Broccoli

I love broccoli. They taste even better when it is freshly picked from my own garden. I have nothing but success with my broccoli planting experience. My son started out as a picky eater, but when I started growing my own garden, he became a great vegetable eater. He would pick broccoli from the garden and eat it. He would even ask me at times if he could have broccoli for snack. To hear my son ask for broccoli for snack is one of my best reward for gardening.

When to plant. Sow in sunny location in early spring or late summer. for an earlier start in spring, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before setting out. Here in North Carolina, I usually start mine in mid January to transplant in mid-March. For fall harvest, plant seeds direct in end of July.

How to plant.  Plants prefer a firm soil and just enough water to prevent wilting.

Light	Full sun
Seed Depth	¼ “ / 6 mm
Seed Spacing	1 “ / 2.5 cm
Row Spacing	18-24 “ / 45-60 cm
Days to sprout	7- 14
Plant Spacing	12-18” /30-45 cm
Days to maturity	80-100

Letting broccoli plant to seed

Harvest. Each plant produces a large head. Cut just before buds begin to open, 6 " beneath the cluster of buds. After the head is harvested, it "sprouts" numerous smaller heads. In case you are wondering, this small sprout will not grow to the size like the original head. Again, harvest sprouts before it blooms.

Health Benefits. A good source of Calcium, phosphorous, vitamins A, B, & C, and fiber.