Conditional — Some Areas
broccoli (zones 2-11) has limited zone overlap with Pennsylvania (5a-7a). Only zones 5-7 in the state are suitable.
Zone Comparison
Broccoli Needs
- USDA Zones: 2-11
- Soil pH: 5.5 - 8.5
- Sun: Part Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 60+
Pennsylvania Has
- USDA Zones: 5a-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 10 - May 15
- First Frost: Sep 25 - Oct 25
- Annual Rainfall: 36-48 inches
- Common Soils: Silt loam, Shale-derived, Limestone-derived
Plant Zone Range (zones 2-11)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Broccoli wants 60+ frost-free days; a typical Pennsylvania site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Broccoli needs ~1500 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3200 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Pennsylvania's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Broccoli likes near-neutral soil (pH 5.5-8.5). That's the common-ground band across Pennsylvania's silt loam and shale-derived — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Pennsylvania site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Pennsylvania soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Broccoli in Pennsylvania — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 2-11 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5a-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 10 - May 15 to Sep 25 - Oct 25 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 70 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Pennsylvania growers also need to think about:
Rocky shale soils in the ridge-and-valley region
Short mountain seasons in the Poconos and Alleghenies
Deer pressure is among the highest in the US
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Broccoli draws pollinators (moderate value, USDA PLANTS Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops.
Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension
For Pennsylvania-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for broccoli, the canonical source is Penn State Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Check your specific parcel in Pennsylvania
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores broccoli against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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