Broccoli heads are made up of little buds that are ready to flower. If it is not harvested in time, it will turn into a head of yellow flowers! The stem and leaves of the broccoli plant are also edible.

Two other types of broccoli are broccolini, a cross between broccoli
and Chinese broccoli, and Romanesco or Broccoflower, a cross
between broccoli and cauliflower.

Nutrition and Seasonality

Key Nutrients

Fiber – Keeps digestion running smoothly.
Vitamin C – Helps wounds heal, is important for the immune system, and is an antioxidant, which protects cells from damage.
Vitamin K – Needed for blood clotting, preventing excessive bleeding.

Seasonality

Fresh broccoli grown in Wisconsin is available from July through mid-October.

Trying New Foods

Create an Edible Forest

Get children excited about trying broccoli by calling them “tiny trees”. Gather a few different types of vegetables and create an edible forest!

Select: Choose broccoli with dark green tops and firm stalks.
Store: Refrigerate and use within 3-5 days.
Prepare: Cut the head off of the stem.

Add Broccoli to Your Favorite Family Meals

Add broccoli florets to scrambled eggs or an omelet.
Pair raw broccoli with a healthy dip like hummus.
Mix fresh or frozen chopped broccoli into pasta or salad.

Books

Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli by Barbara Hicks
The Boy Who Loved Broccoli by Sarah A. Creighton
The Vegetables We Eat by Gail Gibbons

Family Fun: Edible Forest

Gather broccoli, cherry tomatoes, spinach, carrots and other fun vegetables. Let kids use the veggies to make an edible forest! Get kids excited about trying broccoli by calling them “tiny trees”. After creating their forest, kids can eat the veggies one by one. Share a picture of your forest using #WIHarvestoftheMonth on Facebook!

Garden Connection

Planting

Plant broccoli by sowing seeds directly in the garden or by transplanting seedlings started in a greenhouse. Broccoli enjoys cool weather. It can be grown in the spring or fall, but it is easily affected by frost. Space seedlings 18-24 inches apart. Broccoli roots grow near the soil surface, so it is important to maintain consistent soil moisture.

Harvesting

Harvest broccoli as soon as the head, which is a cluster of unopened flower buds, is a decent size and has a deep green color. Be sure to harvest when the flower buds have swollen but are still tightly closed (before you see yellow flowers!). Cut the main head with a 5-6 inch stem. Removing the central head stimulates the side shoots to develop for later pickings. You can usually continue to harvest broccoli for several weeks.