How to Grow Broccoli in Florida and the Warm US
Updated June 2026
Broccoli is a cool-season favourite, and the secret in a warm climate is timing so the heads form while the weather is still mild.
Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable that does well across Florida and the warm southern US when you plant it for the mild months. It needs cool weather to form a good head, so the whole game is timing. Get it in the ground at the right point in fall and you will be cutting heads through winter.
One of the best things about broccoli is that it keeps giving. After you cut the main central head, most plants push out a steady supply of smaller side shoots for weeks afterwards. Feed and water them and a single plant earns its space many times over.
In cooler parts of the country broccoli is a spring and fall crop instead of a winter one. Use the climate selector in the tool below to see when to sow and transplant where you garden, and whether heading or sprouting types suit you best.
Climate sowing selector
What it looks like as it grows
Position and soil
Broccoli wants full sun, at least six hours a day, and a rich, well-drained bed. Work in plenty of compost before planting, since broccoli is a hungry crop. Florida sand needs that organic matter to hold both moisture and nutrients. Aim for a steadily fertile bed rather than a single heavy dose of feed.
Sowing
Start seed in trays or small pots about four to six weeks before you want plants in the ground, sowing a quarter inch (6 mm) deep. You can also sow direct in mild conditions or buy healthy transplants as a shortcut. Transplant out when seedlings have a few true leaves and the cool season has arrived, spacing plants about 18 inches (45 cm) apart with 24 to 30 inches between rows.
Spacing and thinning
Give each plant room. Set transplants about 18 inches apart in rows 24 to 30 inches apart. If you direct sow, thin to the same final spacing once seedlings are established. Crowded plants make small heads and trap humidity, which invites leaf disease in Florida's damp cool season.
Watering and feeding
Keep broccoli evenly moist. A check from drought or heat stress can trigger early flowering and tiny heads. Feed every few weeks with a balanced fertiliser, and give a light boost after you cut the main head to push strong side shoots. Mulch helps hold moisture and keep roots cool.
Pests and problems
Cabbage worms and loopers are the main pests in Florida, the green caterpillars of small white and brown moths. Check under the leaves for eggs and caterpillars, hand-pick what you find, or use a Bt spray which is safe and targeted. A lightweight row cover keeps the moths from laying. Aphids can cluster in heads, so a strong water spray helps. Early flowering, or bolting, is a timing and heat problem rather than a pest.
Side shoots and harvest
Cut the central head while the buds are still tight and green, before any yellow flowers open, slicing the stem a few inches below the head. This is the cue for the plant to produce side shoots. Keep cutting those smaller shoots regularly and feeding lightly and you can harvest from one plant for a month or more. Heading types give one big head plus shoots, while sprouting types and broccolini give a long run of slender shoots instead.
Varieties to grow
| Variety | Why grow it |
|---|---|
| 'Calabrese' | Classic heading broccoli with good side shoots. |
| 'Green Magic' | Heat tolerant, a strong choice for the South. |
| 'Di Cicco' | Heirloom that produces lots of side shoots. |
| 'Purple Sprouting' | Many slender shoots, cold-hardy. |
| 'Broccolini / Apollo' | Long, tender stems over a long season. |
When to plant by region
This is a warm-US guide. The table below gives Florida sow windows. In other warm zones (USDA 8b to 11) grow broccoli through the cool season. In cold-winter zones grow it as a spring and fall crop.
| Region | Sow |
|---|---|
| North Florida | Aug to Jan |
| Central Florida | Sep to Jan |
| South Florida | Oct to Dec |
| Cooler US zones | Start indoors late winter for spring, and again in summer for a fall crop |
Track your broccoli in the app
Get sow and transplant timing tuned to your region, plus reminders to keep cutting those side shoots.
Open the app →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant broccoli in Florida?
Broccoli is a cool-season crop. Sow during the mild months. North Florida sows August to January, Central Florida September to January, and South Florida October to December.
Will broccoli keep producing after I cut the main head?
Yes. After you cut the central head, most heading broccoli pushes out smaller side shoots for several more weeks. Keep cutting and feeding and you can harvest for a month or more from one plant.
Why did my broccoli head stay tiny or flower early?
Small heads and early flowering, called bolting, are usually caused by heat or stress. Plant on time so the crop heads up during cool weather, keep it well watered, and avoid letting transplants get pot-bound.
Should I start broccoli from seed or buy transplants?
Both work. Start seed indoors or in trays four to six weeks before you want to set plants out, then transplant. Buying healthy transplants is a fine shortcut and gives a head start on the cool season.
How far apart should broccoli be?
Space plants about 18 inches apart with 24 to 30 inches between rows. Crowded plants make small heads and trap humidity that invites disease.
What is the difference between heading and sprouting broccoli?
Heading broccoli forms one large central head plus side shoots and takes about 65 to 90 days. Sprouting broccoli and broccolini make many slender shoots instead of one big head, are more heat tolerant, and crop in about 50 to 70 days.
What pests attack broccoli in Florida?
Cabbage worms and loopers are the main pests. Check under leaves for green caterpillars and eggs, hand-pick or use a Bt spray, and a row cover keeps the moths off.
Can I grow broccoli outside Florida?
Yes. In warm USDA zones 8b to 11 grow broccoli through the cool season. In cooler zones grow it as a spring and fall crop, starting seed indoors in late winter for spring and sowing again in summer for a fall crop.
Source: UF/IFAS Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103).