- HubPages»
- Home»
- Gardening
Grow Great Broccoli in Your Back Yard Garden
Happy Broccoli

How I Grow My Broccoli
People often tell me they have a hard time growing broccoli. They ask me to reveal my secrets for growing it. I have even had complete strangers stop their cars and ask me what exotic plant I am growing and where I found it because it is so beautiful. They seem completely astonished when I tell them the exotic plant is nothing more than ordinary broccoli!
I am embarrassed to admit this, but I have no special secret or technique. However, all the questions about what I do to my broccoli to get it to grow so well has led me to think about why it grows and produces so well for me.

Planting and Growing Techniques
Planting
I plant my broccoli very early in the spring. This vegetable seems to love the cooler weather. I use both bedding plants, and seed. When working with seed, I usually scatter the seed and then cover it to the depth recommended on the seed package. I pack it down a little with my hands, and keep the soil moist. When the seeds germinate, I thin them out. However, I have been told I do not follow the spacing rules for my plants. My neighbor says I plant them too close together. However, she also said she had never seen broccoli get so big! I do not know if broccoli just likes company or what the deal is, but my broccoli seems to get pretty big.
Location
I think this may have something to do with it. I usually plant my broccoli in spots where it gets the morning sun as well as some of the afternoon sun. However, it gets shade in the late afternoon. Some of that shade is a filtered shade from the willow tree, so it is dappled. During the hot summer months, the heat is broken by the shade. I think getting late afternoon shade allows the roots to cool, and encourages plant growth.
Water
I try to give the broccoli lots of water—especially during the hot months. At times, I will even flood it, and then use my cultivating tool to loosen the soil between the plants while the ground is soft. This way, the air circulates and the roots can spread out more easily. At least that is my theory.
Fertilizer
I do not use fertilizer with my broccoli. But I do try to plant in areas where there is a good population of earthworms. When I was a little girl, my father told me that many earthworms are a sign of fertile soil.
Pest Control
I plant marigolds in and around the broccoli to keep ants and other critters away. When I see little white bugs starting to collect on my broccoli (and roses, too), I mix up some dish washing liquid with water in about a 1 to 3 ratio. One part dish washing liquid, to three parts water. Then I go around and spray my broccoli leaves, both the top and bottom of the leaves, with the mixture. I leave it on for about 24 hours and then spray it off. I usually have to do this periodically throughout the summer.

Harvesting Broccoli
I try to keep up with harvesting the broccoli as soon as it is ready. You know it is ready when it develops the tight, green seed buds. If left to continue growing, the plant will produce pale yellow flowers in a shape and size similar to sage brush. I cut the stem as low as possible, leaving two to four nubs, and on an angle because it just seems like this is healthier for the plant. I find that my broccoli plants keep producing into the fall if I keep up on the harvesting. Usually, I have plenty for myself and plenty to give away with about eight plants.
In Conclusion
I hope this helps others to have more success with their broccoli. Again, I am embarrassed to say how little thought I put into this process before now. Even after thinking about it, I am still not quite sure why my broccoli gets so big. I have even used it as landscaping fillers! The plants seem to always get between 2 and 2 ½ feet tall, and about as wide. Sometimes the leaves are around 8 10 inches wide and I have had years where the leaves get quite long, but I haven’t measured them, so I can’t say how long. Unfortunately, I have not taken pictures of the mature plants yet, but I will do that next summer and post them here. The pictures shown above are of plants that are not yet mature.
Happy gardening, everyone!
- How to create a moss garden!
People spend a lot of time and effort trying to get rid of the moss in their gardens. And despite the effort often with poor results because you are struggling against nature! Stop that and nurture the moss instead! I will show you how... - Planting Your First Vegetable Garden
Few experiences can match the pleasure of savoring a homegrown vegetable, especially if you raised it yourself from a seed or seedling. In almost every case, the flavor and texture of varieties you can grow far exceed the best grocery store produce. - Small Trees for a Small Yard or Garden - Trees Under...
Just because you have a small yard does not mean that you can't plant some trees. Many trees grow no larger than 30 feet. There are also many types of shrubs that can stand in as trees, or be pruned into a tree like growth habit. The following is a l - Planting A Fairy Garden
Many Pagans connect with and honor Fairies as part of their spiritual tradition. Here are some tips and suggestions for planting your own fairy garden and hosting the Fey Folk in your own backyard. - How to Make Custom Pavers and Stepping Stones for Yo...
You can buy molds and make your own pavers in almost any shape you can imagine. By making your own concrete pavers you can get a truly custom design at a fraction of the cost of buying ready made landscaping pavers from places like Lowe's or Home Dep
© 2011 Nancy Owens
Comments
Thanks for the tips. I planted some seeds in the garden for an autumn crop. I'll remember to cut them on a diagonal. I might go out and add some more seeds. : )
Your broccoli is amazing to me. Thanks for the tips here. I sometimes wonder if what I get out of the effort is worth it!
Great information - I finally tried growing broccoli this year (I admit I don't have much of a green thumb), and it was actually doing pretty good, til the deer munched them right down to a nub!
I'm determined to give it another go next year.
Thank you for the helpful ideas!
Nancy I live in an apartment so can not try to grow anything but I really liked to read your this hub. Thanks for sharing
This is one of the plants that I keep thinking about growing--and you make it look easy!
I´m planning to plant broccoli in my garden and I hope it will grow like yours. Thanks for sharing this information.
Nice gardening hub! Makes me want to try growing my own broccoli now. Thanks Nancy.
I love this hub! I, too, have tried to grow broccoli. My problem is that I have critters that get to it before I do. I love gardening, but it seems like all those "brassicas" don't like my soil or something - cauliflower or broccoli don't always seem so happy in my garden. But, perhaps I'll try again and really try to keep it all in the "cool" season.
16