How to grow broccoli in a raised bed
Cut the main head before the flowers open; smaller side shoots follow.
Spacing1 plant per square foot
How to startStart seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost, or buy young plants
When to plantAbout 3 weeks before your last spring frost
Time to harvestAbout 65 days
Grows toAbout 2 ft tall
When to plant broccoli in your zone
Dates are based on the average frost dates for each zone. Don't know your zone? Enter your ZIP code in the planner.
| Zone | Start seeds indoors | Plant in the bed | Plant again for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | Apr 8 | Apr 29 | — |
| Zone 3b | Apr 3 | Apr 24 | — |
| Zone 4a | Mar 31 | Apr 21 | Jul 4 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 27 | Apr 17 | Jul 11 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 23 | Apr 13 | Jul 16 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 17 | Apr 7 | Jul 23 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 11 | Apr 1 | Jul 28 |
| Zone 6b | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Aug 2 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 25 | Mar 18 | Aug 9 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Aug 16 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Aug 23 |
| Zone 8b | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Aug 31 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 18 | Feb 8 | Sep 13 |
| Zone 9b | Jan 4 | Jan 25 | Sep 22 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 20 | Jan 10 | Oct 2 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 25 | Oct 13 |
Tips for raised beds
- In square-foot gardening, plant one plant in each 1 × 1 ft square.
- It stays fairly short, so it can go near the south (sunny) edge of the bed.
- Most vegetables and fruit need at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
Where to buy broccoli seeds
Burpee · True Leaf Market · Botanical Interests
Plan where your broccoli go. Pick your bed size and material, choose your plants, and get a printable plan with measurements, a shopping list and planting dates for your ZIP code. Free, no sign-up.
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