Broccoli is a cool-season crop. Grow broccoli so that it comes to harvest when temperatures average no more than 75°F (23°C) each day.
You can plant a spring and early summer crop in late winter or early spring. Plant a fall or winter crop in mid to late or summer or early fall.
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About Broccoli. Broccoli is a hardy biennial grown as a cool-season annual. It grows 18 to 36 inches (45-91cm) tall and has broad, thick leaves and a thick main stalk. Broccoli forms single or multiple flower “heads ” of tiny blue-green flower buds. The flower heads are eaten before they bloom; buds open to tiny yellow flowers. Broccoli will bolt and go to seed in warm temperatures or when daylight hours lengthen.
Broccoli Yield. Plant 2 to 4 broccoli plants for each household member.
Site. Broccoli grows best in compost-rich, well-drained soil with a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Broccoli grows best where air temperatures range between 45° and 75°F (7.2-24°C). Broccoli is frost hardy and can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F (-6.7°C). In regions where there is heavy rain or sandy soil, aged-compost should be added to the soil to supplement soil nitrogen.
Broccoli Planting Time. Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that must come to harvest before temperatures rise consistently above 75°F (24°C). Start broccoli seed indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the last frost in spring. Transplant broccoli seedlings to the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost in spring after hardening seedlings off for 4 days. In mild-winter regions, start seeds indoors in late summer and set them in the garden in autumn for winter harvest. Whether that is too cold or too warm will cause broccoli to go to seed without forming heads. In cold-winter, short-season regions start broccoli in summer for fall harvest.
Planting and Spacing Broccoli. Plant transplants that are 4 to 6 weeks old with four or five true leaves. Leggy transplants or transplants with crooked stems can be planted up to their first leaves so that they will not grow top-heavy. Plant seedlings 18 to 24 inches (45-61cm) apart in rows 24 to 36 inches (61-91cm) apart. Plant seeds and transplants at the same time for succession crops or plant early and midseason varieties at the same time. Sow seed ½ inch deep and 3 inches (7.6cm) apart. Transplant thinned seedlings to another part of the garden.
Companion plants. Beets, celery, herbs, onions, potatoes. Avoid planting broccoli near pole beans, strawberries, or tomatoes.
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Container Growing Broccoli. Single broccoli will grow in an 8-inch (20cm) container. Grow multiple plants in larger containers set 18 inches (45cm) apart. Broccoli is very sensitive to heat so be sure to move plants into the shade on hot days.
Water and Feeding Broccoli. Keep soil moist during the growing season. Decrease watering when plants approach maturity. Water broccoli at the base of the plant. Side dress plants with well-aged compost at planting time and again at midseason,
Broccoli Care. Keep broccoli planting beds weed-free.
Broccoli Pests. Broccoli can be attacked by cutworms, cabbage loopers (preceded by small yellow and white moths), and imported cabbage worms. Control these pests by handpicking them off of plants or by spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis.
Broccoli Diseases. Broccoli is susceptible to cabbage family diseases including yellows, clubroot, and downy mildew. Plant disease-resistant varieties, rotate crops each year, and keep the garden free of debris to cut back the incidence of disease. Remove and destroy infected plants immediately.
More on broccoli pests and diseases: Broccoli Growing Problems: Troubleshooting.
Broccoli Harvest. Broccoli grown from seed will come to harvest in 100 to 150 days. Grown from transplants broccoli will come to harvest in 55 to 80 days. Cut buds when they are still green and tight. Cut the central head with five to six inches of stem. Leave the base of the plant and some outer leaves to encourage new heads on secondary shoots. Heads that have begun to open showing small yellow flowers are past the eating stage.
More harvest tips: How to Harvest and Store Broccoli.
Storing and Preserving Broccoli. Broccoli will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen after blanching for up to 3 months.
Broccoli Varieties. ‘Arcadia’ (63 days), ‘Bonanza’ (55 days), ‘Citation, DeCicco’ (48 days), ‘Early Dividend’, ‘Emperor’ (80 days), ‘Eureka’ (87 days), ‘Green Comet’ (78 days), ‘Green Goliath’ (75 days), ‘Green Jewel’, ‘Green Valiant’ (70 days), ‘Gypsy’ (58 days), ‘Happy Rich’ (55 days), ‘Italian Sprouting’ (80 days), ‘Land Mark,’ ‘Legend’ (86 days), ‘Love Me Tender’, ‘Marathon’, ‘Minaret’, ‘Packman’ (80 days), ‘Paragon’ (75 days), ‘Pinnacle Premium Crop’ (58 days), ‘Late Purple Sprouting’ (220 days), ‘Raab Spring, Rapine’ (70 days), ‘Romanesco’ (70 days), ‘Saga’ (57 days),’ Salad’, ‘ShoGun’ (93 days), ‘Small Miracle’, ‘Sprinter, Super Blend’, ‘Super Dome’, ‘Thompson’, ‘Violet Queen’ (70 days), ‘Waltham'(95 days).
Common name. Broccoli, Italian broccoli, Calabrese, brocks.
Botanical name. Brassica oleracea italica
Origin. Mediterranean
Learn to grow 80 tasty vegetables: THE KITCHEN GARDEN GROWERS’ GUIDE
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