Broccoli
Brassica oleracea
Broccoli is a cool-season member of the cabbage family grown for its dense clusters of green flower buds. It is best cut while the tight green heads are still closed, before they open into yellow flowers.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Consistent moisture
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Got a plant like this?
Identify any plant from a photo, free.
Overview
Broccoli is a cultivar group of Brassica oleracea, the same species as cabbage, kale, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. It was developed in Italy from wild cabbage and its name comes from the Italian broccolo, meaning the flowering top of a cabbage.
It is a cool-season biennial usually grown as an annual in vegetable gardens for its immature flower head and tender stalk.
Main types include large-headed Calabrese and the looser, multi-stemmed sprouting broccoli, which produces many small heads over a longer period.
How to identify it
Broccoli is an upright, leafy plant topped by a dense green head of flower buds.
- Leaves: Large, blue-green, with a waxy coating and wavy edges on a thick central stalk
- Head: A tight cluster of green (sometimes purple) flower buds on a fleshy stem
- Flowers: If left to grow, buds open into small yellow four-petaled flowers
- Size: Typically 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall and wide
- Side shoots: After the main head is cut, smaller florets often form in the leaf axils
Care & growing
Broccoli needs cool weather and steady care to head up well.
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Consistent, even moisture; drought stress causes poor heads
- Soil: Fertile, firm, well-draining soil rich in organic matter; pH 6.0 to 7.0
- Temperature: Cool-season; thrives 60 to 70 F. Heat causes premature flowering (bolting).
- Feeding: Feed with nitrogen-rich fertilizer for strong leafy growth before heading
- Propagation: From seed, started indoors for spring or sown in mid to late summer for a fall crop. Cut the central head while the buds are still tight.
Habitat & origin
Broccoli descends from wild cabbage native to the coastal Mediterranean and was refined into its modern form in Italy during the Roman era and Renaissance.
It is now grown worldwide in cool-season vegetable gardens and on a large commercial scale, with major production in regions that have mild, moist climates. It performs best in spring and autumn in most temperate areas.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my broccoli flower before forming a head?
Heat or stress causes bolting, where the plant rushes to flower. Grow broccoli in cool weather, keep it watered, and avoid letting transplants become root-bound.
Will broccoli keep producing after I cut the main head?
Yes, most varieties produce smaller side shoots from the leaf axils after the main head is cut, giving you several more weeks of pickings.
What are the tiny green worms on my broccoli?
Those are usually cabbage worms, the larvae of white butterflies. Floating row covers, hand-picking, or an organic Bt spray help control them.
Broccoli guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Broccoli.
