USDA zones are indicators of winter, not summer climate. Try again. City? If you routinely get 100F temps in summer, broccoli isn't smart.

I think July is to soon for your zone to plant broccoli rabe. Take you average first frost date and count back the days it take your broccoli to mature and add a week for lower temps and less sunlight. If you were planting a longer days to maturity, like 75 maybe the end of July would work for you.

Some time in July would be the time you should start the seeds for the transplants so do the math. I'm zone 4b, my broccoli has a maturity of 59 days and my first frost is Oct 1st. (approx.) I'm adding 7 seven days so I'll plant the end of the 3rd week in July. Sometime next week I'll start the seeds.

Maturity days is usually from the transplant date, and my spring planting hit 59 days right on the mark for maturity. If they button out when its to warm there is a good chance of bolting. Mine were ready to pick 13 to 14 days after buttons appeared.

Westchester 45 min north of Nyc

I agree that it would be too hot now for a cole type crop, plus for me (also Z-7ish) planting broccoli now would be chewed up by cabbage loopers if it survived the heat. Corn, Squash, Cukes, or Bush beans are other choices that should be ok if planted now (or before July 4th) for a pre-fall harvest. I just started some late tomato seed for picking in Sept/Oct.

@vgkg Z-7 Va do you sow tomatoes, corn, cukes, squash seeds directly in ground. Or or pre start indoors then direct into ground? Thanks

Warm weather crops can be seeded directly, though you need time to grow before frost for maturity. Summer squash, cukes, and bush beans are fine planted directly now.

Cooler weather crops like broccoli do better in September, October, into November and grow after frosts until you get hard freezes. Rabe is a quicker grower than regular broc; you could try planting seeds in later August (still may be hot) or try starting in pots and transplant.

xxnonamexx....I only start the tomato seeds indoors, I direct seed all the others in the ground. I'll add that if you plan to plant corn you may want to plant it asap before July 1st for better sized ears in Sept.

Bulb fennel can be direct sown in mid to late july for harvest in the fall. It's not a crop you hear many people talk about.

If you want something to plant more immediately, rather than waiting a few weeks, I'd go with swiss chard. It can be direct sown and will be fine in the summer temps and still be harvestable come fall.

Rodney

Even in zone 4b I direct sow Corn, cucumbers, orkra, beans and melons after Jun 1 st and get a crop. I've done carrots after jun1 st but not this year. About the corn, I started on May 7th and planted 4 patches 10 to 12 days apart with the last planting on june 16th. Learned this from VGKG.