How to grow broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Get your exact dates
The windows below are relative to your frost dates. Enter your ZIP for the calendar dates.
Open the planting calendarWhen to plant broccoli
Start seeds indoors10 weeks before your last spring frost to 8 weeks before your last spring frost
Transplant outdoors3 weeks before your last spring frost to 2 weeks before your last spring frost
Direct sow3 weeks before your last spring frost to 2 weeks before your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 in apart, rows 24 in
- Planting depth
- 0.25 in
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- 1 in per week
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7
Common problems
- flea beetles
- imported cabbage worm
- cabbage looper
- diamondback moth
- cabbage maggots
- swede midge
- alternaria leaf spot
- black rot
- clubroot
- boron deficiency
- buttoning
Broccoli by hardiness zone
Planting dates for a typical location in each zone:
Sources
- Utah State University Extension: How to Grow Broccoli in Your Garden
- University of Minnesota Extension: Growing broccoli in home gardens
Last updated 2026-06-11.