leafy · transplant
Broccoli: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating broccoli a few times a week needs about 9 plants in ~34 sq ft, worth about $32 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~12 sq ft | ~4 | ~$11 |
| 2 people | 5 | ~19 sq ft | ~6 | ~$18 |
| 4 people | 9 | ~34 sq ft | ~11 | ~$32 |
| 6 people | 14 | ~53 sq ft | ~17 | ~$50 |
Spacing
18" in row · 30" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
60 from transplant (70 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Mar 24 – Apr 21 | Jun 1 – Jul 11 |
| Zone 4 | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | Jun 11 – Jul 21 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 9 – Apr 6 | Jun 21 – Jul 31 |
| Zone 6 | Feb 27 – Mar 27 | Jul 1 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 12 – Mar 12 | Jul 11 – Aug 20 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 1 – Mar 1 | Aug 1 – Sep 10 |
| Zone 9 | Dec 30 – Jan 27 | Aug 21 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 10 – Jan 7 | Aug 31 – Oct 10 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
The head is fully domed with beads still tight, dark, and closed, usually 4 to 8 inches. Cut with 5 inches of stem; side shoots follow.
Don't wait: Any hint of yellow means the beads are opening into flowers, hours matter, cut immediately.
Yield
About 1.2 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~1.2 lb).
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with beet, onion, garlic, carrot. Keep away from tomato, fennel, strawberry. Which of these hold up, and what not to plant after
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
34 kcal · 2.6 g fiber · 89.2 mg vitamin C · 316 mg potassium
When to plant broccoli in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys broccolito that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Broccoli planting questions
How many broccoli plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 9 plants, which takes around 34 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does broccoli need?+
Space plants 18" apart in the row with 30" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant broccoli?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing broccoli worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~1.2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $32 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.