Tips for Care:

Broccoli prefers moist, slightly acidic soil. Planting in an area where other Brassicaceae (cabbage family) haven’t been planted in the past 4 years prevents disease and controls pests.

Harvesting:

The three things to look for to tell when broccoli is ready to harvest are: color, head size, and floret size. (Figure 1)

Color - Should be deep green. If there is yellow, it means the plant is on the verge of bolting. (Figure 2) Harvest immediately.

Head size - Broccoli heads should be between 4 - 7” in diameter

Floret size - The most reliable indicator, broccoli is harvest ready when the florets are about the size of matchstick heads.

Use a sharp knife or garden shear to remove broccoli head from plant