Rhode Island · zones 6b–7a
When to plant broccoli in Rhode Island.
Sow or transplant between Feb 17 to Mar 17 in a typical year, keyed to Rhode Island's median last frost around Apr 10. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 13 to Aug 22. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Broccoli dates for a typical Rhode Island season.
1 · Start indoors
Jan 6 to Feb 3
About 6 weeks before set-out. Warm spot, real light.
2 · Set out
Feb 17 to Mar 17
Keyed to the ~Apr 10 last frost. Sow 0.5" deep, 18" apart.
Fall round
Jul 13 to Aug 22
Counted back from the ~Oct 27 first frost.
Harvest
~60 days later
~1.2 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.
Rhode Island spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 6b to 7a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Rhode Island: watch for
The pests that find broccoli here.
A middle-length season, about 200 frost-free days, means broccoli overlaps cabbage worms & loopers for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
Green caterpillars chewing ragged holes; green droppings.
Organic fix: Handpick, cover with netting, spray Bt.
Gray-green clusters tucked into the leaf folds.
Organic fix: Blast with water, then insecticidal soap.
Tiny holes peppering the young leaves.
Organic fix: Row cover from day one; diatomaceous earth.
Black rot
Yellow V-shaped wedges cutting in from the leaf edge, veins blackening inside.
Organic fix: Pull infected plants, water at the base, keep brassicas out of that bed 3 years.
Seedlings wilt, yellow and stall for no reason; white maggots tunnel the roots.
Organic fix: Row cover before the flies are up, when yellow rocket blooms; rotate the bed.
Your season math: Rhode Island gives broccoli about 200 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 60 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting broccoli in Rhode Island: questions
When should I plant broccoli in Rhode Island?+
In a typical Rhode Island year, sow broccoli or set out transplants between Feb 17 to Mar 17, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 10. There's also a fall window: Jul 13 to Aug 22. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
When do I start broccoli seeds indoors in Rhode Island?+
Start seeds inside about 6 weeks before set-out: roughly Jan 6 to Feb 3 for a typical Rhode Island season.
What USDA zone is Rhode Island?+
Rhode Island spans zones 6b–7a, mostly zone 6. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many broccoli plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.