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When to Plant Broccoli in Jones County, TX

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.

Jones County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 26 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 230 days.

At an elevation of 2,973 feet, Jones County receives approximately 48.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Broccoli during the growing season.

Jones County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
230 days
Last Spring Frost March 26
230 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Jones County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (123 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Mar 26 🍅 Harvest: May 28 – Jul 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29

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 Jones County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2โ€“7.1) overlaps with Broccoli's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). 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 230-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 02.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 285 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Broccoli needs ~1,538 GDD — county provides 4,715 GDD Excellent fit

Broccoli Planting Timeline โ€” Jones County, TX

Broccoli Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 19 Feb 19 โ€“ Mar 5
Transplant Outdoors March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 9
Direct Sow March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Apr 2
Fall Sowing September 2 Sep 2 โ€“ Sep 16
Harvest May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jul 9

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 Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

230 days in Jones County

Growing Tips for Broccoli in Jones County

Direct sow Broccoli outdoors after March 26 in Jones County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Summer highs in Jones County reach 94ยฐF 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 Jones 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 Jones County, TX?

Jones County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 26. Plan your Broccoli planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jones County, TX?

Jones County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 26 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jones County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Jones County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.