Broccoli is a cool weather crop with edible buds and leaves. Broccoli comes from the Cruciferous family, just like kale, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and Brussels sprouts. The original superfood, all parts of the broccoli plant are edible, especially those familiar compact, tender and crunchy heads.
| Broccoli | Brassica oleracea |
| Season (FL) | Fall, Winter |
| Soil type | Amend with organic material |
| Light | 4-6 hours |
| Water | 1.5 inches/week |
| Mature plant size | 18” wide |
| Harvest in | 80-100 days |
Can you grow broccoli in Florida?
You can absolutely grow broccoli in Florida. Broccoli is a winter crop in Florida, so for optimal results, plan for planting at the end of August and into September.
Best broccoli varieties for Florida
- ‘Waltham 29’
- ‘Early Green’
- ‘Early Dividend’
- ‘Green Sprouting’/’Calabrese’
- ‘Packman’
- ‘De Cicco’
Different types:
- Heading – better for space – not all varieties are equal. Look for bolt resistant and heat tolerant varieties.
- Sprouting – not as prolific with side shoots
When to plant broccoli in Florida
North and Central Florida: mid-August through mid-March
South Florida: September through January
The ideal temperature range for growing broccoli is 40° to 75°F. You can start your broccoli seeds in trays in late-August and transplant into the garden in October. Alternatively, you may opt for planting the broccoli seeds directly in the garden. The downside here is the tiny seedlings are ‘safer’ when started in trays – the pests and critters seem to love those young shoots.
Broccoli does NOT like the heat, and the warm weather will cause bolting (or flowering), so get your broccoli crops started as soon as temperatures start to drop! Broccoli can last 75 to 118 days from seed to harvest, so consider this when deciding when to plant. March temperatures in Florida will start to be too warm for broccoli, so most definitely have those seedlings in the ground by November.
What you’ll need
Broccoli transplants are often available at local nurseries, garden centers, or farmers markets. I highly recommend this option, as a tray of six seedlings costs around $5 and it’s ready to plant right away.
Another option is to buy quality seeds online or gather seeds from local gardeners at a seed swapping event.
If you’re starting your broccoli in trays, then grab your tray(s) of choice (heat mats and grow lights are completely optional and not entirely necessary).
When it comes time to plant your seedlings, mulch and a compost rich in nitrogen will be helpful to the success of your broccoli crop.
How to plant broccoli
Plant your broccoli seeds a quarter inch deep into the soil – whether in the ground or in trays.
The rule is to get your broccoli into the garden 50 to 60 days before the first frost date, which is a funny concept in Central Florida. Generally we may see our first frost in late December or early January, which still means to get those babies in the ground by November.
Broccoli loves rich moist soil and plenty of sunshine, so plant those seedlings where they’ll receive a minimum of 4 hours direct sunlight daily.
Space plants 15” to 18” apart, because eventually they will take up that entire space. Amend the surrounding soil with a compost of your choice (massage it into the soil around the roots), and mulch around the plants to retain moisture and suppress weed growth. Since broccoli is a cool-weather crop, the mulch will be extra beneficial in keeping the roots cool.
Starting seeds indoors
This is like a hack, to get a head start on broccoli germination while outside temperatures are still too warm for it (broccoli will not germinate well at temperatures above 80°).
When sowing broccoli seeds indoors, use a sterile and well-draining seed starting mix (this one is my preference). If you have another larger tray to place underneath the seed-starting tray, the best method is to water the seedlings from below. It can be helpful to utilize a heat mat with a thermostat, as soil temperatures shouldnt go over 70 degrees for germinating broccoli. If you have an outdoor space protected from pets and extreme weather, then you’re not limited to only starting your seeds indoors.
In a few weeks you’ll see two to four ‘true’ leaves, and this is when it’s safe to transplant into the garden.
Consider intercropping
Broccoli will take up garden space for about 5 months, from seed to harvest. Growing about 18” wide, this can be a hefty chunk of your garden real estate, especially in smaller spaces. Consider intercropping (ie. planting companions) if you’re short on space. What does this mean? Before the broccoli plant grows to its full size, you can plant smaller, faster growing crops in the spaces surrounding it. Lettuce, arugula, spinach, and beets are excellent options for your Florida cool-season garden. These can be planted and then ready to harvest, perhaps several times, before the broccoli gets large enough to care. Options are to either sprinkle seeds or put in transplants, surrounding your broccoli plants.
Growing broccoli in containers
Broccoli seeds can be directly planted in containers and grown in a sunny location.
Make sure containers are at least 18” wide or plants won’t be able to grow to their full potential. Remember to amend the soil with a nitrogen rich compost and/or manure, and don’t plant the same crop in the same container two seasons in a row!
Caring for your broccoli plants
Broccoli tolerates cold weather, but below 32° is risky. If local temperatures occasionally dip into freezing, plan for protection – especially with seedlings or young plants.
Water heavily, once per week – or water if the soil surrounding the roots feels dry when sticking your finger an inch deep.
Broccoli plants are heavy feeders, needing nitrogen and calcium. If you have access to manure, you can spread this over the top (ideally mixed with mulch, straw, or any other organic material available to you) and let it act as a slow-release fertilizer. An added benefit to this method is keeping weeds down by periodically layering the surface with your chosen mixture of compost, manure and/or mulch.
Keep cutting heads before they bloom – once the plant seeds, it’s done.
Dealing with pests
If you’re planting in the fall for a winter crop, pests will be less of an issue as the winter goes on.
Cabbage worms may be the biggest problem, identifiable by the chew marks and holes in leaves. These come from the cabbage moth, which you might see fluttering around.
To combat cabbage worms, look under leaves in the mornings and evenings, and once you see them you can pick them off. Check for their eggs on leaves and scrape them off. Another remedy is to use a floating row cover (like a sheet) over the plants and tuck it in down around the plants so they can’t get in the bottom. If you’ve spotted cabbage worms upon harvest, soak your broccoli in salt water for ten minutes or so – this way they die and you won’t end up eating them.
The brassica aphid or cabbage aphid is another pest you may encounter. If leaves start to curl or malform, open the leaf and you’ll likely see the aphids in there. Neem oil is useful here – but don’t spray it on bees nor the flowers that bees are visiting.
When to harvest broccoli
Broccoli is usually ready to harvest 80 to 100 days after planting. Getting the timing right is key here – if you miss your harvest window by just a few days, your broccoli will start to bloom. That firm and compact mass that we’re used to eating is actually a bunch of tiny unopened flower buds. You’ll want to harvest the head while it’s firm – florets should be tight and compact. Although it’s not the end of the world if you see the little yellow flowers forming… they’re still edible!
My recommendation is to cut the first head off – that main large one in the middle – before it blooms. After you cut the main head off, side shoots will then grow new heads, and possibly continue to bloom for weeks or months! Cut the main head off at an angle, so that water cannot sit on top and cause it to rot.
Pay attention to your seed packets to know approximately how long your broccoli should take from seed to harvest. Then keep an eye out for the perfect broccoli head!
Suggested recipes for broccoli
All parts of the broccoli are edible. You can cook the large leaves the way you would collard greens. You can peel, chop, and roast the stems like you would with carrots. Steam the broccoli heads so they’re soft, add butter and salt. Yum!
Sources
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/broccoli.html