This dark green wonder plant is fairly easy to cultivate in the home garden and is one of the most nutritious vegetables you can grow.
Broccoli likes cool weather and full sun.
Bedding plants of broccoli can be purchased and planted when conditions are favorable, or you can start your own by planting seeds indoors about a month before the last anticipated frost.
Seedlings need lots of light or they will become leggy and undesirable for transplanting.
When the seedlings are planted into the garden soil, they should be set about 18 inches apart in rows that are spaced at least 2 feet apart.
As the leaves and side shoots come out, it is surprising how much space they take up.
A good variety to raise is the Green Comet broccoli, which we grew in the family vegetable garden when I was young.
Don’t wait too long to start harvesting and eating the heads; if they start to yellow, they are past their prime.
After you cut the central head, more side shoots with smaller heads will develop and can be harvested.
Broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked; steaming is an excellent way to prepare it without losing many nutrients.
The smaller heads are great served raw with dip on a veggie tray.
The stalks can also be cut into strips (like carrot strips) and served this way as well.
Broccoli is a great source of fiber in your diet.
It is also rich in vitamin A and vitamin C.
Try adding this nutritious vegetable to your garden and to your diet.
