When to Plant Broccoli and Cabbage: Spring and Fall Transplant Dates

Broccoli and cabbage both want to form their heads in cool weather. Set them out too late in spring and the heads form in summer heat; set them out too early, into a long cold spell, and they can bolt. The fall crop, grown as summer turns to autumn, is often the easier and better one.

Spring dates by last frost

Our planting calendar starts cabbage and broccoli indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your average last spring frost and moves them outside 3 to 5 weeks before it. That matches UMD's advice to set out 5- to 7-week-old transplants about 4 weeks before the last frost.

Regional examples: in central Maryland (last frost around April 15), UMD lists broccoli seeds indoors from late February through March and transplants in April; cabbage seeds from mid-February to mid-March, transplanted mid-March to mid-April. In Minnesota, UMN starts broccoli indoors in early to mid-April. UMN says seedlings are ready to harden off after about four weeks, once they have four or five true leaves, and that cabbage is best started 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting at normal room temperatures of 60 to 70°F.

Not too cold, not too old

Fall broccoli and cabbage

UMD notes that fall broccoli often gives higher yields than spring. Illinois' rule for timing it: count back from your average first fall frost the variety's days to harvest from transplanting, plus about 10 days. Seed-to-transplant time is extra; UMD says 4 to 6 weeks. For a variety listed at 60 days from transplant (UMD gives 55 to 65 days for broccoli), that looks like this:

Longer varieties need an earlier start: UMN suggests 60 to 85 day broccoli for fall, and cabbage takes about 60 to 100 days, with direct-seeded plants up to three weeks slower than transplants. Regional examples: UMD lists fall broccoli seeds indoors in late June to early July and transplants in late July to early August in central Maryland, and fall cabbage seeds from mid-June to mid-July, set out mid-July to mid-August. UMN starts fall broccoli in July and direct seeds fall cabbage in early July in Minnesota.

Texas and Florida dates

Texas A&M AgriLife gives average fall planting dates and the last optimum dates for broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower by gardening region:

In Florida, University of Florida IFAS lists broccoli from September through February in North Florida, October through February in Central Florida and October through December in South Florida, and cabbage from September through February in North Florida and September through April in Central and South Florida.

Where they go in the garden

Give each plant room: Illinois spaces broccoli 18 to 24 inches apart in rows and cabbage 12 to 24 inches. Rotate the whole cabbage family to a new spot each year. See what to plant with broccoli, what to plant with cabbage, when to plant spinach and kale in fall for their leafy cousins, and what to plant in fall.

Frequently asked questions

When should I start broccoli seeds indoors?

About 8 to 10 weeks before your average last spring frost. UMD sets out 5- to 7-week-old transplants about 4 weeks before the last frost.

When can I plant broccoli outside?

About 3 to 5 weeks before your last frost, once plants are hardened off. Broccoli and cabbage tolerate light frost, but long spells below about 45°F can cause bolting.

Can I direct sow broccoli?

You can, especially for fall, but Illinois recommends transplants for spring so plants mature before summer heat. Direct-seeded cabbage can take up to three weeks longer (UMN).

When should I plant fall broccoli?

Count back from your first fall frost the days to harvest from transplanting plus about 10 days (Illinois), and start seeds 4 to 6 weeks before that (UMD).

Why did my broccoli make tiny heads?

Usually stress: transplants held too long in pots ("buttons"), a long cold spell after planting, or hot weather as heads form.

When should I plant cabbage?

On the same schedule as broccoli: start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting and set plants out a few weeks before your last frost. Fall cabbage is seeded in early to midsummer.

Is fall or spring better for broccoli?

Fall is often better. UMD notes fall broccoli often yields more, because heads form in cooling weather instead of summer heat.