How to grow Broccoli
Updated October 2026
Broccoli is a cool season member of the cabbage family grown for its tight heads of flower buds, followed by a long run of smaller side shoots. It grows best below about 75°F (24°C) and takes light frost, so it is a fall and winter crop in the South and a spring and fall crop in the North. Heat makes the heads loose and bitter, so timing matters more than anything else.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Broccoli in Florida and the Warm US
Where to plant
Broccoli needs full sun and fertile, well drained soil with some organic matter. Utah State notes it yields best when temperatures stay below about 75°F and is not seriously damaged down to about 28°F (minus 2°C). Summer heat gives loose, bitter heads, so plan the crop around the cool months.
In Florida, UF/IFAS says broccoli is an easy winter crop: plant transplants from mid September to mid February in North and Central Florida, and October to December in South Florida. In the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California, plant in late summer to fall and again in late winter. In the Mid-South and Mid-Atlantic, plant in late winter to early spring and again in midsummer for fall. Across the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, set transplants out 2 to 3 weeks before the last spring frost, and plant again in midsummer for a fall crop, which is often the better one.
Choosing a variety
For spring crops in the North, choose quick varieties such as Packman (about 50 days) or Green Comet (about 55 days). Premium Crop is a reliable later type. In Florida, Waltham 29 is an old favorite that keeps producing side shoots, and UF/IFAS also suggests Early Green, Early Dividend, Green Sprouting (Calabrese) and Packman. Di Cicco is an heirloom grown mostly for its side shoots.
How to plant
- Start seed indoors 6 to 7 weeks before your planting date, a quarter to half an inch (6 to 12 mm) deep, or sow direct and thin when seedlings have 3 to 4 true leaves.
- Plant out transplants with 4 to 6 leaves and a good root system. Older, larger transplants tend to form small, early button heads.
- Space plants 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart in rows 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) apart. Closer spacing gives smaller heads and fewer side shoots.
- For a fall crop in the North, plant an early variety 50 to 75 days before you want to harvest; heads can mature several weeks after the first fall frost.
- Cover young plants with fabric row cover to protect them from frost and from cabbage worms and flea beetles.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply and evenly, about 1 to 2 inches (25 to 50 mm) a week. UF/IFAS prefers one heavy soaking a week to several light sprinklings. Drip irrigation and mulch help keep the soil evenly moist and cool.
Work compost and a complete fertilizer into the bed before planting, guided by a soil test. Side dress with nitrogen about four weeks after planting, again lightly when the head is about the size of a quarter, and after harvesting the main head to push side shoots.
Pruning and care through the year
- Mulch with straw or grass clippings once the weather warms above about 80°F (27°C) to cool the soil.
- Weed while the plants are small, without hoeing deeply near the shallow roots.
- Cover young plants on nights below about 32°F (0°C), especially while they are small.
- Rotate cabbage family crops to a new bed each year to reduce clubroot and other soil diseases.
Harvesting
Cut the main head while it is still compact, before the tiny flower buds begin to open and show yellow. Cut it with about 6 inches (15 cm) of stem. With water and a little nitrogen, the plant then produces many 3 to 6 inch side shoots for weeks.
Broccoli keeps 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge. It freezes well after a quick blanch.
Growing in pots
Broccoli can grow in a pot at least 16 inches (40 cm) wide and deep, one plant per pot, in full sun. Keep it well watered and fed, and expect a smaller head than in the ground.
Companion planting
Aromatic herbs and flowers around brassicas draw the predators and parasitic wasps that feed on cabbage pests.
Good companions
- Beet A low, quick crop for the space between broccoli plants.
- Onion Narrow and low, so it fits between rows.
- Celery Likes the same rich, moist soil and cool season.
- Dill Its flowers feed the tiny wasps that parasitize caterpillars and aphids.
- Rosemary A sun loving herb for the bed edge.
- Sage Another aromatic herb for the edge of a brassica bed.
- Chamomile Small flowers that draw hoverflies and other beneficial insects.
- Nasturtium Flowers for pollinators; it can draw aphids away from the broccoli.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to broccoli.
- Tomato A warm season crop with different timing and feeding; traditional charts keep it apart.
- Strawberry Traditionally kept apart from cabbage family crops.
- Climbing beans Tall pole beans shade the broccoli and are traditionally grown elsewhere.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars and aphids are the main pests. Row covers from planting day keep most of them out.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage worms Green caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly and loopers chewing holes in leaves and hiding in the heads.
- Aphids Gray green colonies on the undersides of leaves and in the heads, with crinkled, curled leaves.
- Flea beetles Tiny holes in seedlings and young leaves.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Stunted plants that wilt on warm days, with swollen, club shaped roots. Rotate and keep the soil pH near neutral.
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on top of the leaves with gray fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
- Leaf spot Alternaria leaf spot makes dark, sooty spots with concentric rings on leaves and heads.
Common questions
Why is my broccoli flowering before it forms a head?
Heat and stress. Broccoli bolts in warm weather, and transplants that were too old or were stressed by drought or cold often form small button heads that flower early. Plant young transplants at the right time so heads form in cool weather.
When should I harvest broccoli?
When the head is full and tight, before any of the tiny buds open to show yellow. Cut it with a few inches of stem, and keep watering and feeding for side shoots.
When do I plant broccoli in Florida?
UF/IFAS gives mid September to mid February for North and Central Florida, and October to December for South Florida. It takes about 80 to 100 days, so do not plant too late or spring heat will make it bolt.
Will broccoli grow back after cutting the head?
The main head does not regrow, but most varieties send out many smaller side shoots for several weeks if you keep watering and give a little nitrogen.
Why is the broccoli stem hollow?
A hollow, discolored stem under the head, often with brown spots on the head, points to boron deficiency, which is more likely in high pH soils or after water stress. Avoid overfeeding and keep watering even.
How do I keep worms out of my broccoli?
Cover plants with fabric row cover from the day you plant, and check under the leaves for caterpillars. Check harvested heads carefully, as small caterpillars hide among the buds.
Sources we checked: Utah State University Extension: Broccoli in the Garden; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Broccoli.
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