Broccoli

Botanical Name

Brassica oleracea

Hardiness

Annual

Height

2 to 3 feet

Width

2 to 3 feet

Flowers

Early to mid summer: yellow

Light

Full sun

Soil

Moist, well-drained

Planting & Care

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. Transplant when plants are 4-6 weeks old and have 4-5 sets of true leaves
Broccoli can be directly sown outdoors as soon as ground can be worked
Seeds germinate in temperatures of 45 F to 85 F
Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart in rows, spacing rows 36 inches apart
Mulch soil to conserve moisture
Use floating row covers to protect young plants from pests

Problems

Aphids, cabbage worms, flea beetle, slugs, cutworms, cabbage root maggo, clubroot

Varieties

Green Comet - heat tolerant, All-America Selections winner
Green Goliath - tolerant of heat and cold, spring or summer planting
Artwork - stem broccoli, after harvesting the first crown, tender side shoots continue to arise long into the season, resistant to warm temperature bolting, AAS winner