How to grow Broccoli Italian Sprouting

How to grow

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Background

Sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica) is a type of broccoli that is grown not for its big single head, but for its abundant edible sprouts.

A member of the mustard family, Sprouting Broccoli is derived from the wild mustards that grow prolifically around coastal Europe Native. Mustards have been cultivated for over 8000 years, with

The ancient romans cultivated it 1000s of years ago,The name Broccoli means “Bucktooth” in latin, most likely a colloquial term referring to the broccoli’s projecting shoots

But it took a surprisingly long time to spread to the rest of the world.

It wasn’t recorded in England until 1720, where it was known as Italian Asparagus, and it was first recorded in America another 100 years after that

Health Benefits

Homegrown, organic broccoli is good for you!

Turns out your parents were onto something all those years ago, Broccoli is great source of vitamins (C and Folate) and minerals (Potassium). Including broccoli in your diet can help protect against chronic diseased likes heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s as well as contributing to healthy cell growth and regulating blood pressure.

Growing Tips and Tricks

Location: Sprouting broccoli likes to grow in full sun and well-drained soil. So choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunshine. They can be grown in the ground or in containers

Watering: Sprouting broccoli needs to be watered regularly, but be careful not to overwater. The soil should be moist, but not soggy.

Pests and Diseases:

Pests: Cabbage moths are a major pest for broccoli. You can use insect excluding mesh to protect your precious plants as well as making sure that you’re not growing over the warmer months and keeping your plants nice and healthy.

Disease: Broccoli can suffer from downy mildew. The best way to prevent this is to make sure that you allow plenty of space for light and airflow between plants and avoid too much overhead watering

Harvest: Sprouting broccoli are ready to harvest around 60 days after planting. To harvest, begin with the central stem as this will encourage more sprouts to grow out the sides. Harvest stems when buds are formed but before they open into flower. Regular picking will extend your harvest!

Patch to plate

Sprouting broccoli is so much more versatile than the traditional variety. The crisp tasty sprouts lend themselves to steaming, roasting, frying or even eating fresh, straight from the garden. Here’s a couple of ideas to get your creative culinary juices flowing

• Fried up with some eggs and a piece of toasted sourdough as a delicious breakfast
• Fried with garlic, butter and lemon juice as a delicious side for a roast.
• Steamed, lightly dressed with some olive oil and dipped into hommus