Best Broccoli Varieties for Pennsylvania
The variety you choose for broccoli matters more in Pennsylvania than in most states, because our springs are short and our summers arrive fast. A variety that bolts at 70°F will fail in a mid-June heat wave; one with better heat tolerance will still be producing side shoots when the calendar says summer. Meanwhile, fall broccoli planted in August needs a tight day count to size up before the first hard freeze in October or November.
Below are the best broccoli varieties for PA home gardens, organized by type and backed by what actually performs in our zones 5a through 7a.
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Table of Contents
Heading vs. Sprouting Broccoli
Before picking a variety, understand the two main types you’ll find at seed suppliers:
- Heading broccoli — forms one large central head, then produces smaller side shoots after harvest. This is the standard supermarket broccoli type (Calabrese). It’s what most people picture when they think of broccoli. You get a big one-time harvest from the main head, then several weeks of smaller side shoots. Varieties like Belstar, Arcadia, and Premium Crop fall here.
- Sprouting/side-shoot broccoli — never forms a large central head; instead produces multiple loose clusters over a long season. Often more productive over time than heading types, but doesn’t give you that one big harvest. DiCicco and Waltham 29 are the most common sprouting types for PA home gardens. Calabrese is technically a sprouting type historically, but modern Calabrese selections have been bred for a dominant central head.
For most Pennsylvania home gardeners, heading varieties are the better starting point. They’re easier to time, produce a clear, satisfying harvest, and the modern disease-resistant varieties (Belstar, Arcadia) are hard to mess up.
PA Broccoli Growing Season
Quick Reference
Best Heading Broccoli Varieties for PA
Belstar
The best all-around heading broccoli for Pennsylvania home gardens. Belstar is a vigorous hybrid with excellent heat tolerance and strong disease resistance — specifically to downy mildew, which can devastate PA spring plantings in humid late-May and June conditions. Days to maturity: 65 days from transplant. Tight, blue-green heads with a long side-shoot production period after the main head is cut. Works well for both spring and fall plantings.
Arcadia
Arcadia is particularly popular among PA gardeners who have had trouble with late spring heat. It’s a hybrid specifically bred for heat and cold tolerance, which gives it a longer window on either end of the season. Days to maturity: 63 days. Produces large, dome-shaped heads with a blue-green color and tight beads. Excellent for fall planting because it handles light frost well and actually improves in flavor after a frost.
Premium Crop
A classic heading variety that’s been widely grown in PA for decades. Days to maturity: 62 days. Produces large, high-quality heads with good uniformity. Less disease-resistant than Belstar or Arcadia, but if you’ve had clean springs with good air circulation, Premium Crop delivers outstanding head quality. Best for zones 6a–7a spring plantings. Available from most seed suppliers.
Green Magic
One of the most heat-tolerant heading broccoli varieties available — useful for PA gardeners in zones 6b–7a where spring heats up quickly. Days to maturity: 60 days. Compact plants with tight, medium-sized heads. Good side-shoot production. If you’ve lost spring broccoli to an early June heat wave, Green Magic is worth trying — it’s more forgiving than most heading types.
Marathon
A hybrid specifically developed for fall production and cold tolerance. Days to maturity: 68 days from transplant. Marathon handles frost better than most varieties and continues developing heads at temperatures that would stop other types. It’s the variety I’d choose for fall planting in zones 5b–6a where the growing window before hard frost is tight. Heads are large and tight with excellent flavor after fall frosts.
Sprouting & Side-Shoot Varieties
Waltham 29
An open-pollinated heirloom variety developed at UMass Amherst specifically for Northeast growing conditions — including PA. Days to maturity: 74 days. Waltham 29 doesn’t form the large dominant central head you get from modern hybrids; instead, it produces a cluster of medium heads followed by extended side-shoot production. Hardy and cold-tolerant. A good choice for fall planting where you want continuous production through light frosts. Also excellent for seed saving since it’s open-pollinated.
DiCicco
An Italian heirloom and one of the original sprouting broccoli types. Days to maturity: 48 days — the fastest broccoli on this list. DiCicco doesn’t form a large central head but produces a steady stream of small, loose heads over a long season. Excellent for gardeners who want to pick a little broccoli over many weeks rather than harvesting one big head. Fast enough for zone 5a/5b gardeners with a short spring window.
Calabrese
The original Italian broccoli that all modern heading types descend from. Modern Calabrese selections are available in both the traditional sprouting form and improved heading types. Days to maturity: 58–65 days depending on selection. Strong side-shoot production after main head harvest. Good flavor and a classic choice for PA gardeners who want versatility.
Best Varieties Specifically for Fall Planting
Fall broccoli has different variety requirements than spring. The plant needs to establish and head up in August–September heat, then hold through cooling October temperatures. The best fall varieties are more heat-tolerant during establishment but also cold-hardy enough to continue heading as temps drop.
| Variety | Days to Harvest | Why It Works for Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | 63 | Tolerates both heat during establishment and frost at harvest |
| Marathon | 68 | Best cold tolerance; keeps heading below 40°F |
| Waltham 29 | 74 | Cold-hardy heirloom; extended harvest through frost |
| DiCicco | 48 | Fastest; good choice for short fall windows in zones 5b–6a |
| Belstar | 65 | Disease resistance matters in late-summer humidity |
Full Variety Comparison
| Variety | Type | Days | Best Season | Best Zones | Key Strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belstar | Heading | 65 | Spring & Fall | All | Best all-around; disease resistant |
| Arcadia | Heading | 63 | Spring & Fall | All | Heat & cold tolerant |
| Premium Crop | Heading | 62 | Spring | 6a–7a | Large heads; classic flavor |
| Green Magic | Heading | 60 | Spring | 6b–7a | Best heat tolerance for late spring |
| Marathon | Heading | 68 | Fall | 5b–6b | Best cold tolerance for fall |
| Waltham 29 | Sprouting | 74 | Fall | All | Cold-hardy heirloom; seed-saveable |
| DiCicco | Sprouting | 48 | Spring & Fall | All (esp. 5a) | Fastest; extended side-shoot harvest |
| Calabrese | Sprouting/heading | 58–65 | Spring | 6a–7a | Versatile heirloom |
Zone-by-Zone Picks
| Zone | Best Spring Variety | Best Fall Variety | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5a (Mountains) | DiCicco (48 days) or Arcadia (63) | DiCicco (48 days) | Very short window; only fast varieties reliable in spring; fall window often too short |
| 5b (Scranton/Erie) | Arcadia (63) or Premium Crop (62) | Marathon (68) or DiCicco (48) | Spring planting late (April transplant); fall timing tight — use fastest varieties |
| 6a (Pittsburgh/Harrisburg) | Belstar (65) or Arcadia (63) | Marathon (68) or Arcadia (63) | Best zone for variety flexibility; both spring and fall crops reliable |
| 6b–7a (Philly/Reading) | Green Magic (60) or Belstar (65) | Arcadia (63) or Waltham 29 (74) | Spring heat arrives early; use heat-tolerant varieties; fall crops outstanding in this zone |
Season planning: Check our month-by-month Pennsylvania planting guide to keep your garden producing all year.
>Frequently Asked Questions About Broccoli Varieties in Pennsylvania
What is the best broccoli variety to grow in Pennsylvania? Belstar is the best all-around choice for most PA gardeners. It has excellent disease resistance (important for our humid springs), handles heat better than older varieties, and produces well in both spring and fall. Arcadia is a close second — it’s slightly more cold-tolerant, making it the better choice for fall planting. For zone 5a where the spring window is very short, DiCicco (48 days) is worth considering. Why does my broccoli bolt before forming a head in Pennsylvania? Bolting (the head opens into yellow flowers before you can harvest) is almost always a timing problem. It’s triggered by high temperatures — once daytime highs consistently reach the mid-to-upper 70s, broccoli heads that are close to maturity will rush to open. To prevent it: plant earlier so heads form before heat arrives, choose heat-tolerant varieties (Green Magic, Arcadia), and harvest heads at the first sign of bead loosening rather than waiting for maximum size. Should I grow broccoli from seed or buy transplants in PA? Both work. Starting from seed gives you access to the best varieties (Belstar, Arcadia, DiCicco) since garden centers typically stock only 2–3 common varieties. Seeds need to be started 6–8 weeks before transplant date, which means February or early March for spring crops. Buying transplants is easier but limits your variety options. For fall broccoli, starting from seed is almost essential — garden centers rarely stock broccoli transplants in July. What’s the difference between heading and sprouting broccoli? Heading varieties form one large central head — the kind you see at the grocery store — then produce smaller side shoots after that’s harvested. Sprouting varieties (like DiCicco and Waltham 29) never form a large dominant head; instead, they produce a continuous stream of small, loose heads over a long period. Heading varieties give you a bigger single harvest; sprouting varieties give you smaller but more continuous production. For most PA gardeners, heading varieties are the better starting choice. Is fall broccoli better than spring broccoli in Pennsylvania? In zones 6a–7a, yes — fall broccoli is often better. Heads that develop during cooling fall temperatures have tighter beads, more intense flavor, and longer harvest windows than spring crops that mature in increasingly warm weather. Fall broccoli also has far fewer cabbage worm problems than spring crops. The challenge is timing the start precisely (late June or early July indoors) and managing the August heat during establishment. Can I grow broccoli in zone 5a in Pennsylvania? Yes, but you need to be strategic about it. Zone 5a has a short spring window — last frost can run into mid-May, and by late June or early July, temperatures are warm enough to trigger bolting. For spring broccoli in zone 5a, use the fastest varieties: DiCicco (48 days) or Arcadia (63 days). Start seeds indoors in late February to early March, and transplant as early as late April once hard freeze risk drops. Fall broccoli is generally not reliable in zone 5a — the first hard frost arrives before most varieties can finish heading.What is the best broccoli variety to grow in Pennsylvania?
Why does my broccoli bolt before forming a head in Pennsylvania?
Should I grow broccoli from seed or buy transplants in PA?
What’s the difference between heading and sprouting broccoli?
Is fall broccoli better than spring broccoli in Pennsylvania?
Can I grow broccoli in zone 5a in Pennsylvania?
