A popular member of the cabbage family, broccoli is packed with nutrition and can be eaten raw, steamed, baked, cooked in stir-fries and more. Homegrown broccoli harvested fresh from the garden is often more flavorful and tender than what is available in grocery stores. At Gurney's, we grow a lot of broccoli varieties in our test gardens. Our broccoli seeds for sale represent the best varieties in terms of flavor and home garden performance. To learn more about our broccoli growing experiences, be sure to visit our all about broccoli blog.
Broccoli Seeds for Sale from Gurney's
Choosing the Right Broccoli Seeds
When selecting broccoli seeds for the home garden, keep in mind that broccoli plants are a cool season crop that can be grown in the spring or fall. In fact, they'll keep growing after light fall frosts. If growing in the South, select a broccoli variety that is adaptable to warmer climates. For the best flavor, Gurney's® Blue Ribbon Hybrid Broccoli Seed is a hands-down winner. For gardeners who want to extend the harvest season, we recommend choosing a sprouting broccoli that can be harvested for weeks.
Getting Started with Broccoli Seeds
Broccoli, like other most other vegetables, requires full sun, or 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily. It also likes well-drained soil that's rich in organic matter. Growing broccoli is fairly easy if you keep these tips in mind.When to Grow Broccoli Plants
When growing broccoli in the spring garden, most gardeners start seeds indoors and transplant the seedlings to the garden when the weather starts to warm. For the fall garden, broccoli seeds can be directly sown in the garden or started indoors in the mid to late summer.
How to Sow Broccoli Seeds
When sowing broccoli seeds, follow the instructions on the seed packet. Generally, broccoli seeds are planted about 1/4 inch deep. When transplanting the seedlings to the garden, keep in mind the plants can grow quite large and space the seedlings about 3-4 ft. apart.
Where to Plant Broccoli Seeds
When planting broccoli, do not plant where other cole crops, such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale have been planted in the past few years. Select a space where broccoli will receive full sun. Because broccoli plants can grow 3-4 ft. tall, be aware that they can keep adjacent plants from receiving full sun.
How to Care for Broccoli Plants
Broccoli plants have average water needs, or require about 1 inch of rainfall weekly. Mulching around the plants will help suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Row covers can protect young plants from wind and insects. Cabbage worms can be the most serious pest for broccoli and can be controlled with Green Step™ II Caterpillar Control.
To learn more details and tips for growing broccoli seed, visit Growing Broccoli From Seed.
