Broccoli, a delicious cool weather vegetable, is a member of the cabbage family. Its head is a cluster of buds that are harvested before they bloom, providing good source of vitamins A and C among other nutritional benefits.
Broccoli is a good early spring or fall planting candidate due to its ability to tolerate mild frosts. Weather temperatures between a high of 77 and a low of 60 degrees F are needed to reach maturity. Germination takes from 4 to 20 days. Transplanting seedlings offers the best protection from summer heat. Consider it for inclusion with container plantings. Select a sunny garden location with partial sun to full sun with good drainage. Work the soil with manure to provide a rich organic content. Successive plantings to extend harvests should be spaced a month apart. After the central head has been harvested in the spring, the remaining stalk will send out multiple shoots that should provide a successive harvest.
Apply mulch around the broccoli plants to keep the ground cool. Extra nitrogen fertilizer may be required if planting in sandy soil. Guard against aphids and cabbage worms to protect the produce. As with all members of the cabbage family, rotate plantings in the garden annually.
Harvest before the broccoli head begins to loosen and separate. Spray the head with water or place in cool water after harvest to retain freshness. These green vegetables have a pleasantly bold flavor and work well served raw or in stir fry dishes.