When to plant broccoli in Louisiana
Louisiana’s average last spring frost is March 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 255 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b). Broccoli needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Louisiana's growing season.
When to plant broccoli in Louisiana: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Feb 12 – Mar 1, with seeds started indoors Jan 15 – Jan 29. 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 Louisiana, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Jan 15 – Jan 29). 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 (Feb 12 – Mar 1). 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 Louisiana.
- 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 Apr 20 – May 15). 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 Louisiana’s average frost dates. More in the full broccoli growing guide.
Broccoli planting dates by USDA zone in Louisiana
Louisiana spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | March 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 1 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Feb 27 – Mar 16 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 13 – Mar 30 |
Questions gardeners in Louisiana ask
When is the best time to plant broccoli in Louisiana?
Plant broccoli transplants outdoors in Louisiana between February 12 and March 1. That timing is set by Louisiana's average last spring frost of March 5.
When should I start broccoli seeds indoors in Louisiana?
Start seeds indoors between January 15 and January 29, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from February 12.
Can I plant broccoli in the fall in Louisiana?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between August 6 and August 23, so the crop matures in cool weather before Louisiana's first frost around November 15.
When will broccoli planted in Louisiana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, broccoli is usually ready from about April 20 to May 15, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in Louisiana?
On average around March 5, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 255 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.