Yes, and up until mid July in Central Virginia.

I am in the Carolina Piedmont and I put my broccoli out around Sept. 15. That means I usually start mine around the middle of July.

do you put them out right in the garden or are you talking about starting them indoors and planting them out in sept?

Start them in a plant bed for transplant. I am from Fluvanna originally so my transplant target was Labor day at the latest. I use a cold frame with out cover as a cold frame for summer starts.

I hope to start brocoli for a fall crop myself so am very interested in the answers.

I start the first batch of broccoli and all the cauliflower on June 16th. I start them in plastic pots on the picnic table in full sun.....in very hot weather they like to be put in the shade in the afternoon. I start the late batch of broccoli on about July 4th. I set mine in the ground after about 26 days or so if they are ready.

It is very important to water very well after the plants are set out. The cauliflower gets some noon day shade.

Oh, thank you!

I was planning to start indoors--but based on your suggestions I will try it outdoors this year.

Farmerdill, why would I use a cold frame (without cover)? Would it protect them from heat somehow?

Appreciate the advice.

I am an antique grew up without electricity let alone air conditioning. I use the cold frame because they have an ideal soil mix for starting seed. I do place them in humid location in partial shade Like next to spring or small stream. They germinate fine as long as they don't get direct sun to heat the soil to high temperatures. The way we use to do it Virginia and it works here in Georgia altho I start almost a month later than I did in Virginia and have to pay more attention to shade.

I've been wondering about this myself, and I was thinking that I could just start them outside....but eek! I have to start them sooner than I was thinking!

Agree on all counts. Not only the OP veggies, but also kale and lettuce (spinach too) will not germinate under the sun in summer. Indoors is always easiest, specially if you have a basement (mine never exceeds 72F). Turnips and arugula will germinate in summer when direct seeded, though.

I have a date of mid August to sow my broccoli & cauliflower outside here in Charlotte, NC. If I put them in light shade, is this feasible with our broiling summer heat? I was going to direct sow them but, are you recommending that I start them in soil-less mixture in pots instead? And snap peas, I have a date of early September to direct sow them, or should I wait until mid January-ish? Sorry for all the questions, I'm new to this area and to veggies. Many thanks!

In Charlotte that may be a bit late. Here in Augusta, I try to have them started by the first of August for transplant around the middle of September. Start to heading up around Thanksgiving altho sometimes that extends into January. I like to use a soil mixture for starting and keep them in partial (dappled) shade until time to transplant.
I have had no luck with Pisum type peas in fall plantings. I plant English peas Willet Wonder or Alaska around Thanksgiving for spring harvest. Make a second planting of wrinkle seeded types in February.

Royceag,

I am also in Charlotte. I usually start plants to transplant in the middle of July and plant in the garden mid-Sept. Between bugs and heat I have a devil of a time getting transplants going outside. I usually start mine inside for a few weeks and then move them out to the shade.

I have only tried peas twice. I tried them once in the fall with some luck. I also tried them this spring but things heated up so quickly and I was itching to get tomatoes in so I pulled them early.

Thanks Farmerdill! Could I even start the brassicas in mid July or is that too early? So, I'll start them in 3" pots in regular, good garden soil for about 6 weeks. I think I'll skip the fall planting of peas and try them in late January- early February- direct sown. You are simply a fountain of knowledge- so wonderful!!!

Hi Coralb,

Thanks for the insight! I'll give the brassicas a try as you said to. The bugs around here are NUTS! But, fungal disease is edging up there as the main nuisance- EEK! So different from So. Cal!!!

I have some purple sprouting brocoli and the package said 120 days to maturuty. I just started those seeds today. I also have brocoli raab but those say 60-80 days so not started yet. I hope I have timed this right!