When to plant broccoli in zone 9b
In zone 9b, where the last spring frost typically comes around January 31, start broccoli indoors November 15 to December 6 and plant out January 3 to 17. For a fall crop, plant September 23 to October 21.
The zone 9b schedule for broccoli
- Start seeds indoors
- November 15 to December 6
- Plant out
- January 3 to 17
- Sow outdoors
- January 10 to 17
- First harvest, roughly
- February 22 to April 2
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 23 to October 21
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,459 ZIP codes in zone 9b, 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 9b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 9b, the typical last frost ranges from about January 12 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to March 1 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from January 8 to December 28. For a typical place in the zone:
- December 18Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- January 31Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- March 1Safe: 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 9b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | Jan 30 | Nov 14 to Dec 5 | Jan 2 to 16 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Feb 1 | Nov 16 to Dec 7 | Jan 4 to 18 |
| San Jose, CA | Jan 12 | Oct 27 to Nov 17 | Dec 15 to 29 |
| Fresno, CA | Jan 14 | Oct 29 to Nov 19 | Dec 17 to 31 |
| Sacramento, CA | Jan 12 | Oct 27 to Nov 17 | Dec 15 to 29 |
| Bakersfield, CA | Jan 17 | Nov 1 to 22 | Dec 20 to Jan 3 |
| New Orleans, LA | Jan 24 | Nov 8 to 29 | Dec 27 to Jan 10 |
| Henderson, NV | Jan 20 | Nov 4 to 25 | Dec 23 to Jan 6 |
How to grow broccoliAll zonesBroccoli in zone 9aAbout zone 9b
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