Zone 11 · Brassicas Growing Guide

When to Plant Broccoli
in Zone 11

Harvest the central head before flowers open, then enjoy weeks of side shoots. Temperature-sensitive — needs cool weather for heading. Medium difficulty but very rewarding.

Plant outdoors
Oct – Dec
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~none
Days to harvest
70–100 days
Difficulty
Medium
Wrong season — Zone 11
Harvest window: Dec – Feb

Planting Calendar

In Zone 11, Broccoli should be planted outdoors Oct – Dec, after the average last frost date of approximately none.

Very limited window. Only suitable in cooler microclimates within Zone 11.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
18–24 inches
Soil
Rich, fertile, well-draining
Days to maturity
70–100 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 11

Very limited window. Only suitable in cooler microclimates within Zone 11.

Feeding Schedule

How often
monthly
Feed type
high nitrogen then balanced
Key timing
switch to balanced when heads form

Heavy nitrogen feeder for leaf development. Switch to balanced feed once heads begin to form to avoid loose, leafy heads.

Succession Planting

Sow every 4 weeks

Start a spring crop and a separate late-summer crop for autumn harvest. Broccoli is too slow for true succession but two planned crops — one for spring harvest, one for autumn — make good use of the season.

Companion Planting for Broccoli

What you plant next to broccoli makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Chamomile
Keep away from
  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries
  • Beans

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Common questions

In Zone 11, broccoli is a fall-planted crop. Plant outdoors Oct – Dec once temperatures cool in autumn. It overwinters and is ready to harvest around Dec – Feb. No last frost consideration — plant before the ground freezes.
Zone 11 has an average last spring frost of approximately none and a first fall frost around none. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for broccoli include Celery, Onions, Potatoes, Chamomile. Avoid planting near Tomatoes, Strawberries, Beans, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Broccoli typically takes 70–100 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 11. Expected harvest window: Dec – Feb.

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Broccoli in other zones
Crop Guides