Zone 7a covers 30 days of last-frost dates. We measured Fayetteville, AR at Mar 31 and Ogden, UT at Apr 30. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.
Why these dates work in zone 7a
Zone 7a's last spring frost averages Apr 13 and first fall frost Nov 12 — about 213 frost-free days. Broccoli tolerates light frost, so you can set plants out ahead of the last-frost date and keep harvesting into the cooler fall. Starting seeds indoors 6 weeks ahead gives strong transplants ready the moment the soil warms. There's also room for a fall succession sowing around Aug 13 for a second harvest before frost.
Common questions
How long does broccoli take to grow in zone 7a?
Broccoli matures in about 80–100 days from transplanting. In zone 7a that means setting plants out around Mar 23 and first picking around Jun 11.
Will broccoli survive frost in zone 7a?
Yes — broccoli tolerates light frost. In zone 7a you can set plants out a little before the last frost (around Apr 13) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Nov 12).
Can I plant a second crop of broccoli in zone 7a?
Yes — in zone 7a there's time for a fall sowing around Aug 13 for a second harvest before frost.
For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full broccoli growing guide →