Broccoli

A tasty crop for our cool spring and fall!

Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea Common Name: Broccoli Family: Brassicaceae

Description: This cool season vegetable is a nutritious addition to your garden. A native of Western Europe, it is a mem-ber of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) which has cruciform shaped flowers. The Mustard Family includes cole crops such as Kale, Collard Greens, Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Cauli-flower and Turnips. Our coastal climate in Mendocino is ideal for growing cole crops. Depending on variety, plants grow 1ft. – 3ft. tall, spreading 1ft. – 4ft.

Cultivation: full sun, moist, well drained soil with added compost. Best soil PH is 6 – 6.8.

Propagation and Harvest: Start as seedlings late February to early April or as a winter garden, late August to early September. Space seedling 4 inches apart. When plants are 4" to 6" tall, thin to 16" to 24" apart. Thinned plants can be used as transplants. Growing period is 60 to 110 days. The non-sprouting variety is harvested when the head is mature but not yet flowering. The sprouting variety forms lateral sprouts below the leaves on the main stalk. These can be harvested, after the main head is cut, throughout the growing season.

Note: Warm weather causes the plant to bolt (go to flower and form seeds).

Submitted by Master Gardener Alan Meyer, 2007.