When to plant broccoli in South Carolina
South Carolina’s average last spring frost is March 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 225 frost-free days (USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Broccoli needs 60–85 days to mature, which fits comfortably within South Carolina's growing season.
When to plant broccoli in South Carolina: the short answer
For a spring planting, plant out Mar 4 – Mar 21, with seeds started indoors Feb 4 – Feb 18. 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 South Carolina, step by step
- Start seeds indoors (Feb 4 – Feb 18). 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 4 – Mar 21). 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 South Carolina.
- 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 10 – Jun 4). 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 South Carolina’s average frost dates. More in the full broccoli growing guide.
Broccoli planting dates by USDA zone in South Carolina
South Carolina spans USDA zones 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (this page) | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| North Carolina | April 5 | Mar 15 – Apr 1 |
| Georgia | March 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 21 |
| Tennessee | April 10 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Kentucky | April 18 | Mar 28 – Apr 14 |
Questions gardeners in South Carolina ask
When is the best time to plant broccoli in South Carolina?
Plant broccoli transplants outdoors in South Carolina between March 4 and March 21. That timing is set by South Carolina's average last spring frost of March 25.
When should I start broccoli seeds indoors in South Carolina?
Start seeds indoors between February 4 and February 18, about 6 weeks before the last frost, so the seedlings are ready to plant out from March 4.
Can I plant broccoli in the fall in South Carolina?
Yes. For a fall crop, start transplants between July 27 and August 13, so the crop matures in cool weather before South Carolina's first frost around November 5.
When will broccoli planted in South Carolina be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, broccoli is usually ready from about May 10 to June 4, 60-85 days after transplanting.
When is the last frost in South Carolina?
On average around March 25, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 225 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.