Growing broccoli in your home garden is a wonderful way to enjoy this fresh, cool-weather vegetable.
But to have the best possible success, first you must learn about the ins and outs of broccoli plant care.
This comprehensive guide on how to grow broccoli is perfect for gardeners of any skill level. You’ll learn about timing, location, sun, water, soil, pest control, and so much more.
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Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a cole crop and a member of the Brassicaceae, or mustard, family of vegetables. It’s related to other favorites like cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, and cauliflower.
It’s technically a biennial, but most people grow it as an annual. It can keep producing almost year-round, depending on your climate. Eventually it will bloom, set seed, and then die.
The heads, or crowns, are made up of tightly packed clusters of unopened flower buds. They’re typically dark green, but can have hues of blue. There are even heirloom varieties that produce a purple crown.
All parts of the plant are edible, and the main head can range in size from 3-6” depending on the environment, variety, and quality of care.
Different broccoli varieties feature varying heat tolerance levels, cold resistance, growth rates, color, and size. All of them require the same care. Here are a few of the most popular options:
Broccoli grows from the main central stem. Only one large crown will form at the top of each plant.
But most plants will also produce several smaller heads, or side shoots, after you harvest the central one. So you can continue enjoying it all season long.
Before we get into the specific care instructions, let’s chat about when and where to grow broccoli. Timing and location are keys to success.
You can grow your
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