Broccoli
Broccoli is a green vegetable in the cabbage family, grown for its tasty flower heads and stalks. The “trees” we eat are actually clusters of tiny flower buds picked before they open, and they are packed with vitamins.
Broccoli Quick Facts
| Common name | Broccoli |
| Scientific name | Brassica oleracea |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Order | Brassicales |
| Family | Brassicaceae |
| Genus | Brassica |
| Conservation status | Data Deficient |
| Type | Cool-season vegetable in the cabbage family |
| Habitat | Sunny, fertile, moist, slightly acidic soil |
| Native range | Italy |
| Colours | Green flower heads |
| Edible parts | Flower heads and thick stalks |
| Special feature | Side shoots grow after the main head is cut |
Where the Name Comes From
The word broccoli comes from Italian. Broccolo means the flowering top of a cabbage, and broccoli is its plural. It comes from brocco, which means a small shoot or sprout.
Anatomy
Broccoli belongs to the species Brassica oleracea, the same species as cabbage, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts. Over many centuries, farmers bred wild cabbage in different ways to create all of these vegetables. Broccoli was bred for its flower buds.
A broccoli plant grows a thick, juicy main stalk topped by a large head of green buds, surrounded by big blue-green leaves. If you don’t pick it in time, the buds open into small yellow flowers.
History
Broccoli was developed in Italy and has been eaten there since Roman times. It reached England in the early 1700s, where it was sometimes called “Italian asparagus.” Italian immigrants brought it to the United States, but it did not become widely popular there until the 1920s.
Growing Broccoli at Home
Broccoli is a cool-season crop. It grows best when daytime temperatures are around 60 to 70 degrees F (16 to 21 C). Hot weather makes it flower too early, so it is usually grown in spring or fall.
Soil for Planting
Choose a sunny spot with at least six hours of sun a day. Broccoli likes fertile, moist, well-drained soil that is slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH of about 6.0 to 7.0. Before planting, mix 2 to 4 inches of compost or well-rotted manure into the soil.
Planting
For a spring crop, start seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Seeds usually sprout in 4 to 10 days. Once they do, keep the seedlings in a bright spot at about 60 to 65 F, and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
Harden off the seedlings by putting them outside for a few hours a day for about a week. Then plant them in the garden about 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost, when they are 4 to 6 inches tall with a few true leaves. Young broccoli can handle a light frost.
Space plants about 18 inches apart, in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Set them slightly deeper than they grew in their pots.
For a fall crop, sow seeds in mid to late summer, about 85 to 100 days before your first fall frost. Fall broccoli often tastes extra sweet because it matures in cool weather.
Watering
Broccoli needs steady moisture, about 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week. Water at the base of the plants and try not to soak the heads, which can make them rot. Dry spells can stunt plants or cause them to flower too soon.
Care
About three weeks after transplanting, feed plants with a balanced fertilizer or compost. Spread mulch around them to keep the soil cool and moist and to block weeds. Pull weeds by hand rather than digging deeply, because broccoli has shallow roots.
Pests and Diseases
- Aphids: These tiny sap-suckers make leaves curl. Spray them off with water or use insecticidal soap.
- Cabbage loopers and cabbageworms: Small holes in the leaves mean caterpillars. Check under the leaves and pick them off by hand, or use a natural product called Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis).
- Downy mildew: Yellow patches on leaves with fuzzy gray growth underneath. Give plants space for air to move and water the soil, not the leaves.
A lightweight floating row cover placed over plants right after planting is one of the best ways to keep egg-laying moths and butterflies away.
Harvest and Storage
Harvest broccoli when the head is firm and the buds are tight and dark green, before any yellow flowers appear. Cut the main stalk at an angle about 5 to 6 inches below the head. Picking in the cool morning gives the best flavor.
Don’t pull up the plant afterward. Most varieties grow smaller side shoots after the main head is cut, and you can keep picking these for weeks.
Store unwashed broccoli in the refrigerator for up to about five days. To freeze it, cut it into florets, blanch them in boiling water for a few minutes, cool them in ice water, dry them and pack them in freezer bags. Frozen broccoli keeps for up to a year.
Why Broccoli Is Good for You
Broccoli is low in calories and high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. It can be eaten raw with dip, steamed, roasted or stir-fried. Light cooking keeps it bright green and crunchy.
Varieties
- ‘Green Goliath’: Handles heat and produces lots of side shoots.
- ‘Green Duke’: Heat tolerant, a good choice for southern gardens.
- ‘Calabrese’: An Italian heirloom that makes plenty of side shoots and is great for fall planting.
- ‘Flash’: A fast-growing hybrid that tolerates heat and keeps producing side shoots.
- ‘Paragon’: A popular choice in Canada.
Broccoli FAQs
Where does broccoli come from?
Broccoli has long been a valuable crop in Italy, and its name comes from the Italian word ‘broccolo’. It reached England in the 1700s and became popular in the United States in the 1920s.
What part of broccoli do you eat?
You eat the big green flower head and the thick stalk. It can be steamed or eaten raw and is rich in vitamins.
When should you pick broccoli?
Pick when the heads and buds are hard and tight, before the flowers open. If you see yellow petals, pick it right away.
Does broccoli grow back after you cut it?
Often yes. Most types grow side shoots after you cut the main head, so you can pick from one plant for several weeks.
How long does broccoli keep?
Fresh broccoli keeps about 5 days in the fridge if it is fully dry. Frozen broccoli keeps for up to a year.
Randi Jones is the owner and founder of the Nature Gift Store, an online retailer specializing in nature-themed gifts, educational science projects, live animal nature kits and real butterfly artwork. A biology graduate who fell in love with insects, she founded the company in 2001 to make active learning about nature fun, accessible and engaging for children and adults. Her store offers real butterfly frames, home and garden decor and educational live animal kits, including ant farms, worm farms, tadpoles, ladybugs and hermit crabs, and she runs a bug museum in Washington featuring live animals like Eddie the Iguana alongside other reptiles and insects.
