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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Broccoli
Planting
Broccoli should be planted in a site that gets full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day). Lack of sunlight may produce thin, leggy plants and subpar heads.
Plant in a bed of moist, fertile soil that drains well. To increase fertility before you plant, in early spring, work in 2 to 4 inches of rich compost (humus) or a thin layer of manure. The soil pH should ideally be slightly acidic, between 6.0 and 7.0.
When to Plant Broccoli
- Broccoli is a cool-season crop, so it should be started in early- to mid-spring (depending on your climate) for an early summer crop or in mid- to late summer for a fall crop. High temperatures will affect the development of the broccoli head (the harvestable part), so the goal is to get broccoli to mature before or after high temperatures are expected.
- Broccoli seeds are capable of germinating in soil temperatures as low as 40°F (4°C), but warmer soil is preferred and will greatly speed up development.
- For spring plantings, broccoli may be started indoors or outdoors a few weeks ahead of your last spring frost date. Consult our Planting Calendar to see recommended dates for your area. Generally speaking:
- Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date.
- Sow seeds outdoors 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date, or as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring.
- For fall plantings (best in warm climates), sow seeds outdoors 85 to 100 days before the first fall frost, when soil and ambient temperatures are high.
How to Plant Broccoli
- If starting seeds outdoors, sow seeds 1/2-inch deep and 3 inches apart.
- Once seedlings reach a height of& 2 to 3 inches, thin them so that plants are 12 to 20 inches apart.
- If you started seeds indoors, plant transplants that are 4 to 6 weeks old (and have 4 or 5 leaves) outdoors, 12 to 20 inches apart, in holes slightly deeper than their container depth.
- Space rows of broccoli 3 feet apart. (Closer spacing yields smaller main heads but more secondary heads.)
- Water well at the time of planting.
Video Demo of Sowing Broccoli
For those who wish to start sowing in pots, watch Ben in this video show you how it’s done! See the whole process from sowing to transplanting to broccoli care and harvesting.
Growing
- Plants thrive in temperatures between 65° and 70°F (18° and 21°C).
- Fertilize broccoli three weeks after transplanting seedlings into the garden. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as a 5-10-10 formula.
- Thin when young plants reach 2 to 3 inches tall. Plants should be between 12 and 20 inches apart.
- Provide consistent soil moisture with regular watering, especially in drought conditions. Water at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches per week.
- Do not get developing broccoli heads wet when watering, as it can encourage rot.
- Roots are very shallow, so try not to disturb the plants—suffocate weeds with mulch instead of weeding.
- Mulching around plants will also help to keep soil temperatures down.
- Use row covers to minimize pests.
- To promote the growth of a second head after the first has been harvested, maintain an active feeding and watering schedule.
Harvesting
- Harvest broccoli in the morning, when the buds of the head are firm and tight, just before the heads flower.
- If you do see yellow petals, harvest immediately, as the quality will decrease rapidly.
- Cut heads from the plant, taking at least 6 inches of stem. Make a slanted cut on the stalk to allow water to slide away. (Water can pool and rot the center of a flat-cut stalk, ruining the secondary heads.)
- Most varieties have side-shoots that will continue to develop after the main head is harvested. You can harvest from one plant for many weeks, in some cases, from spring to fall, if your summer isn’t too hot.
- Learn more tips on harvesting broccoli.
How to Store Broccoli
- Store broccoli in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- If you wash before storing, make sure to dry it thoroughly.
- Broccoli can be blanched and frozen for up to one year. Learn how to freeze broccoli.
Cooking Notes
One ounce of broccoli has an equal amount of calcium as one ounce of milk. Learn more about the amazing health benefits of broccoli.
Catherine Boeckmann
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my first time growing broccoli. growing tall and produces 1 shoot with one little head. 3 or 4 other take off on the stem and only 1 single head . growing in gardening soil for vegs. and compost. one feeding. it has grown very tall and has large leaves. what am I doing wrong ?? By head I mean 1 little section of broccoli. Not a full head.
Ahhh…this was the best year I have ever had for my broccoli plants! I have a greenhouse which was heated all winter but just heated to keep temps above freezing. They grew magnificently! Am now on third planting (it’s April). Aphids are making a comeback since it’s warmer. Cut away leaves that get any aphids on them and dispose outside of greenhouse.
Love this fast growing plant and was my most successful with large, green heads!
Love all the informative planting information you provide for all our gardening needs. Just planted broccoli in our raised garden along with cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. We have onions in between with a few marigolds on the outside. The high in NW Ark is 40-66 degrees w/ nights anywhere from 34-40 degrees w/rain. When warmer temperatures arrive, we may have aphids to deal with. Just getting prepared. What type of Soap do you advise to use? Dr Bonners (Castile) without any additives? What ratio? Spray infected leaves & ground? Thanks for the expertise guidance.
What of the prodigious amount of foliage? Can the leaves be used as greens? I suspect they are rather strong/bitter but they say bitter is good for digestion. Ideas?
The leaves of broccoli and its relatives (kohlrabi, cauliflower) are absolutely edible! In the kitchen, we would recommend treating them like kale or collard greens, as they can be a little tough when eaten raw.
I did spray soapy water on the broccoli leaves as aphids had arrived...the leaves became spotted and dried up a few days after...why is that? I wound up cutting off leaves/stems ...
Those darn squirrels are so cute, but they are nibbling away at my young broccoli leaves! Every day a notice just a couple more leaves gone. It could also be rats, as I do see them around this urban neighborhood which boarders on wilderness. I have never seen a bunny, so I don't think it's bunnies. Deer would just take out the whole plant in one go! That stinky dear spray may be helping a little. any other ideas?
How the heck do you keep the rabbits from destroying your broccoli??
The bunnies are tough characters, for sure. Here are our best ideas https://www.almanac.com/pest/rabbits
Note the fencing ideas in particular.
We hope this helps!
I have planted Broccoli on your recommendation in my backyard garden it is doing well. This is the first time I have planted some vegetable. Thank You!
