How to Grow Broccoli in Your Denver Backyard Garden
It’s July in Denver, and it's the perfect time to start planning for your second cool-season crop of broccoli. What’s awesome about growing here is that we have these amazing shoulder seasons where we can grow all sorts of frost tolerant plants… Broccoli being everyone’s favorite!
In this blog, you’ll learn:
When to Plant Broccoli
Planting Guidelines
Broccoli Growth Stages
Broccoli Care Tips
When to Plant Broccoli in colorado
Spring Planting:
Indoors: We start our seedlings inside around the end of February just as you’re shaking off those winter blues.
Transplant: Most of the time (crazy Denver weather depending) we put transplants out around early to mid April.
Direct Sow: You can direct sow broccoli as soon as your soil is workable in the spring. For some gardens and seasons, that may be as early as February, other garden soils may not warm up until closer to April.
Fall Planting:
Transplants: Start your fall broccoli transplants in early July so they are ready to go outside (preferably in the shade of other plants) in early August. Choose a cloudy or cooler day to put your transplants into the garden.
Direct Sow: You can also direct sow seeds at the end of July. Make sure to keep the soil surface moist since hot summer temperatures can dry out soil faster.
FIND YOUR SEEDS: Check out the local Colorado resources we recommend!
Planting Guidelines:
Sunlight: Broccoli loves the sun! Make sure your plants get at least 6 hours of direct daily. In the fall, it’s ok to put your transplants in a location that will get afternoon shade.
Soil: Make sure to work compost into the soil before planting - especially if you are planting a new fall crop in the same location as your spring crop.
Spacing: Broccoli needs about one square foot to grow to its full potential. In the fall - remember that warm season plants will be leaving the garden with first frost so you can plant the broccoli seedlings a little closer to warm season crops.
Hot Tip:
We love working compost into the soil and then filling our planting hole with a handful of worm castings.
Broccoli Growth Stages:
Germination: It takes 4-10 days for broccoli sprouts to emerge from the soil in perfect soil conditions.
Leaf Development: The plant produces tons of leaves before the head appears. Young tender leaves can be harvested and used like any cooking green!
Head Formation: The central head will emerge from the center of the plant - it’s actually closed flower buds! - and will vary in size depending on the variety you have planted. Usually anywhere between 4-8”.
Side Shoots: After harvesting the central head, side shoots appear and are my favorite part of the broccoli plant. They are smaller and slightly more tender heads of broccoli. Depending on the variety, side shoots will develop all summer long!
Hot Tip:
If you don’t harvest the central head or side shoots the green buds will open to reveal yellow flowers.
While still edible, most gardeners choose to remove the plants to make room for something else in the garden!
Harvesting Broccoli:
Timing: Snag your broccoli when the head is tight and green, early in the cool morning hours for maximum freshness.
Method: Slice the head just below the base with a clean knife. More side shoots mean more broccoli!
Storage: Store your heads in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. For longer storage, blanch and freeze for up to 12 months.
Broccoli Care Tips:
Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season.
Feeding: Amend the soil with compost before planting and feed throughout the season by side dressing with most compost or using an all purpose fertilizer.
Pest Control: Slugs, snails, cabbage loopers, and aphids are broccoli’s main pests. Use garden mesh as a barrier to keep them out or plant sweet alyssum, nasturtium or other flowers to deter these pests.
Temperature Management: Our wacky temperature swings in the shoulder seasons can make growing broccoli a bit challenging. Make sure to have frost cloth handy in case temps go below 28°. You can also use shade cloth in the summer if you feel like your broccoli is getting too hot.
READ NEXT: Loopers and Aphids and Miners… OH MY!
Hot Tip:
Did you know that you can use the stem of the broccoli to make slaw?
After shredding we love to mix it with cabbage & carrots then lightly dress it and put it on tacos!
Taco-bout a yummy crunch!
By following these guidelines, you can successfully grow broccoli in your Denver garden, enjoying fresh, nutritious harvests throughout the fall. Happy gardening!
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
