Broccoli

My absolute favorite veggie! Probably Lou Lou’s second favorite. Incredibly rewarding to grow and you simply cannot beat the taste! It can be a challenge to grow successfully. Here are a few tips that work for me:

• If you start from seed….

• If you start from seed or buy starts, broccoli is very prone to pests. All brassicas are. In my area the dreaded cabbage worm is my nemesis. Those cute little white “butterflies” are not your friends. They are laying eggs, that will soon become little green worms that will devour your amazing broccoli!

  • I hand pick and sqish them as a see them, or you can bring a little cup of soapy water to dunk them in. I think the squish is kind of gratifying - maybe that’s gross.

  • I have also used Bt spray with mild success.

  • The hands-down 100% way to prevent them is to cover them with netting and secure it down LINK?

  • Broccoli does not need to be pollinated so you don’t need the bees here.

• Try different varities!

• Plant 12" apart. 6-12 hrs full sun. Cover or use Bt for pests. Harvest when about size of first and firm, before head starts to loosen and yellow.

  thrives in cool weather conditions.