Broccoli
Brassica oleracea (Italica)
Cut the main head and side shoots keep coming for weeks.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: June to October
From: Mediterranean
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food.
Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Broccoli was bred in Italy from wild cabbage, probably in Calabria, and Roman gardeners grew it; Italian immigrants brought it to America, where it was rare until the 1920s. It is a cool-season crop that sulks in heat.
Planting
Full sun and rich soil; set out plants in early spring and again in late summer for the better autumn crop, 18 inches apart.
Growing
Water steadily, feed with compost, and mulch. Cover against cabbage worms. It tolerates frost.
Harvest and use
Cut the central head while the buds are tight; side shoots follow for weeks. Autumn broccoli is sweeter.
What to watch for
Cabbage worms, aphids in the head, and bolting in heat.
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home