Broccoli & Brassicas — FarmPal
Cool-season powerhouse packed with nutrients. Master brassicas and you eat well spring through fall.
Sun
full
Water
moderate
Spacing
18-24 inches apart
Days to Harvest
60-100 days from transplant
Planting Depth
1/4 inch for seeds, same depth as pot for transplants
Companion Plants
Onions
Garlic
Celery
Dill
Chamomile
Beets
Avoid Planting Near
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Peppers
Pole beans
Common Pests
Cabbage worms
Cabbage loopers
Aphids
Flea beetles
Harlequin bugs
Diseases to Watch
Clubroot
Black rot
Downy mildew
Alternaria
Growing Tips
- •Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost for spring crop
- •Fall crop is often better fewer pests, sweeter flavor
- •Floating row cover prevents virtually all caterpillar damage
- •Bt spray is organic-approved for cabbage worms
- •Side-dress with nitrogen when heads begin forming
Harvesting
- •Cut main head when tight and before any yellow flowers show
- •Leave plant side shoots provide weeks of additional harvest
- •Harvest in morning for crispest florets
- •Don't wait too long florets open quickly in warm weather
Storage
Refrigerator 5-7 days. Blanch and freeze for long-term.
Varieties
Waltham 29
Heirloom. Cold-hardy. Good side shoot production.
Calabrese
Italian heirloom. Classic flavor. Prolific side shoots.
De Cicco
Early producer. Many small side heads after main harvest.
Romanesco
Stunning fractal spirals. Mild, nutty flavor. Unique.
Purple Sprouting
Overwintering type. Purple florets. Spring harvest.