Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Broccoli is a cool-season brassica that forms dense green heads and benefits from a long growing season with consistent cool temperatures. It is a heavy feeder that performs best in rich, well-amended soil.
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Soil
Rich, well-draining loam; slightly alkaline pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
18–24 inches
Days to Maturity
80–100 days from transplant
Growing Zones
Thrives in USDA Zones 3–10
Companion Planting
When to Plant
Start Indoors
6–8 weeks before last frost
Transplant
2–3 weeks before last frost
Direct Sow
85–100 days before first autumn frost
Harvest
Cut main head before flowers open; side shoots continue for weeks
Organic Growing Tips
Use floating row covers from transplant to prevent cabbage white butterfly egg-laying.
Apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray when caterpillars are spotted — it is lethal to larvae but safe for beneficials.
Plant sweet alyssum nearby to attract hoverflies, whose larvae feed voraciously on aphids.
Rotate brassicas to a new bed each year; clubroot can persist in soil for 20 years.
Common Pests
- Cabbage White Caterpillar
- Cabbage Looper
- Aphids
- Clubroot
- Flea Beetle
All pest management in Garden uses safe, organic, non-toxic methods only. No synthetic pesticides, ever.