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When to Plant Broccoli in Grant 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.

Grant County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 194 days.

At an elevation of 2,483 feet, Grant County receives approximately 46.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Broccoli during the growing season.

Grant County, KY (Zone 6a) Moderate season
194 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
194 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (84 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 16

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Broccoli needs ~1,088 GDD — county provides 2,813 GDD Excellent fit

Broccoli Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, KY

Broccoli Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“90 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

194 days

Growing Tips for Grant County

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

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 Grant County, KY?

Grant County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Broccoli planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, KY?

Grant County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Grant County, KY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.