April 9. For a fall crop, plant August 6 to September 3.
The zone 6b schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- February 5 to 26
- Plant out
- March 26 to April 9
- Sow outdoors
- April 2 to 9
- First harvest, roughly
- May 15 to June 23
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 6 to September 3
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, 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 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Jan 17 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Feb 3 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Jan 17 to Feb 7 | Mar 7 to 21 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Jan 29 to Feb 19 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Feb 2 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Feb 8 to Mar 1 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 6aBroccoli in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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