When to Plant Broccoli in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (33306)

Location

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

ZIP Code

33306

USDA Zone

11a

Last Frost

Thursday, January 1, 2026

📅 Your 2026 Planting Dates

Start Seeds Indoors

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Transplant Outdoors

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Based on last frost Thursday, January 1, 2026 · Zone 11a

Pro tip: Start Broccoli seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026.

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🌿 Plant Details

Scientific Name Brassica oleracea var. italica

Days to Maturity 60 days

Mature Height 18-30"

Spread 18"

Type Head

Fruit Size Medium (4-7 inch head)

☀️ Growing Requirements

☀️

Sun

Full Sun (6 hours)

💧

Water

Regular (1-1.5 inches/week)

↔️

Spacing

18" apart

🌱

Planting Depth

0.5" deep

Seeds typically germinate in 4-7 days

Ready to Plant Broccoli in Fort Lauderdale?

Get your seeds now so they're ready by Thursday, November 20, 2025.

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🤝 Good Companions

BeetCeleryOnionPotatoDill

⚠️ Avoid Planting Near

TomatoStrawberryPepper

🤝

Full Companion Planting Guide for Broccoli

See which plants help Broccoli thrive, which to keep away, and raised bed layout tips →

🛠️ Supplies You'll Need

🌱 Seed Starting Trays 🪴 Seed Starting Mix 💡 Grow Lights 🌡️ Heat Mat 🪵 Raised Garden Bed 🌍 Vegetable Garden Soil 🛠️ Hand Trowel Set 🚿 Watering Can

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Common Broccoli Varieties

Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.

Calabrese

heading 65d

Italian heirloom producing a large central head followed by abundant side shoots.

Belstar

hybrid 65d

Compact hybrid with blue-green domed heads; excellent heat tolerance.

Romanesco

specialty 80d

Stunning lime-green fractal spirals with a mild, nutty flavor; technically a cross between broccoli and cauliflower.

Purple Sprouting

sprouting 180d

Overwintering variety that produces masses of small purple florets in early spring.

Common Broccoli Problems

What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.

🐛

Pests

Imported Cabbageworm

Velvety green caterpillar that chews large holes in leaves and heads; white butterflies lay eggs on plants.

Fix:

Apply Bt at first sign; use row covers from transplanting; check undersides of leaves for eggs.

Cabbage Looper

Light green looping caterpillar similar in damage to cabbageworm; holes in heads reduce market quality.

Fix:

Bt spray; row covers; spinosad for heavy infestations.

Cabbage Aphid

Dense gray waxy colonies deep in broccoli heads are very difficult to remove after harvest.

Fix:

Check undersides of leaves weekly; strong water jet; neem oil early in the season.

Flea Beetle

Hundreds of tiny holes in seedling leaves; rarely fatal but stresses transplants.

Fix:

Row covers on transplants; kaolin clay spray; healthy transplants usually outgrow the damage.

🍂

Diseases

Black Rot

V-shaped yellow lesions at leaf margins with black veins; seed-borne bacterial disease.

Fix:

Use certified seed; avoid overhead irrigation; destroy infected plants; rotate annually.

Clubroot

Soil-borne slime mold causes massive root deformation (clubs) and stunted, wilting plants.

Fix:

Raise soil pH to 7.0–7.2 with lime; do not plant brassicas in affected beds for 7+ years.

Downy Mildew

Yellow angular patches on upper leaves with purple-gray spores beneath; thrives in cool, wet conditions.

Fix:

Improve airflow; plant resistant varieties; apply copper fungicide preventively.

💡

Common Mistakes

Transplanting too late

Broccoli needs 6–8 weeks of cool weather to form heads; heat causes buttoning (tiny premature heads).

Fix:

Transplant 4–6 weeks before last spring frost; aim for heads to mature before summer heat.

Missing the harvest window

Broccoli heads open into yellow flowers within days of reaching peak size.

Fix:

Harvest when head is fully formed, tight, and deep green; before any yellow color develops in the buds.

Not harvesting side shoots

After cutting the main head, most varieties produce side shoots for weeks — but only if the main head is removed.

Fix:

Cut main head promptly, leaving the plant in the ground; side shoots will appear within 1–2 weeks.

🌾 Seed Saving Guide

🔴 Difficult

✅ Open-pollinated — seeds grow true to parent

When to Harvest Seed

Allow side shoots to flower fully after main head harvest. Harvest seed pods when tan and dry.

Processing

Thresh dried pods in a bag, winnow seeds from pod fragments.

Seed Viability

Up to 5 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.

Pro Tip

B. oleracea — crosses with all oleracea crops (kale, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi). Isolate by 1000 feet.

🪴

Raised Bed Planting Guides

A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Broccoli. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Broccoli in Fort Lauderdale, Florida? +

In Fort Lauderdale (Zone 11a), start Broccoli seeds indoors around Thursday, November 20, 2025 and transplant outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026.

What is the last frost date for Fort Lauderdale, Florida? +

The average last spring frost date for Fort Lauderdale, Florida (ZIP 33306) is around Thursday, January 1, 2026. This is based on NOAA climate normals for USDA Zone 11a.

How long does Broccoli take to grow? +

Broccoli typically matures in about 60 days from transplanting. In Fort Lauderdale, that means you can expect harvest around Thursday, January 1, 2026 plus 60 days.

Should I start Broccoli indoors or direct sow in Florida? +

Broccoli should be started indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Fort Lauderdale, that means starting around Thursday, November 20, 2025.

📚 More Broccoli Planting Guides

🗺️

Broccoli in Florida

Zone-by-zone breakdown · Full state guide

→ 🌡️

Zone 11a Broccoli Guide

All cities in your zone · Avg dates

→

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Growing Broccoli in Zone 11a

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is a popular garden vegetable. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, which is in USDA Hardiness Zone 11a, you should start seeds indoors around Thursday, November 20, 2025.

Your average last frost date is Thursday, January 1, 2026. Plan to transplant your Broccoli seedlings outdoors around Thursday, January 1, 2026, about 0 weeks after your last frost date.