Growing broccoli can be fun and very rewarding. It can also be a great way to get your finicky eaters to eat this nutritious vegetable. It so much more fun to eat something you’ve grown with your own hands. Kids barely think about the fact it is BROCCOLI!!

Here’s some tips that will have you growing broccoli like a master gardener and keeping it delicious once it’s grown.

* Broccoli seeds are best started indoors 7 to 9 weeks before the last frost, at a temperature of 70 to 75 degrees F. They can also be sown outdoors 2 weeks before the last frost. For a winter crop in zones 8 and warmer, sow in late summer. Expect germination in 10 to 14 days.

*Don’t allow your transplants to get too mature before moving them to your garden. If you do, they may become stressed by transplant shock.

* During broccoli harvest choose broccoli where the head is fully developed, but before the individual flowers start to open, cut the central head along with 5 or 6 inches of stem. Removing the central head will stimulate development of the side shoots, which will allow you to continue your harvest for several weeks.

* Store fresh, unwashed Broccoli in your refrigerator’s vegetable crisper for 3 to 5 days. Put it in a loose or perforated plastic bad, being sure not to store it if it’s wet — wet Broccoli will quickly become limp and can get moldy. Its best flavor and nutritional value will be maintained if storage is brief.

* Aphids are often found on the underside of leaves. You can wash them off with a strong stream of water or use an insecticidal soap (be sure to follow the label instructions). Check the plants regularly, as aphids can be a recurring problem.

* Cabbage worms tend to attack the leaves and heads of related cole crops. Cole crops are crops that belong to the mustard family and have similar cultural requirements. They’re hardy plants that prefer cool weather. The most commonly grown cole crops are Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Kale, Collards, and Kohlrabi.

* Beets, Onions, and Garlic are all good companions for your Broccoli.

* There are three species of cabbage worms — imported cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and diamond back moth worms. They’re very destructive to plants, as they have a voracious appetite. Covering the plants with screening or a row cover can prevent the presence of these pests.

* Broccoli is high in vitamin C and soluble fiber and contain several nutrients that have anti-cancer properties.

* Broccoli leaves are edible and have more beta carotene than do the florets.

If you are ready to start growing broccoli, now is the time to get started!! Getting your broccoli seeds started now will give you some yummy, nutritious broccoli on your table in just 45 to 60 days!

Tags: Broccoli, growing broccoli, Vegetable garden