Fruit and Vegetable Gardening A-Z: Broccoli
A Guide to Gardening, Growing, and Harvesting Edibles
By: Jenny Sigler, SparkPeople Contributor : 4 comments
Broccoli is a cool-weather vegetable, prone to expansive flowering when exposed to too much heat. Dense, dark-green heads are full of flavor, which, straight from the garden, is unbeatable!
Hardiness Zones:
5-11 (Find your hardiness zone.)
When to Plant:
Starter plants are available at nurseries and home improvement stores. Plant starters (seedlings) outside when all danger of frost has passed in mid-spring.
Conditions:
Broccoli prefers well-drained soil that is full of organic material and manure. Plant it in an open, sunny spot.
Space Needed:
Broccoli plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and need just as much space between each plant.
Maintenance:
Broccoli benefits from continuous feedings, so enrich the soil well with compost and liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. Regular watering is essential. Notice that when a stalk shows yellow, it is about to flower and render itself inedible. Never let the main head flower, because it's your only shot at a large head of broccoli. If it flowers, additional side shoots will not emerge.
When to Harvest:
A main head will appear in the center of the plant. Once lopped off (by you, hopefully), smaller side shoots develop and continue to produce throughout the season.
Average Yield:
Expect 2-3 pounds of broccoli per plant over the growing season.
Continuous Yield:
Yes
Life Cycle:
Annual
Difficulty Rating (1-5):
1
Hardiness Zones:
5-11 (Find your hardiness zone.)
When to Plant:
Starter plants are available at nurseries and home improvement stores. Plant starters (seedlings) outside when all danger of frost has passed in mid-spring.
Conditions:
Broccoli prefers well-drained soil that is full of organic material and manure. Plant it in an open, sunny spot.
Space Needed:
Broccoli plants can grow up to 3 feet tall and need just as much space between each plant.
Maintenance:
Broccoli benefits from continuous feedings, so enrich the soil well with compost and liquid fertilizer throughout the growing season. Regular watering is essential. Notice that when a stalk shows yellow, it is about to flower and render itself inedible. Never let the main head flower, because it's your only shot at a large head of broccoli. If it flowers, additional side shoots will not emerge.
When to Harvest:
A main head will appear in the center of the plant. Once lopped off (by you, hopefully), smaller side shoots develop and continue to produce throughout the season.
Average Yield:
Expect 2-3 pounds of broccoli per plant over the growing season.
Continuous Yield:
Yes
Life Cycle:
Annual
Difficulty Rating (1-5):
1
