When to plant broccoli in Arkansas
Arkansas’s average last spring frost is April 3, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 1 — about 212 frost-free days (USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Broccoli needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arkansas's growing season.
When to plant broccoli in Arkansas: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 13 – Mar 30, with seeds started indoors Feb 13 – Feb 27. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow broccoli in Arkansas, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 13 – Feb 27). Sow seeds ½ inch deep in seed-starting mix under bright light. They take 5-10 days to sprout, fastest in soil around 75°F. Harden seedlings off for a week before they go outside.
- Prepare the bed. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Dig in compost before planting.
- Plant out (Mar 13 – Mar 30). Space plants about 18 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Arkansas.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: cabbage worm, cabbage looper, aphids, flea beetle, cabbage root maggot. Diseases and disorders: clubroot, black rot, downy mildew.
- Harvest (from about May 19 – Jun 13). Broccoli takes 60-85 days to reach harvest. Days to maturity counted from transplant. Keep cutting side shoots after the main head for weeks. Spring crop must size up before heat or it buttons.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arkansas’s average frost dates. More in the full broccoli growing guide.
Broccoli planting dates by USDA zone in Arkansas
Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the broccoli dates shift with them.
When to plant broccoli in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas (this page) | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
Questions gardeners in Arkansas ask
When is the best time to plant broccoli in Arkansas?
Plant broccoli transplants outdoors in Arkansas between March 13 and March 30. That timing is set by Arkansas's average last spring frost of April 3.
When should I start broccoli seeds indoors in Arkansas?
Start seeds indoors between February 13 and February 27, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 13.
Can I plant broccoli in the fall in Arkansas?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 23 and August 9, so the crop matures in cool weather before Arkansas's first frost around November 1.
When will broccoli planted in Arkansas be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, broccoli is usually ready from about May 19 to June 13, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Arkansas?
On average around April 3, with the first fall frost around November 1 - about 212 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.