Succession Planting Broccoli for a Longer Harvest Window

Broccoli is one of the most rewarding cool-season crops to grow, but planting all your seeds at once can lead to a single, short harvest period. Succession planting—sowing seeds at staggered intervals—ensures you enjoy fresh broccoli over many weeks instead of all at once.

After more than 30 years of growing broccoli in raised beds and containers, I’ve developed a reliable system for timing plantings so I can pick heads in both spring and fall, sometimes with a bonus round of side shoots in between.

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Why Succession Plant Broccoli?

Longer harvest period: Avoid a glut of broccoli all maturing at the same time.
Better quality: Heads harvested at their peak are sweeter and more tender.
Seasonal flexibility: Work around temperature swings and extend your growing season.

Step 1: Choose Your Varieties

Planting different maturity dates helps stagger harvests:

Early maturing (50–60 days): ‘Green Magic,’ ‘Packman’—great for the first round.
Mid-season (65–75 days): ‘Belstar’—reliable for main harvest.
Late maturing (75+ days): ‘Marathon’—excellent for fall harvests.

In my garden, pairing an early variety with a heat-tolerant mid-season type gives me continuous harvests from late spring into early summer.

Step 2: Plan Your Planting Intervals

Spring harvest: Start first seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before last frost. Sow a second batch 2–3 weeks later.
Fall harvest: Direct sow or transplant in midsummer, staggering plantings 2–3 weeks apart until about 10 weeks before your first frost.

I usually aim for three plantings spaced evenly apart—enough to keep the harvest coming without overloading my space.

Step 3: Manage Your Space

Rotate broccoli with other crops to avoid soil-borne diseases.
Use container plantings to squeeze in extra rounds without disturbing existing beds.

When my spring beds are full, I start late-season transplants in pots, then move them into cleared space after early crops finish.

Step 4: Keep Plants Healthy for Side Shoots

After harvesting the main head, leave the plant in the ground to encourage side shoots. With good care, these can produce for weeks.

In my experience, consistent moisture and a light side-dressing of compost or organic fertilizer keep side shoots tender and flavorful.

My Experience in Succession Planting

I’ve been succession planting broccoli for decades in the variable climate of Sonoma Valley (Zone 9), where spring warms quickly and fall can be unpredictable. Over the years, I’ve refined planting intervals, experimented with dozens of varieties, and integrated container plantings to make full use of limited garden space. My advice is based on real harvest results, not just theory, ensuring you get practical, field-tested tips.

Succession Planting Calendar for Broccoli by Season & USDA Zone

USDA Zone	Spring – First Planting	Spring – Second Planting	Spring – Third Planting	Fall – First Planting	Fall – Second Planting
3–4	Start indoors 8 wks before last frost	Start indoors 6 wks before last frost	Start indoors 4 wks before last frost	Start indoors 16 wks before first frost	Start indoors 14 wks before first frost
5–6	Start indoors 8 wks before last frost	Start indoors 6 wks before last frost	Start indoors 4 wks before last frost	Start indoors 14 wks before first frost	Start indoors 12 wks before first frost
7–8	Start indoors 6 wks before last frost	Start indoors 4 wks before last frost	Direct sow 2 wks before last frost	Start indoors 12 wks before first frost	Start indoors 10 wks before first frost
9–10	Start indoors 4–6 wks before last frost	Direct sow at last frost	Direct sow 2 wks after last frost	Start indoors 12–14 wks before first frost	Start indoors 10–12 wks before first frost

Key:

“Start indoors” means sow seeds under lights or in a greenhouse before transplanting outdoors.
“Direct sow” means planting seeds directly into the garden soil.