In my household, broccoli is one vegetable that’s always in demand. It’s easy to throw into a stir-fry with home grown onions and garlic, or to add to a frittata with eggs from my backyard chickens.

When we first started gardening, broccoli was one of the first plants that I prioritized, since I knew it would be a valuable one to grow in order to be more self-sufficient.

I soon realized that broccoli was kind of difficult to grow in my area. In the spring, it’s covered in slugs. In the summer, it’s too hot and bolts. Bolting is when a plant produces flowers and seeds, turning the plant bitter and food harvests stop.

However, over time I’ve found different ways to get continual harvests off of single plants that perform well. Different planting strategies have also helped me to extend my growing season so we get a steady succession of broccoli for much of the year.

Here are some insights and tricks I’ve collected over the years to help you get more out of your broccoli plants.

Side-shoots for Continual Broccoli Harvests

When I first started to grow my own broccoli, I wasn’t sure what I needed to do in order to get the oft-hailed side shoot production. While it’s easy to get that bonus yield, there are a few things have have helped me get larger harvests over the years.

Select the right variety to get more from one plant

Opt for varieties known for side shoot production after the initial main head is harvested.

There are also “sprouting” varieties which don’t produce large heads at all but instead focus on smaller florets. Usually these have a longer growing season if harvested properly.

Here are varieties well-known for their side shoot capabilities for a cut-and-come-again harvest cycle:

• Umpqua - Blue-green color makes them a bit more slug resistant in my garden
• Nutribud - Large central head
• Solstice - Fast to Mature
• Di Ciccio - Known for extended harvests of sprouts
• Green Sprouting Calabrese Broccoli - larger sprout production, harvest frequently to prevent bolting
• Steve’s Select Tender Early Green - adapted to a range of different climates
• Backyard Broccolini Mix - Great grex from Cultivating the Commons with tons of side shoot production

Harvest the main head correctly to trigger more production

• Harvest the main broccoli head before it starts to flower. This can encourage the plant to produce side shoots, since its goal is to develop seeds. In this way, the energy is brought instead to producing more florets instead of seed pods.
• Ideal harvest time is when the head is dark green and compact, before the green buds start to swell and open.

Proper cutting and pruning to prevent bolting in summer

• After harvesting the main head, cut the stem about 2-3 inches below the head. This will stimulate the plant to produce additional shoots.
• Trim back any long stems when it’s in side shoot mode, which will also help it to continue producing food. For me, this is key to extended harvests and preventing premature bolting.
• Regularly remove yellowing or damaged leaves to maintain plant health.

Fertilization supports growth

• The best fertilizer for broccoli is anything organic and nitrogen-rich. Feather meal is a personal favorite of mine to use for broccoli.
• Side-dressing with additional nitrogen fertilizer after the initial harvest can encourage more robust side shoot growth.
• Organic options like compost or well-rotted manure can provide the necessary nutrients.
• Utilize local nitrogen-rich plants, such as nettles, to make a natural compost tea drink from your broccoli plants.

Succession Planting Growing Plan‍


I plant broccoli seeds every few weeks so that I can count on a continual supply. This method is especially effective in regions with a relatively long growing season.

→ Key Fact - How long does it take for broccoli to grow? Rapini/raab can mature in as little as 40 days. Standard-sized broccoli matures in 50-80 days, while purple sprouting broccoli can take up to 280 days!

Understand the growing preferences of different broccoli varieties:

Prefer spring:

• Spring Raab
• Solstice

Heat-tolerant:

• Piracicaba

Prefer late-summer planting:

• Fall Raab
• Waltham

Need to over-winter:

• Red Arrow Purple Sprouting Broccoli
• Early PSB

Climate and seasonality:

• I prevent bolting during the height of summer by taking advantage of shady areas in my garden for any plants sown in May, June, and July.
• In more mild climates, broccoli can often provide a longer harvest window, extending well into the fall.

Greenhouse growing

Go with a mix of varieties to see what will overwinter in a greenhouse in your climate. I’m often able to get varieties like Umpqua, OSU Grex, and Nutribud to overwinter in my greenhouse. Sometimes they’ll die back and then sprout back up again during a warm spell.

What to do with broccoli when it flowers

Once broccoli starts to bloom, you can:

• Try to cut off those branches to trigger more sprouts to come on
• If this plant performed well, let the blooms develop into seeds to save to plant next growing season
• If blooms persist and you don’t want to save the plant, cut it back to just below the base and rotate this patch of soil with a non-brassica crop. Beets and chamomile are two of my favorites to cycle through with broccoli.

Unique Options

Take the guess work out of succession sowing with a seed mix!

• Renee’s Garden offers an “All Season Broccoli Blend Mix,” where a single sowing provides early, mid, and late-season types.
• OSU Grex Broccoli is a wide population of various broccoli varieties that are open pollinated, and offer a long harvest season from a single packet.
• Backyard Broccolini Mix - Excellent option from Cultivating the Commons of PSB, Piracicaba, and DeCicco.

Turnips:

• I discovered by accident last year that overwintering turnips will produce a healthy crop of surprisingly delicious sprouts!
• Accawmacke Broccoli and Deitrich’s Wild Broccoli Raab are two cultivars to look for if you want to get something selected for its “broccoli” production

Greens:

Some brassicas are grown for their leaves, but will also produce taste florets before flowering. A personal favorite is Spigariello liscia - the leaves taste better than kale and the florets are sweet and tender.

• Spigariello Liscia
• Kale
• Bok choi
• Pak choi
• Tatsoi

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Late Harvesting:
   • Don’t wait too long to harvest your plant’s main head. I’ve held out for bigger main harvests only to be disappointed by the plant starting to flower, which turns the broccoli bitter. This also leads to less upcoming side shoot production.
2. Poor Soil Nutrition:
   • Broccoli is a heavy feeder. Ensure your soil is rich in organic matter and nutrients. Regularly enriching the soil can significantly impact the quality and quantity of your harvest.
3. Ignoring Pests:
   • Pests like cabbage worms can be detrimental. Regular inspection, crop rotation, interplanting, and attracting beneficial insects and animals can keep your plants healthy and productive.
   • I like to plant chamomile around my broccoli plants, as it seems to decrease slug attacks and I get a great tea harvest out of it, too!

Final Thoughts

I never imagined that I could enjoy garden-fresh broccoli almost all year long! With these techniques, my garden productivity has increased a ton, and I hope yours does too.

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