Brassica oleracea
History:
This vegetable got its name in Italy where gardeners referred to the tender shoots produced by overwintered cabbages as Broccoli. Royal gardens were known to be filled with these highly regarded shoots and eventually broccoli no longer was known as a cabbage and began to be cultivated and selected for the shoots only.
Seeding:
Seed indoors in mid January for a summer harvest and late July or by early August for a fall/winter harvest. Seed ½ inch or so deep. Germination usually occurs in 5-10 days. Begin hardening off roughly 10-14 days before transplanting outside. Transplant outside in September once 2-4 true leaves have appeared.
Spacing:
10” – 12”
Cultivation:
Broccoli likes full sun and is a heavy feeder. Mulching with autumn leaves, planting a leguminous green manure the summer before, and supplementing with an organic fertilizer such as compost or vermicompost will help accomplish optimum nutrient levels. It is frost tolerant. If temperatures go below freezing, care should be taken to cover the plants. If given proper protection, broccoli plants will continue producing tender side shoot all the way up until a heavy freeze.
Pests:
The cabbage worm, which is the larva of the beautiful White Cabbage Butterfly, is a pest that is very common. I watch closely and mechanically control the pests by picking them off as I see them. One way you will notice their presence is by the waste they leave behind. It is green and clumpy. That is a sure sign you have cabbage worms. Due to their color, they can be difficult to see. Look underneath leaves and along the stems. Another way to control these worms is using a bacterial pathogen, Bacillus thuringiensis. This is a control method that is safe and offers excellent control of the worm. It is sold under several brand names.
Harvest:
After harvesting the main head, Tender side shoots will emerge that are a delicious treat. Harvest throughout winter. The Broccoli leaves are also edible and make excellent additions to salads. Cool quickly after harvest.
