Food Gardening Network

Growing Good Food at Home

Broccoli: America’s Favorite Vegetable

Please check out the brief video above, to learn what this premium gardening guide is all about—the video will give you a glimpse into all the content in this gardening guide, including history and background, planting tips, specific plant profiles, recipes, nutrition and health information, and resources to help you be the best food gardener you can be.

Welcome to the healthful, delicious world of broccoli! When Mom said, “Eat your broccoli, it’s good for you,” she wasn’t kidding. Broccoli is often called the ‘Crown Jewel of Nutrition.’ Just a half cup of steamed broccoli contains 70% of your daily vitamin…  READ MORE right arrow
Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network
Ah, versatile and nutritious broccoli. Bright green (and sometimes white or purple), crunchy, and full of flavor, broccoli is delicious raw or steamed, stir-fried, grilled, or roasted. You can enjoy it plain or with dip as a snack; in soups, salads, egg dishes, pasta,…  READ MORE right arrow
Fresh broccoli in bowl on wooden table

Features

Broccoli plant growing
When considering the types of broccoli you can grow, the first thing to know is that you can’t go by the name alone. Broccoli comes in two main types: sprouting and heading. Sprouting broccoli has long, slender stems that can be prepared and eaten like asparagus. Heading, with its large crowns of tightly packed florets, is the most popular type grown in the U.S.   READ MORE right arrow
Pile of broccoli seeds
Can you grow broccoli from seed? Yes. In fact, most gardeners start their broccoli plants from seeds. Especially in cooler climates, many home gardeners start their seeds indoors, so the seedlings are ready to plant as soon as the ground thaws—or summer temperatures start to drop—as broccoli is a cool weather crop.   READ MORE right arrow
Broccoli plants growing in open ground
Like most garden vegetables, broccoli loves sunshine and well-draining soil. Broccoli likes rich soil but doesn’t usually need to be fed regularly if the soil has been well-prepared with organic matter. Broccoli prefers neutral soil around pH 7.0 and full sun. However, if you live in a very hot region, your broccoli plants would appreciate some shade during the day.  READ MORE right arrow

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