Bield:Farm
State × crop calendar

Brassicas planting in Vermont.

Primary cropZone 5a130-day seasonLast frost May 15Cover CropFrost Hardy

Brassicas planting in Vermont is shaped by the state's 5a dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around May 15, and a 130-day growing season. Brassicas is widely grown in Vermont — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.

Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against UVM Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.

Planting calendar — 2026

Brassicas · Vermont · planting calendar
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeclast frostfirst frostFALL PLANTING
Ideal windowEarliest / latest tailsFrost zone

Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.

Planting windows

Fall planting

Brassicas
Earliest
June 27
Ideal start
July 12
Ideal end
July 27
Latest
August 11
Soil-temp triggerLate summer planting for fall food plot — 60-90 days before first hard frost provides peak forage value before deer season.

Harvest window

Typical start
September 10
Typical end
October 10

Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.

Growing notes

Brassicas grows well in Vermont's typical climate. Vermont's 130-day growing season and 5a hardiness zone support reliable production with appropriate variety selection.

Brassicas is widely grown in Vermont — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.

Agronomy reference

Soil-temp minimum
45°F
Soil-temp optimum
55–80°F
Days to maturity
60–90
Water (in/wk)
0.5–1"
Soil pH
6–7.5
Nitrogen demand
moderate

Late summer / early fall planting timing is critical for food plots — plants need 60-90 days of growth before first hard frost to reach peak forage value.

Common pests to watch

  • Diamondback moth
  • Cabbage worms
  • Flea beetles

Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with UVM Extension.

Common diseases

  • Black rot
  • Clubroot
  • Alternaria leaf spot

Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.

Variety selection

Variety selection

Brassicas varieties for Vermont live with your extension service.

Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year’s trial cycle. We don’t republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.

Search the extension site for “brassicasvariety trial” or “recommended brassicas varieties” to find the current report.

Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.

Beyond the harvest

Hunting use · food plot

Brassicas as a hunting food plot.

Brassicas are the late-season deer food plot species. Tubers and tops sweeten after frost and become primary attraction during the rut and post-rut. Time planting 60-90 days before first hard frost.

Attractswhitetail deer

Brassicas timing. Live alerts.

Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.