Zone 8a covers 26 days of last-frost dates. We measured Little Rock, AR at Mar 9 and Baltimore, MD at Apr 4. 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 8a
Zone 8a's last spring frost averages Mar 15 and first fall frost Nov 19 — about 249 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 20 for a second harvest before frost.
Common questions
How long does broccoli take to grow in zone 8a?
Broccoli matures in about 80–100 days from transplanting. In zone 8a that means setting plants out around Feb 22 and first picking around May 13.
Will broccoli survive frost in zone 8a?
Yes — broccoli tolerates light frost. In zone 8a you can set plants out a little before the last frost (around Mar 15) and keep harvesting past the first fall frost (around Nov 19).
Can I plant a second crop of broccoli in zone 8a?
Yes — in zone 8a there's time for a fall sowing around Aug 20 for a second harvest before frost.
For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full broccoli growing guide →