Growing guide

How to Grow Broccoli

Cool-season brassica that needs steady cool weather to form tight heads.

The basics

What broccoli need

• Sun — Full sun (tolerates light shade)
• Water — 1–1.5 inches per week, consistent
• Harvest in 60–85 days from transplant
• Difficulty — Moderate

When to plant

Time it from your frost date

• Start indoors: 6 weeks before last frost (spring) or midsummer (fall)
• Transplant: 2–3 weeks before last frost, while cool
• Direct sow: Late summer for fall crops
• Best in Zones 3–10 (cool seasons)

How to plant

Three steps to a strong start

• 1. Start seed indoors ¼ in deep; transplant out while weather is still cool.
• 2. Space 18 in apart in rich, firm soil and keep consistently moist.
• 3. Feed with nitrogen for strong leafy growth before heads form.

Common problem

Loose, leggy heads (bolting)

Heat or late planting — grow so heads mature in cool weather.

Common problem

Buttoning (tiny premature heads)

From transplant stress or cold checks — keep seedlings growing steadily.

Harvest

Picking broccoli right

Cut the main head while the buds are still tight and green, before any yellow flowers open. Keep the plant in place — most varieties produce smaller side shoots for weeks afterward.

Gardeners ask

Why did my broccoli flower before forming a head?

It bolted from heat or stress. Grow it so it matures in cool weather — fall crops are often the most reliable.

Keep growing

Get the full Broccoli guide

Planting dates for your USDA zone, spacing, companions, every common problem — free on Plants by Zone.

Swipe up for the full guide