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Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica

A cool-season cabbage relative grown for its green flower heads. After the main head is cut, most varieties keep sending up smaller side shoots for weeks. In Florida, plant in fall so it heads up in cool weather.

Growing facts

Scientific name
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Origin
Italy (Mediterranean)
Plant size
18–30 in upright plants
Growth rate
Medium
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Rich, moist soil with compost; steady water
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
Pollination
Not needed; the heads are unopened flower buds
Cold hardiness
Takes light frost (to about 28°F); heads are damaged by hard freezes. Heat makes heads loose and bitter.
USDA zones
Cool-season annual in all zones
Harvest
55–80 days from transplant
When to plant (zones 9–11)
Sep–Jan
When to plant (zones 5–8)
Mar, Apr, Jul, Aug
Water
About every 3 days once established, without rain; more in heat, in pots and while young
Feeding
About every 21 days
Taste
Mild, green and slightly sweet; bitter when stressed by heat
Nutrition
High in vitamins C and K, with fiber and folate

Is broccoli safe to eat? Edible and toxic parts

What you can eat

  • Heads and side shoots
  • Peeled stems
  • Leaves, cooked like collards

Toxic parts and cautions

  • Good to know: Fairly high in vitamin K; people on warfarin should keep their intake steady.
  • Good to know: Cabbage worms hide in heads; soak in salt water for 15 minutes before cooking.

Pets: Small amounts of plain broccoli are fine for dogs; large amounts can upset the stomach.

How to eat and enjoy broccoli

  • Steamed, roasted or stir-fried
  • Broccoli soup
  • Raw with dip
  • Pasta with broccoli and garlic

When it's ripe

Cut the main head while the buds are tight and dark green, before any yellow shows. Leave the plant for side shoots.

Storing it

Refrigerate unwashed in a loose bag for 3–5 days. Blanch and freeze for longer.

Broccoli varieties (6)

  • Belstar

    A hybrid with blue-green heads and good side shoots.

    Handles both spring and fall plantings.

  • Calabrese

    An Italian heirloom with a medium head and plenty of side shoots.

    Open-pollinated.

  • De Cicco · also Di Cicco

    An Italian heirloom with small heads and many side shoots over a long season.

    Open-pollinated.

  • Green Magic

    A hybrid with smooth, domed heads that tolerates warm spells.

    A good pick for Florida and the South.

  • Packman

    An early hybrid with large, uniform heads.

    Good side-shoot production.

  • Waltham 29

    An open-pollinated broccoli bred for cool fall weather.

    Cold-tolerant; best in fall.

Pests and diseases to watch for

  • Scale insects

    Small bumps, waxy or shell-like, on stems and leaf veins; sticky honeydew and black sooty mold below.

    What to do: Scrub small colonies off with a soft brush.

  • Mealybugs

    White cottony clusters in leaf joints, under leaves and on fruit stems; honeydew and sooty mold.

    What to do: Blast off with a strong spray of water.

  • Aphids

    Clusters of tiny soft insects on new shoots; leaves curl and get sticky.

    What to do: Spray off with water.

  • Sooty mold

    Black, papery film on leaves and fruit that wipes off; it grows on honeydew.

    What to do: Control the insects making honeydew; the mold then weathers away.

  • Spider mites

    Fine pale speckling on leaves, dusty undersides and fine webbing; leaves bronze and drop.

    What to do: Hose the undersides of leaves.

Growing broccolis? Let Gardyn keep track.

Gardyn tells you when your broccoli needs water based on your local weather, reminds you to feed and prune in season, and keeps every harvest and photo.

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General guidance, not medical or veterinary advice. Poison Control (US): 1-800-222-1222. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.