When to plant broccoli in USDA Zone 8a

Plan your broccoli planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Wilmington NC, Columbia SC, Atlanta, Dallas, Norfolk. Average last spring frost March 28, first fall frost November 5 — a 222-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: excellent
Broccoli is well suited to Zone 8a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
February 7 – February 21
Transplant outdoors
February 28 – March 21
Expected first harvest
May 11 – June 8
Fall planting window
July 23 – August 13
Fall harvest window
October 3 – October 31

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
18″
Row spacing
30″
Seed depth
0.25″
Soil temperature
55–75°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
65 days

Grower notes for Zone 8a

Harvest the central head while buds are still tight; side shoots continue for 4–6 weeks after main cut.

Plant near: onions, beets, chamomile

Keep away from: tomatoes, strawberries

Other brassicas for Zone 8a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.