It’s time to start thinking about your fall vegetable garden. One of the first vegetables that comes to mind in the fall is broccoli. Although some people are die-hard broccoli haters, I’m among those who love broccoli. Perhaps that’s because I’ve tasted it fresh from the garden.
Broccoli: Plant Profile
Common Name: Broccoli
Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea (Italica group)
Light Requirements: Broccoli thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Soil Requirements: Broccoli prefers fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Enrich the soil with organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, to improve fertility.
Water Requirements: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply and regularly, especially during dry periods. Avoid overhead watering to prevent diseases.
Fertilizer Requirements: Use a balanced fertilizer to support steady growth. Too much nitrogen can lead to excessive leaf growth at the expense of heads. Potassium and phosphorus are essential for bloom development.
Growing from Seed
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost date for a spring crop or 85-100 days before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in seed trays or pots. Transplant seedlings outdoors when they have 2-3 true leaves and the soil temperature is at least 50°F (10°C). Space plants 18-24 inches apart in rows 24-36 inches apart.
Harvest the main head when it is fully developed but before the flower buds open. Cut the head with a portion of the stem. Side shoots will continue to grow after the main head is harvested, providing additional yields.
Growing Broccoli
Keep broccoli seedlings and plants watered and the soil moist. It can survive and thrive in temperatures as low as 40 F. It is a great fall vegetable garden crop in many locations, including zone 6 – 7.
Plants should be spaced 12 to 24 inches apart in rows about 36 inches apart. Broccoli plants have shallow roots, so avoid letting the soil dry out. Keep the plants well-watered. Fertilize with a mild 10-10-10 about three weeks after transplanting.
Broccoli Pests
The biggest pest to contend with is the cabbageworm. It’s the caterpillar of the white cabbage moth. These green caterpillars chew holes through leaves and can destroy your plants. Floating row covers or hand-picking them off the plants is the easiest organic control method. Aphids can also be a problem.
After 85 days or so, broccoli begins to form small, tight green flower buds. This is the part that you eat – the tight flower buds. Harvesting should be timed, if at all possible, to coincide with the days right after the first frost.
Frost initiates a process called “cold sweetening.” According to an article in the Wisconsin State Journal, in response to cold temperatures, some plants released stored energy into ‘free’ sugar molecules. These molecules are moved into plant cells, which act as a sort of antifreeze, preventing frost damage to the plant. It also makes the vegetable taste sweeter, so it’s always better to pick broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts after a frost. The plant’s sugars make the plant taste better to us!
A fall vegetable garden isn’t complete without broccoli. If you’re a confirmed broccoli-hater, visit your local farmer’s market and try some fresh from the farm. You may be surprised at the taste of fresh broccoli.
When I was a little girl, my Uncle Clarence – my grandmother’s brother – would stop by on a crisp October evening. He’d pull his big old Cadillac (my dad called it “the boat” because it was that big) into the driveway, pop open the trunk, and out would spill box after box of fresh fall vegetables from the farm stand in Cutchogue where he lived. Fresh broccoli, cauliflower, and of course, pumpkins for the kids. It was a ritual of fall just as surely as raking leaves and carving pumpkins for Halloween.
Perhaps it was this early taste of fresh garden broccoli that solidified my love for the cruciferous vegetable. Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) can be bland, but when it is fresh and nipped by the first frost of fall, has a sweet taste that makes it delicious.
