The Ultimate Guide to Growing Delicious Broccoli Varieties in Your Garden
Are you ready to take your vegetable gardening game to the next level? Look no further than the versatile and nutritious broccoli! From salads to stir-fries, this cool weather crop is a must-have in any home garden.
Broccoli has a rich history, originating from Mediterranean and Turkish regions and becoming a cooking staple in Italy during early Roman times. US farmers caught on in the eighteenth century, cultivating spring and fall crops in temperate zones.
With a range of options for USDA Hardiness Zones 1 to 11, there’s a perfect broccoli variety waiting for you to grow. Let’s delve into ten outstanding heading varieties and three bonus non-heading options that will make your garden the envy of the neighborhood.
Favorite Broccoli Cultivars for Home Growers
- Belstar
- Calabrese
- Destiny
- DiCicco
- Eastern Magic
- Green Magic
- Purple Sprouting
- Romanesco
- Sun King
- Waltham 29
Broccoli’s Delicious Cousins
- Broccoli Raab
- Chinese Broccoli
- Broccolini
10 Outstanding Heading Broccoli Varieties
Ready to dive into the world of broccoli varieties? Here are ten top cultivars to consider planting in your garden this year. Keep in mind that maturity times are approximate and work best for spring harvests. If you’re planning fall or winter crops, you might need to adjust your timeline.
1. Belstar
For a hybrid variety that thrives in the winter, look no further than ‘Belstar.’ With six-inch blue-green heads maturing in about 65 days, you can enjoy this crop in both spring and fall. Plus, the plant produces plentiful side shoots post-harvest.
Where to Find Seeds: High Mowing Seeds offers ‘Belstar’ seeds in various packet sizes.
2. Calabrese
An heirloom favorite ideal for Zones 3 to 10, ‘Calabrese’ yields medium to large green heads ready in about 65 days. This variety is known for its abundant sprouting side shoots, ensuring a bountiful harvest.
Where to Find Seeds: Eden Brothers sells ‘Calabrese’ seeds in packages of various sizes for immediate use or long-term storage.
3. Destiny
Bred for heat tolerance in Zones 7 to 11, ‘Destiny’ boasts small to medium green heads with a purple tinge ready in 70 to 75 days. A great choice for warmer climates!
Where to Find Seeds: True Leaf Market offers ‘Destiny’ seeds in quantities of 15 or 1000.
4. DiCicco
This Italian heirloom suits Zones 3 to 10, producing small to medium blue-green heads with non-uniform maturity. Enjoy your first mature heads in as little as 50 days, with continuous side shoot production.
Where to Find Seeds: True Leaf Market provides ‘DiCicco’ seeds in various package sizes, all certified organic.
5. Eastern Magic
Tailored for colder northeastern regions, ‘Eastern Magic’ yields large blue-green crowns with excellent flavor. The fast-growing hybrid matures in 60 to 65 days and is remarkably heat-tolerant.
Where to Find Seeds: Burpee offers packets of 100 ‘Eastern Magic’ seeds and live plants for your convenience.
6. Green Magic
Grown best in Zones 3 to 9, ‘Green Magic’ is a heat-tolerant hybrid with smooth, “well-domed” heads. Expect a unique buttery flavor and mature heads in approximately 60 days.
Where to Find Seeds: Walmart carries ‘Green Magic’ in packages of 1,000 seeds.
7. Purple Sprouting
A cold-hardy heirloom, ‘Purple Sprouting’ produces multiple small, purplish florets per plant instead of a single large head. Suitable for Zones 2 to 11, it’s ideal for three successive harvest periods in milder climates.
Where to Find Seeds: Eden Brothers offers ‘Purple Sprouting’ seeds in various package sizes.
8. Romanesco
An ancient Italian heirloom, ‘Romanesco’ features unique chartreuse spiral florets but bolts quickly in high temperatures. With a nutty flavor and beautiful texture, this variety is a true conversation piece.
Where to Find Seeds: Burpee provides ‘Romanesco’ seeds in convenient packages.
9. Sun King
Exclusive to Burpee, ‘Sun King’ excels in heat tolerance and is suitable for Zones 1 to 11. Enjoy delicious blue-green heads and plenty of side shoots, reaching maturity in about 70 days.
Where to Find Seeds: Burpee offers ‘Sun King’ seeds or packs of 6 live plants directly on their website.
10. Waltham 29
Thomas Jefferson’s favorite, ‘Waltham 29,’ boasts cold tolerance, large blue-green heads, and abundant side shoot production. Suitable for Zones 3 to 10, this heirloom offers non-uniform maturity for continual harvesting.
Where to Find Seeds: True Leaf Market carries organic ‘Waltham 29’ seeds in various quantities.
Alongside these ten fantastic varieties, consider exploring three closely related broccoli types:
Broccoli’s Delicious Cousins
Explore these non-heading broccoli relatives that thrive in cool weather and mature rapidly in most growing zones.
1. Broccoli Raab
Also known as broccoletti, Italian broccoli, rabe, and rapini, ‘Broccoli Raab’ offers dark green leaves and slender stems with small flower clusters. Harvest in 40 to 60 days for multiple yields throughout the season.
Where to Find Seeds: Shop for ‘Del Trasimeno’ Rapini seeds on Amazon.
2. Chinese Broccoli
Known as gai-lan or kai-lan, ‘Chinese Broccoli’ features glossy blue-green to dark green leaves and thick stems with bitter florets. Harvest in 50 to 70 days for optimal flavor.
Where to Find Seeds: Amazon offers large packages of ‘Kai-Lan’ seeds for sharing with neighbors.
3. Broccolini™
From Japan, ‘Broccolini™’ is a cross between broccoli and gai-lan, offering a sweet, thin-stemmed green with small florets. Maturity in about 60 days makes it a quick addition to your garden.
Where to Find Seeds: Park Seeds via Amazon sells ‘Broccolini’ seeds in convenient packages.
Ready to Grow Your Own Broccoli?
With the perfect broccoli variety selected for your garden, it’s time to start planting and nurturing this nutritious cruciferous vegetable. From sprouting side shoots to beautiful spiral florets, you’ll love incorporating fresh broccoli into your meals.
What questions or stories do you have about growing broccoli? Share them in the comments below – we’re eager to hear from you!
