When to plant broccoli in zone 8a
In zone 8a, where the last spring frost typically comes around March 29, start broccoli indoors January 11 to February 1 and plant out March 1 to 15. For a fall crop, plant August 22 to September 19.
The zone 8a schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- January 11 to February 1
- Plant out
- March 1 to 15
- Sow outdoors
- March 8 to 15
- First harvest, roughly
- April 20 to May 29
- Plant for a fall crop
- August 22 to September 19
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 2,584 ZIP codes in zone 8a, 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 8a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 8a, the typical last frost ranges from about March 18 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 7 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 31 to November 16. For a typical place in the zone:
- March 9Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- March 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- April 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 8a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | Mar 30 | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 |
| Memphis, TN | Mar 16 | Dec 29 to Jan 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 |
| Baltimore, MD | Mar 24 | Jan 6 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 15 | Dec 28 to Jan 18 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 |
| Raleigh, NC | Mar 28 | Jan 10 to 31 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 |
| Greensboro, NC | Mar 30 | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 |
| Durham, NC | Mar 31 | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | Mar 30 | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 |
| Chesapeake, VA | Mar 17 | Dec 30 to Jan 20 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 |
| Huntsville, AL | Mar 24 | Jan 6 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 |
| Fayetteville, NC | Mar 30 | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Mar 2 to 16 |
| Little Rock, AR | Mar 21 | Jan 3 to 24 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 |
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 7bBroccoli in zone 8bAbout zone 8a
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