When to plant broccoli in zone 7a
In zone 7a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 16, start broccoli indoors January 29 to February 19 and plant out March 19 to April 2. For a fall crop, plant August 9 to September 6.
The zone 7a schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- January 29 to February 19
- Plant out
- March 19 to April 2
- Sow outdoors
- March 26 to April 2
- First harvest, roughly
- May 8 to June 16
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 9 to September 6
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,981 ZIP codes in zone 7a, 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 7a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 15 to November 2. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 1Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 3Safe: 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 7a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | Mar 31 | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Apr 13 | Jan 26 to Feb 16 | Mar 16 to 30 |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 8 | Jan 21 to Feb 11 | Mar 11 to 25 |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Jan 26 to Feb 16 | Mar 16 to 30 |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Mar 14 to 28 |
| Paterson, NJ | Apr 3 | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Apr 5 | Jan 18 to Feb 8 | Mar 8 to 22 |
| Meridian, ID | Apr 24 | Feb 6 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 |
| Stamford, CT | Apr 12 | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | Mar 15 to 29 |
| New Haven, CT | Apr 5 | Jan 18 to Feb 8 | Mar 8 to 22 |
| Allentown, PA | Apr 20 | Feb 2 to 23 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 |
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 6bBroccoli in zone 7bAbout zone 7a
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