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Brassicas

Broccoli growing guide

Cool-season brassica that produces a large central head and then side shoots for weeks. Purple sprouting varieties overwinter and produce in early spring when little else is available.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Broccoli real-world photo reference (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Wikimedia Commons · Kolforn (Kolforn) I'd appreciate if you could mail me (Kolforn@gmail.com) if you want to use this picture out of the Wikimedia project scope. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. You are free: to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work to remix – to adapt the work Under the following conditions: attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0CC BY-SA 4.0 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 truetrue · CC BY-SA 4.0
5-10 daysGermination
80-100 daysHarvest
45 cmSpacing
1 cmSow depth
FullSun
HardyFrost
2.5 cm/weekWater
6-7pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalApr - AugApr - AugJun - Nov
SubtropicalFeb - AugFeb - AugApr - Nov
MediterraneanFeb - AugFeb - AugApr - Nov
TemperateFeb - AugMar - SepApr - Nov
CoolFeb - JulMar - AugApr - Oct
AridMar - JulMar - JulMay - Oct

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Broccoli should look like as it grows.

Broccoli whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Broccoli leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Broccoli flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Broccoli harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Broccoli after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Use tender leaves or shredded cabbage raw in slaws, salads, wraps, and quick pickles.

Cooked

Steam, roast, stir-fry, braise, add to soups, gratins, curries, or tray bakes.

Store / preserve

Ferment cabbage, pickle stems, blanch and freeze florets or sturdy greens.

Try: Slaw, Roasted brassicas, Stir-fry, Fermented cabbage.

Good companions

Onion, Garlic, Potato, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Dill

Avoid near

Tomato, Pole Bean, Strawberry

Growing note

Harvest the central head before flowers open. Side shoots continue for weeks.

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