How to Grow Broccoli
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🛠️ Supplies You'll Need
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🌿 Plant Overview
☀️ Growing Requirements
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Sun
Full Sun (6 hours)
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Water
Regular (1-1.5 inches/week)
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Spacing
18" apart
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Depth
0.5" deep
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Height
18-30"
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Germination
4-7 days
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Common Broccoli Varieties
Popular cultivars to look for at your local nursery or seed supplier.
Calabrese
Italian heirloom producing a large central head followed by abundant side shoots.
Belstar
Compact hybrid with blue-green domed heads; excellent heat tolerance.
Romanesco
Stunning lime-green fractal spirals with a mild, nutty flavor; technically a cross between broccoli and cauliflower.
Purple Sprouting
Overwintering variety that produces masses of small purple florets in early spring.
Days-to-maturity figures are approximate and vary by climate and growing conditions.
Common Broccoli Problems
What to watch for — and how to fix it before it spreads.
Pests
Velvety green caterpillar that chews large holes in leaves and heads; white butterflies lay eggs on plants.
Apply Bt at first sign; use row covers from transplanting; check undersides of leaves for eggs.
Light green looping caterpillar similar in damage to cabbageworm; holes in heads reduce market quality.
Bt spray; row covers; spinosad for heavy infestations.
Dense gray waxy colonies deep in broccoli heads are very difficult to remove after harvest.
Check undersides of leaves weekly; strong water jet; neem oil early in the season.
Hundreds of tiny holes in seedling leaves; rarely fatal but stresses transplants.
Row covers on transplants; kaolin clay spray; healthy transplants usually outgrow the damage.
Diseases
V-shaped yellow lesions at leaf margins with black veins; seed-borne bacterial disease.
Use certified seed; avoid overhead irrigation; destroy infected plants; rotate annually.
Soil-borne slime mold causes massive root deformation (clubs) and stunted, wilting plants.
Raise soil pH to 7.0–7.2 with lime; do not plant brassicas in affected beds for 7+ years.
Yellow angular patches on upper leaves with purple-gray spores beneath; thrives in cool, wet conditions.
Improve airflow; plant resistant varieties; apply copper fungicide preventively.
Common Mistakes
Broccoli needs 6–8 weeks of cool weather to form heads; heat causes buttoning (tiny premature heads).
Transplant 4–6 weeks before last spring frost; aim for heads to mature before summer heat.
Broccoli heads open into yellow flowers within days of reaching peak size.
Harvest when head is fully formed, tight, and deep green; before any yellow color develops in the buds.
After cutting the main head, most varieties produce side shoots for weeks — but only if the main head is removed.
Cut main head promptly, leaving the plant in the ground; side shoots will appear within 1–2 weeks.
🌾 Seed Saving Guide
🔴 DifficultWhen to Harvest Seed
Allow side shoots to flower fully after main head harvest. Harvest seed pods when tan and dry.
Processing
Thresh dried pods in a bag, winnow seeds from pod fragments.
Seed Viability
Up to 5 years when stored cool, dark, and dry.
Pro Tip
B. oleracea — crosses with all oleracea crops (kale, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi). Isolate by 1000 feet.
Seed Storage Supplies
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Raised Bed Planting Guides
A 4×8 bed fits 14 plants of Broccoli. See plant counts, spacing grids, and companion pairings for every bed size →
Broccoli Planting Calendar by Zone
Broccoli Planting Calendar by State
Other Plants
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Broccoli? +
Start Broccoli seeds indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outdoors 0 weeks after the last frost. Use the search on this page to find exact dates for your ZIP code or city.
How long does Broccoli take to grow? +
Broccoli typically matures in about 60 days from planting. Exact timing varies by variety, soil conditions, and local climate.
Should I start Broccoli indoors or direct sow? +
Broccoli should be started indoors 6 weeks before the last frost date. This gives seedlings time to establish before being transplanted outside after frost danger has passed.
How much sun does Broccoli need? +
Broccoli requires full sun (6 hours) to thrive.
How far apart should I plant Broccoli? +
Space Broccoli plants 18 inches apart to allow adequate airflow and root development.
How much water does Broccoli need? +
Broccoli has regular (1-1.5 inches/week) water needs. Consistent moisture is important especially during germination and early growth.
Can you save seeds from Broccoli? +
Yes — seed saving difficulty for Broccoli is rated difficult. Allow side shoots to flower fully after main head harvest. Harvest seed pods when tan and dry. Thresh dried pods in a bag, winnow seeds from pod fragments.
How long do Broccoli seeds last in storage? +
Properly dried and stored Broccoli seeds remain viable for up to 5 years. Store in a cool, dark, dry location in an airtight container with a silica gel packet for best results.
Are Broccoli seeds open-pollinated? +
Yes — Broccoli is open-pollinated, meaning seeds saved from your harvest will grow plants true to the parent variety. This makes it an excellent candidate for building a self-sustaining garden.
About Broccoli
Cool-season crop with edible florets. Harvest side shoots after main head for extended harvest.
Expect your Broccoli to be ready for harvest in approximately 60 days from planting.
Use the search above or browse by zone or state to find the perfect planting dates for your location.