Around the time of Julius Caesar, Roman farmers ingeniously bred broccoli from a wild sea cabbage that grew along the Mediterranean coast. What we know as broccoli today is the enlarged, unopened flower of that ancient plant.
While tomatoes and eggplants are often associated with Italian cuisine, broccoli was a common ingredient in Italian kitchens long before eggplant arrived from India or tomatoes were brought from the New World.
In the Coastal Bend, broccoli thrives as a cool-weather vegetable, making October the ideal time for planting. With about 80 days to maturity, you can expect a compact head, six to eight inches across, to form by mid-December. When harvesting, cut the head at the stalk, but leave the plant in the ground. Dozens of smaller, delicious florets will continue to sprout, allowing you to harvest for as long as the plant produces them, usually until March. “Sprouting” broccoli varieties, which produce only florets rather than a single head, can yield more broccoli over a longer season compared to traditional heading broccoli.
Interestingly, a light frost or freeze activates the sugars in broccoli, enhancing its flavor. However, a hard or extended freeze will kill the plant. If severe cold is expected, you can harvest the large, dark green leaves and cook them like collard greens—they taste just like broccoli.
As March heats up, broccoli begins to bolt, attempting to “go to seed.” The plant will grow tall and willowy, covered in small yellow flowers. These flowers are not only edible and delicious but also attract bees and pollinators to your garden. Eventually, the flowers will produce tiny broccoli seeds, ready for next year’s planting.
For the best broccoli, consider varieties like Waltham and Green Magic. For sprouting broccoli, Calabrese Green Sprouting and Early Purple Sprouting are top choices.
Gardener’s Notes
Growing Up: Spacing, 15”. Height, 12” to 24”. Cool-weather vegetable. Plant transplants in October in rich, well-drained soil. Since broccoli is a heavy feeder, mix three inches of compost and two cups of native wood ash per plant into the soil. Add two cups of pastured poultry manure when planting, and side-dress with another two cups at 60 days. Water regularly. Harvest the compact head when ready, and continue harvesting smaller florets until March.
Profiling: For optimal growth, use the 2-1-2 planting pattern: plant two broccoli transplants side by side, seven inches off-center, followed by a single transplant 15 inches down the row, then another pair 15 inches farther. This pattern leaves space for dill or cilantro, which help repel pests and add garden flavor.
Fun Facts: Broccoli rabe, or rapini, is more closely related to turnips than broccoli. It produces loosely formed heads with a bitter, sharp taste, though cooking reduces bitterness. The best variety is Natalina di Fasano Cima Grande, available from Baker Creek Seed Company. Grow it just like broccoli.
Looking for more ways to enhance your outside space? Learn How to Grow the Century Plant in the Coastal Bend
