Cool-Season Vegetables: How to Grow Broccoli

Packed with vitamins, broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse and is easy to grow in a fall or spring garden

Marianne Lipanovich

Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most of my projects are garden-based, you might also find be writing about home projects and classical music. Away from the computer, I'm found in the garden (naturally), on my bike, or ice-skating outdoors (yes, that is possible in California). I'm also willing to taste-test anything that's chocolate.

Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most... More »

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Broccoli is a vegetable staple, and for good reason. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and either way it has tons of nutrition. It has also become a garden staple. Not only is it easy to grow, but there’s a surprising amount of variety in color, with dark green to chartreuse to purple florets or heads.

Besides the standard broccoli heads, you can also grow broccoli rabe, also known as raab or rapini, and sprouting broccoli. Rabe has tiny florets with a perky taste. Sprouting broccoli produces lots of florets along a stalk rather than a single head, and may be more often seen in the gardens. All need the same care.

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When to plant: Start seeds indoors about six weeks before the last frost date in spring; you’ll want to ensure that the crop reaches maturity before hot weather sets in, as it will quickly bolt. Set plants out about two weeks before the last frost date. In climates with mild winters, you can sow seeds late in summer or in early fall to harvest later in the fall or in winter.

Days to maturity: 50 to 100

Light requirement: Full sun; partial shade where hot

Water requirement: Regular watering

Favorites: Apollo, Belstar, Calabrese, Di Cicco, Flash, GreenComet, Green Goliath, Packman, Premium Crop, Purple Sprouting, Romanesco, Sorrento, Spring Raab

Planting and care: Broccoli prefers very rich soil, so amend your bed before planting. Sow seeds fairly close to the surface, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and an inch apart, then thin to 1 1/2 to 2 feet apart, or more if the varieties are very large. Set transplants out at the same spacing. Keep the plants evenly watered and mulch to keep the soil cool. Apply a high-nitrogen complete fertilizer just before heads form. Keep weeds down but be careful when weeding not to damage the roots.

Unfortunately, broccoli attracts a range of pests and diseases, including but not limited to aphids, cabbage worms, harlequin bugs, damping off, downy mildew and fusarium wilt. Watch your plants carefully and take appropriate, but not drastic, measures if problems begin to emerge. Don’t go overboard; take the time to see if the problem can right itself naturally. If it continues, though, move on to stronger measures before you lose your crop.

Harvest: Cut about 6 inches below the head right before it opens and flowers. The side branches will also form heads; harvest them the same way. Harvest the shoots and leaves of raab and sprouting broccoli before they flower as well.