Aptly named the “Crown jewel of nutrition”, broccoli is rich in Vitamin C, A, iron, potassium, and more. This humble vegetable belonging to the cabbage family can be consumed right from its flowering head, stalk, and even its leaves.

Grow Broccoli from seeds at home by easy methods of planting, growing, and harvesting. These delicious tender plants are cool-season vegetables and can take a long time to mature; with patience, you can harvest fresh nutrient-rich broccolis straight to your kitchen.

How to Grow Broccoli from Seeds

Starting broccoli from seeds can be achieved with a simple guide to selecting the right seed varieties, appropriate growing seasons, planting methods, and care and maintenance. Learn how you can successfully plant and harvest broccoli from seeds with the following guide.

Broccoli Seed Varieties to Grow

The most common variety found in supermarkets and home-grown vegetable gardens is Calabrese broccoli with its dark green heads. But there are many types of broccoli seeds available that you can grow in your garden.

Some have smaller heads while others are larger with several flowering heads on their stalk. They also differ in the time taken to mature into adult plants. In addition, you can also grow heirloom and organic broccoli seeds.

Looking to grow something new? Try ‘Purple broccoli seeds’, ‘Calabrese broccoli seeds’, and ‘Rainbow blend cauliflower broccoli mixed colors seeds’ from our online store, Seed World Marketplace.

When to Plant Broccoli Seeds

As Broccoli is a cool-season crop, you can start planting seeds in cool temperature months. For best results, start sowing seeds in midsummer for a fall crop and mid-spring for a summer crop. Watch out for high temperatures, as it can affect the growth of broccoli heads.

If you’re starting seeds indoors, plant broccoli seeds 4-6 weeks before your last frost. For sowing seeds outdoors, start 2-3 weeks before the last frost.

You can also follow the instructions on the back of the seed packet for successful planting and harvest.

How to Plant Broccoli from Seeds

There are two methods of planting broccoli seeds – Starting seeds indoors and sowing seeds outdoors.

Starting Seeds indoors:

If you’re situated in colder regions, start your broccoli seeds indoors before the last frost. Here is how you can start planting your seeds indoors:

• Fill seed starting trays with fertile moist soil, preferably a good quality seed starting soil mix.

• Sow the seeds ¼ inches deep and evenly cover them with a thin layer of soil. You can soak the broccoli seeds before planting for faster germination.

• Mist the soil containing seeds or water the seed tray from the bottom for even absorption.

• Cover the seed tray with a plastic covering or use supplies such as a humidity cloning tray or seed starter propagation kit.

• After 4-6 weeks, when the broccoli seedlings reach 2-3 inches in height, transplant them to your garden.

Sowing Seeds Outdoors

For warmer regions, sowing broccoli seeds outdoors can yield faster results. Here is how you can start planting your seeds outdoors:

• Direct plant your broccoli seeds in your garden once the danger of frost is gone and the soil is workable.

• Sow the seeds in fertile soil about 1/4 -1/2 inch deep and 14-20 inches apart in rows.

• Space your broccoli seeds about 3 feet between each row, as they can grow as large as up to 3 feet in height. Providing sufficient space can help them branch out more and produce healthy broccoli buds.

• Water them lightly till the seeds germinate. Soil can be kept warm and moist for broccoli seeds to sprout.

Germination Time for Broccoli Seeds

Broccoli seeds can germinate within 5-10 days from planting. They are fast germination plants that require very little time for sprouting. For indoor germination, it can more time compared to direct sowing. To speed up the process you can use artificial lights or heating mats.

Maintenance and Care Tips for Growing Broccoli

Certain maintenance and care tips regarding watering, sunlight, temperature, and fertilizers can help your broccoli plants grow healthy.

• Water:

Water your broccoli regularly for about 1 inch deep per week. Like most green vegetables, broccolis need sufficient watering to thrive and develop healthy flowering heads.

• Temperature:

Broccolis grow best in temperatures ranging between 65 -70 degrees. This cool-season crop can be best grown between September and late November.

• Light:

Broccoli plants require full sun for healthy roots and to produce high-yielding growth. Plant the broccoli seedlings in areas that receive optimum sun exposure of at least 4-6 hours with partial shade.

• Fertilizers:

An occasional dose of fertilizers to your growing broccoli plants can work wonders in their growth. You can use low-content nitrogen fertilizers 3 weeks after transplanting your broccoli seedlings.

When to Harvest Broccoli

Crunchy nutritious broccoli is ready to harvest after 50-90 days from planting, depending on the seed variety. When the broccoli heads are firm and of the right color, cut the heads about 6 inches from the stem. Leaving the broccoli without harvesting for a long time can reduce its quality.

Grow this super nutrient vegetable to add to your diet right from the garden to your kitchen. Visit Seed World Marketplace and shop online for varieties of broccoli seeds from the comfort of your home.