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When to Plant Broccoli in Fulton County, KY

Broccoli is a nutrient-dense cool-season crop that produces large central heads followed by smaller side shoots. It is one of the most popular garden vegetables.

Fulton County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and the first fall frost is October 31, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 3,261 feet, Fulton County receives approximately 42.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Broccoli during the growing season.

Fulton County, KY (Zone 7a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 30
215 growing days
First Fall Frost October 31

Fulton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (115 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 30

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Fulton County

How your county's soil matches Broccoli's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.8) overlaps with Broccoli's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Fulton County is excellent for Broccoli โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). Annual compost additions will help Broccoli.

How to Plant Broccoli

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Broccoli

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 399 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Broccoli needs ~1,425 GDD — county provides 4,085 GDD Excellent fit

Broccoli Planting Timeline โ€” Fulton County, KY

Broccoli Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 23 Feb 23 โ€“ Mar 9
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 โ€“ Apr 13
Direct Sow March 16 Mar 16 โ€“ Apr 6
Fall Sowing August 22 Aug 22 โ€“ Sep 5
Harvest June 1 Jun 1 โ€“ Jul 13

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

215 days in Fulton County

Growing Tips for Broccoli in Fulton County

Direct sow Broccoli outdoors after March 30 in Fulton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Fulton County reach 92ยฐF โ€” grow Broccoli as a spring or fall crop. Use shade cloth if planting in summer.

Common pests for Broccoli in this region include cabbage worm and flea beetles. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Provide consistent moisture to prevent hollow stems. Harvest heads before yellow flowers appear.

Recommended Broccoli Varieties for Fulton County

Heat-tolerant broccoli โ€” plant as early spring or fall crop

Arcadia Marathon Green Magic

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Strawberries

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Broccoli Seeds
Life Cycle Biennial
Pollination Cross-Pollinated (insects)
How to Collect Allow plants to flower 2nd year; collect dry pods.
Storage Store airtight; viable 5 years at 35ยฐF, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 1/2 mile from other brassicas. Biennial โ€” must overwinter roots.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Broccoli in Fulton County, KY?

Fulton County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of March 30. Plan your Broccoli planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fulton County, KY?

Fulton County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is March 30 and first fall frost is October 31.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Fulton County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Fulton County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.