Organic Broccoli Seeds, De Cicco

Brassica oleracea - italica group
This is a very traditional organic broccoli seed variety that produces a small 3 - 4" main head that projects well above the foliage, followed by a large yield of side-shooting spears. Habit is non-uniform in maturity, which results in a long harvest period. This is a favorite multi-cut variety. You should harvest the main head when it is 3" in diameter or less to encourage heavier side shoot production. 45-48 days to harvest. Grown Organically. 100 seeds per pkg.

Vegetable Garden - Tips on How To Grow Broccoli From Seed

55-98 Days to Harvest

START INDOORS

An early start on this cool weather annual will give you fine quality green heads before the hot weather reigns.

Sow Broccoli seeds �" deep in seed starting formula, in a warm, well-lighted area about 5-7 weeks before planting outside. Keep evenly moist.
Seedlings will emerge in 3-5 days at 70� F.
They do best covered lightly with soil.

TRANSPLANT

Transplant your seedlings outside 3-4 weeks before your last frost date.
Transplant the Broccoli seedlings at least once into larger flats, and set out young Broccoli plants 18-24 inches apart, in rows about 24 inches apart.
Broccoli plants spaced 10-12 inches apart will also yield well, however will have smaller heads.
They will grow best at 60� to 65� F (16�-18�C).
Do not let seedling become more than 5 weeks old because older seedlings do not mature well transplanted.
Broccoli can withstand a frost down to about 25�F(-4�C.) Failure to produce heads can be caused by hot weather too soon, lack of water and low soil calcium.
Set plants 18" apart in rows 24" apart. Transplant seedlings in late June through July for September through November head harvest.

Rotation and Companion Planting for Broccoli Seeds

Good companions: Beet, bush bean, carrot, celery, chard, cucumber, dill, kale, lettuce, mint, nasturtium, onion family, oregano, potato, rosemary, sage, spinach and tomato.
Bad companions: Pole, lima and snap beans, strawberry

GARDEN HINTS:

Water deeply and thoroughly at least once a week in dry hot weather.
Cultivate or mulch to control weeds.
High fertility and an abundant supply of water throughout the growing season are very important.
Broccoli is a hardy vegetable that develops best during cool seasons of the year.
Two crops per year (spring and fall) are possible in most parts of the country, especially with continuous improvement in fast maturity and heat tolerance that extends the life of broccoli through all but the hottest parts of the season.
Broccoli belongs to the cole crop family (Brassica oleracea), which includes cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi.
Broccoli needs cool weather, full sun, water, feed and rich soil.
Plant your broccoli where it will get least 6 hours of sun daily and has fertile, well-drained, moist soil with plenty of organic matter.
Mulching will help keep the ground cool and moist.
The soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for best growth and to discourage any club root disease.

To be sure about your soil pH levels, it is best to test your soil regularly by getting a pH meter. Broccoli likes to have steady moisture to grow fast and produce the proper heads. An organic mulch of finely ground leaves, or finely ground bark, or compost will help keep the soil moist and cool as well as keep the weeds down. In colder climates, it's the opposite, you may need to plant through black plastic in early spring to help the soil warmer or leave the ground without mulch so that the sun can warm it.

Water regularly, applying 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week if it does not rain. You can also measure the amount of water you receive with a rain gauge left in place in the garden, and checked weekly it there is not any chance that it will dry out. If your soil is not naturally rich in nitrogen from an abundant amount of earthworms or by you adding a regular addition of organic, nitrogen-rich compost, then fertilize the plants again with a liquid fertilizer such as fish emulsion or a Herb and Vegetable Food as they begin to develop new leaves and continue liquid feeding until the heads are nearly ready to harvest.

When you begin to see a flower head forming in the center of the plant, check its growth every day. Ideally, you will harvest broccoli while the tiny buds are tightly closed. If the buds begin to swell or show yellow (the flower petals), cut the head from the stem right away, no matter how small it is, because the opening buds have a mealy texture. After cutting the main head, leave the plant to grow bite-sized side shoots in the axils of the leaves. Do not be disappointed if your broccoli head is smaller that those in the grocery store; they are grown in a friendly climate and with lots of pampering. In areas where spring heats up fast, broccoli heads are often better in fall than in spring, so try again for a bigger head later. You can do this by planting in late summer.

Broccolis are temperature sensitive. If transplants sit exposed in cold weather, let�s say below 40 degrees for a week or two, the chilling injury will trigger heads to form too early. On the other end of the scale, if you plant too late and the weather gets hot, you will get the same early blooming, so plant your broccoli on time. The ideal temperature for broccoli is between 65 and 80 degrees.

USDA Hardiness Zone -First Frost Date- Last Frost Date

Zone 1 -July 15th -June 15th
Zone 2 -August 15th- May 15th
Zone 3 -September 15th May 15th
Zone 4 -September 15th May 15th
Zone 5 -October 15th April 15th
Zone 6 -October 15th April 15th
Zone 7 -October 15th April 15th
Zone 8 -November 15th March 15th
Zone 9 -December 15th February 15th
Zone 10 -December 15th January 31st (sometimes earlier)
Zone 11 -No frost. No frost.