When to plant broccoli in Madison
Broccoli is cold-hardy, so every date keys off Madison's frost dates of May 5.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 24 – Apr 14
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 21 – May 12
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jun 20 – Jul 15
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Step 4 · Second sowing
Autumn / second sowing
Jun 22 – Jul 6
A second window for a fall crop, timed to mature before the first frost.
Step 5 · Second harvest
Autumn crop harvest
Aug 28 – Sep 22
Maturity window for the second sowing.
Window
Days to maturity
60 – 85 d
Madison's 151-day season leaves this much room.
Broccoli on Madison's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
FROST
FROST
MAY 5
OCT 6
Common questions
When will broccoli be ready to harvest in Madison?
Expect to harvest from around mid June (Jun 20–Jul 15) in Madison, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 80%.
When should I start broccoli seeds indoors in Madison?
Start seeds indoors around late March (Mar 24–Apr 14) in Madison, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 85%.
When can I transplant broccoli outdoors in Madison?
Transplant outdoors around late April (Apr 21–May 12) in Madison, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 89%.
Can I plant broccoli in autumn in Madison?
Yes — Madison supports a second, autumn sowing of broccoli around late June (Jun 22–Jul 6), timed to mature before the first fall frost.
How long is the growing season in Madison?
Madison has roughly 151 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow broccoli to maturity outdoors.
The rule of thumb
Sow broccoli as soon as the soil is workable — it tolerates cool weather and light frost. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Madison's frost dates.
Confidence 89/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.