I am also in 6b, and I just started seeds of broccoli and brussels sprouts. I start them indoors and grow them in containers on the deck until they have 4-5 leaves, then set the seedlings out under tulle row cover, held aloft with hoops. I uncover them in late August when pest pressure drops off. Kale and cabbage can wait a few weeks, but those seeds get the same start in early July. Direct-seeded leafy greens for fall start going in the first of August. Hope this helps.

I was just thinking I should start my brussels sprouts this week. Plantaus, are you growing one of the long maturing types of broccoli? Or do you start them this early because of the decreasing day light in later summer?

Anyway, here's a link to my question on this last year. One of the responses has a timeline that will help you. Cheers!

Here is a link that might be useful: Starting the fall garden

Me too, I am in 6b and want to have a fall crop of brussels sprouts and also peas.

Sunni, did you adjust the planting schedule for SoMD? I ask because the woman who posted the timeline says she's in zone 7B/8, which is a bit warmer than here, yes?

I tried, but on reflection decided to follow that schedule as is this year. The fall garden was still not quite a success last year because the hurricane really messed up the garden. But what did survive the hurricane was small and grew slowly. I did notice that the self-seeded brassicas (chinese cabbage) sprouted earlier than I was starting the seeds I was growing. This year I decided just to start things more according to that schedule and go with row cover protection from the bugs and excess heat in august. The bugs are more of a problem in the heat than in the cool of spring. I did get lots of good chinese cabbage last fall.

Cold weather crops that bolt is caused by warm SOIL temps, not warm air temps, if you mulch heavily around the base of your plants with grass clippings, hay, shredded newspaper, anything to keep the sunlight from warming the soil and helping insulate it.

You can also use 40% shade cloth to keep the intense summer sun from cooking your cool weather crops and allowing you to enjoy decent cool weather crop production all summer.

Happy Gardening!

Here is a link that might be useful: Broccoli production with mulch

We lose a lot of heat in Sept here in the mountains. Last year I started brussel sprouts June 20 and they could have used another week or two to make a complete crop. Short days slow down broccoli a lot, but the plants make huge heads in late Sept with a June start, with time left for sideshoot production.

I just started my broccoli romanesco today, matter of fact.

Like broccoli they don't need too much nitrogen, so I plan on transplanting to where the corn is currently growing once they're big enough and the corn has been harvested.

No matter when you try to grow them outside, the cabbage worms will be there.

I live in a much cooler temperature zone so I can't weigh in on when to plant but I did want to second using a row cover to keep the bugs out.

We always had a problem with carrot rust fly. The carrots would be infested with maggots and unusable. One year we put on a row cover and left it on all summer. The carrots grew beautifully under it and not one had maggot damage. That's the way we grow carrots now. If the moth, butterfly or fly can't get near the crop to lay eggs there are no maggots or worms or caterpillars