Broccoli and I used to have a love/hate relationship, but over the past few years, I have definitely grown to love this amazing vegetable more and more!
Not only is it yummy, it is packed with TONS of nutritious things like dietary fiber, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin E, manganese, phosphorus, choline, vitamin B1, vitamin A (in the form of carotenoids), potassium, copper, vitamin B1, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, zinc, calcium, iron, niacin, and selenium–
WHEW!
Did you catch that? Okay.
Broccoli is a cool-season veggie, just like spinach, so plan on sowing seeds in the early spring or fall. Warm-weather residents will want to sow seeds in late summer to get the most out of a cool, fall harvest. You’ll also want to space the seeds or transplants about 1-2 feet apart when in rows, and about 3 feet between each row.
Caring for broccoli is easy too (bonus!)…try to fertilize several weeks after planting, and water the roots, not the tops. Light mulch is great, and it will help smother the weeds.
At harvest time, plan on cutting early in the day to help preserve the broccoli’s taste, and do not let the heads begin to flower! Pick broccoli immediately if you see flowers emerging. To pick, simply cut the stems about 6 inches down.
Wash, or blanch and freeze to use later! Happy broccoli planting!