Field guide
How to grow broccoli: planting, care, and harvest guide
Broccoli typically reaches first harvest in 60–80 days. This guide covers when to plant by USDA zone, common pests, harvest cues, and companion plants where relevant.
Open plannerWhen to plant broccoli by USDA zone group
- USDA Zones 1–4 — May to June
- USDA Zones 5–6 — April to May
- USDA Zones 7–8 — March to April
- USDA Zones 9–10 — February to March
- USDA Zones 11–13 — October to January
Companion plants
Good companions: Onions, Celery, Potatoes, Dill
Avoid planting with: Tomato (Slicing), Strawberries
Harvest
When to pick
- Head is tight and firm, 4-7 inches across
- Individual buds are still tightly closed (not flowering)
- If buds start to loosen or turn yellow, harvest immediately — it's about to flower
How: Cut the main head with 5-6 inches of stem, at an angle (so water runs off the cut). Leave the plant — most varieties produce side shoots for weeks after the main head is cut.
Storage: Refrigerate unwashed in a perforated bag. Lasts about a week. Blanch and freeze for long-term storage.
Common pests and problems
Cabbage Worms/Loopers
Signs: Holes in leaves, green caterpillars, white butterflies hovering
Control: Row covers from transplant. Bt spray every 1-2 weeks. Hand-pick. Inspect between florets before cooking — they hide in heads.
Cabbage Aphids
Signs: Gray-green waxy aphids clustered in leaf crevices and on heads
Control: Hard to blast off with water due to their waxy coating. Insecticidal soap. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Clubroot
Signs: Wilting despite adequate water, swollen distorted roots
Control: Raise soil pH above 7.0 with lime. 7-year rotation for brassicas in infected soil. Choose resistant varieties.
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