Crop Rotation Group
Brassicas (Cabbage family)
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Soil
Rich, deep soil, firm with plenty of well rotted compost, composted manure, or balanced organic fertilizer dug in prior to planting.
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Position
Full sun.
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Frost tolerant
Yes.
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Feeding
Mix composted manure or another high-nitrogen compost into the soil before planting. When heads begin to form, feed with a liquid plant food.
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Companions
-
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Spacing
Single Plants: 1' 5" (45cm) each way (minimum)
Rows: 1' 5" (45cm) with 1' 5" (45cm) row gap (minimum)
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Sow and Plant
Sow indoors in early spring, and set out while the soil is still cool. Sow fall broccoli indoors in summer, and set out when the plants are 3 weeks old.
Our Garden Planning Tool can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.
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Notes
Broccoli that matures in cool fall weather has an especially tender texture with sweet flavor to match.
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Harvesting
Use a sharp knife to harvest the primary head when the beads are plump and well-filled. Many varieties produce numerous smaller side shoots after the primary head is cut.
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Troubleshooting
Cabbageworms are small green larvae of the cabbage white butterfly. You can use row covers to keep them from eating plants.
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