Broccoli planting calendar for USDA Zone 9a

Gainesville FL, Houston, New Orleans, southern GA coast. Average last spring frost February 25, first fall frost December 1 — a 279-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: good

Cool-season crops bolt fast under Zone 9a heat. Prioritize the fall planting window and use shade cloth for any spring succession.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors

January 7 – January 21

Transplant outdoors

January 28 – February 18

Expected first harvest

April 10 – May 8

Fall planting window

August 18 – September 8

Fall harvest window

October 29 – November 26

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 9a

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 9a

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.

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