Broccoli is an edible green plant in the cabbage family whose large flowering head, stalk and small associated leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea. The cultivation of broccoli can be traced back to the Roman Empire in Italy over 2,000 years ago. The name “broccoli” is derived from the Italian word “broccolo,” which means “the flowering crest of a cabbage,” and was first used to describe the plant in Italy.
Early forms of broccoli were consumed in Roman times. Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist, wrote about it in his “Natural History.” Broccoli became more popular in the United States after World War II, with significant contributions from Italian immigrants. California and Arizona are now leading producers in the U.S.
Broccoli is an annual or biennial plant that grows best in cooler conditions. It has a thick main stem with branches bearing clusters of small green flower buds. The edible part is the flower head, which is harvested before the flowers bloom; the stalk and leaves are also edible but less commonly used. Broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K, dietary fiber, and also contains multiple nutrients with potent anticancer properties like sulforaphane.
Broccoli
Calabrese Broccoli
- Characteristics: This is the most common type of broccoli found in stores. It has large green heads, ranging from 10-20 cm in diameter, composed of tight clusters of small buds on thick, edible stalks. It’s known for its versatility in cooking, from steaming to roasting.
- Origin: Named after Calabria in Southern Italy, Calabrese broccoli was brought to the United States in the early 20th century by Italian immigrants. It’s a cool-season crop with the ability to produce side shoots after the main head is harvested.
Romanesco Broccoli
- Characteristics: Recognizable by its striking, spiral-shaped heads, Romanesco has a unique fractal-like appearance. The color is often chartreuse, and it has a milder, nuttier flavor compared to other broccolis.
- Origin: This variety comes from Italy, where it has been cultivated for centuries. It’s a part of the same species, Brassica oleracea, but selectively bred for its unique head structure.
Broccolini
- Characteristics: Also known as baby broccoli, it combines the characteristics of broccoli and Chinese broccoli (Gai Lan). It has long, slender stalks with small, tender florets. Its taste is sweet and mild.
- Origin: Broccolini was developed in Japan as a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli, aiming to merge the best traits of both.
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan)
- Characteristics: This type features thick stems, large leaves, and small flower heads. It has a bitter taste, though less so than broccoli rabe, and is often cooked with garlic or oyster sauce.
- Origin: Native to China, it’s a staple in Chinese cuisine, particularly in Cantonese dishes.
Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)
- Characteristics: Known for its leafy greens and small, broccoli-like florets, broccoli rabe has a strong, slightly bitter flavor. It’s not actually broccoli but closer to turnip in its botanical lineage.
- Origin: While it’s often associated with Italian cuisine, broccoli rabe actually originates from the Mediterranean region, particularly Italy.
Purple Sprouting Broccoli
- Characteristics: As the name suggests, it produces purple florets on thin, edible stems. Its flavor is sweet and tender, ideal for salads or light cooking.
- Origin: This variety is popular in the UK, where it’s grown for its ability to overwinter, providing fresh greens in early spring.
De Cicco Broccoli
- Characteristics: An Italian heirloom variety, De Cicco produces a main head followed by numerous side shoots. It’s smaller in size, with bluish heads, and has a robust flavor.
- Origin: Originating from Italy, this type is valued for home gardens due to its continuous production of side shoots.
Belstar Broccoli
- Characteristics: Known for its heat tolerance, Belstar produces medium-sized, blue-green heads with fine beads. It has a sweet flavor and good post-harvest shelf life.
- Origin: Developed for commercial cultivation, Belstar is a hybrid variety that does well in various climates, particularly in warmer conditions.
Waltham 29 Broccoli
- Characteristics: An American heirloom variety, it’s cold-hardy with large, blue-green heads. It’s known for its rich, earthy flavor and vigorous side shoot production.
- Origin: Developed in Waltham, Massachusetts, this variety was bred for its adaptability to cooler climates.
Suiho Broccoli
- Characteristics: A type popular in Japan, Suiho broccoli has a crisp texture and slightly sweet taste. It’s smaller in head size compared to Calabrese.
- Origin: Cultivated in Japan, Suiho is favored for its taste and texture, making it suitable for both raw consumption and cooking.
Green Magic Broccoli
- Characteristics: Known for its uniform, dark green color and medium-sized, domed heads. Green Magic is heat-tolerant and produces high-quality florets that are less likely to turn yellow or brown when mature.
- Origin: This hybrid variety was developed for its ability to thrive in warm weather, making it suitable for late spring planting where other broccolis might bolt.
Arcadia Broccoli
- Characteristics: Arcadia is known for its excellent head quality, with tight, blue-green heads. It’s one of the most popular varieties for commercial growers due to its uniformity and resistance to hollow stems.
- Origin: Developed in the United States, Arcadia is favored for its versatility in different climatic conditions, especially in the South where early spring planting can be beneficial.
Packman Broccoli
- Characteristics: This variety produces large, blue-green heads that are smooth and uniform. It’s known for its vigor and fast growth, making it a good choice for both home gardens and commercial fields.
- Origin: An American hybrid, Packman was bred for its quick maturity and large heads, suitable for those looking for a fast crop rotation.
Marathon Broccoli
- Characteristics: Marathon has large heads with a bluish tint, and it’s noted for its resistance to purpling under low temperatures, a common issue in some broccoli varieties.
- Origin: Bred for the North American market, this variety performs well under varying temperatures, offering gardeners and farmers some flexibility in planting times.
Bay Meadows Broccoli
- Characteristics: This broccoli is known for its disease resistance, particularly against downy mildew and black rot. The heads are medium-sized, dark green, and well-domed.
- Origin: Developed in the U.S., Bay Meadows is aimed at providing consistent yields in regions where disease pressure can be high.
Green Comet Broccoli
- Characteristics: Green Comet offers early maturity with small to medium-sized, bright green heads. It’s particularly suited for cooler climates due to its cold tolerance.
- Origin: An American variety, Green Comet was developed to provide an early harvest for regions with short growing seasons.
Premium Crop Broccoli
- Characteristics: Known for its large heads, deep green color, and fine bead structure, Premium Crop is a favorite for its high yield and quality.
- Origin: This variety comes from the U.S., bred for both home gardens and small-scale farming where quality and quantity are equally important.
Fiesta Broccoli
- Characteristics: A hybrid with vigorous growth, Fiesta produces large heads and numerous side shoots. It’s particularly noted for its heat tolerance.
- Origin: Developed for areas with warmer climates, Fiesta helps extend the broccoli growing season.
Di Ciccio Broccoli
- Characteristics: Similar to De Cicco, but specifically noted for its ability to produce many side shoots after the main head is harvested, making it ideal for continuous harvest.
- Origin: Italian in origin, Di Ciccio is an heirloom variety that has been cultivated for its productivity over generations.
Patriot Broccoli
- Characteristics: Patriot offers uniformity in head shape and size, with a bright green color. It’s also known for its resistance to diseases like clubroot.
- Origin: Developed in the U.S., Patriot is designed for growers needing a reliable, disease-resistant option for their fields.
Destiny Broccoli
- Characteristics: Destiny provides uniform, large heads with a dark green hue and fine beads. It’s known for its vigor, high yield, and good heat tolerance which makes it suitable for late spring planting.
- Origin: This variety was developed in the United States, focusing on delivering consistent quality in various growing conditions.
Imperial Broccoli
- Characteristics: Imperial broccoli has large, dark green heads with a smooth, uniform appearance. It’s particularly resistant to various diseases, including downy mildew.
- Origin: Bred in the U.S., Imperial aims at offering commercial growers a dependable variety for consistent production.
Emerald Jewel Broccoli
- Characteristics: This variety produces compact, medium-sized heads with a deep green color. It’s known for its excellent flavor and the ability to produce side shoots after the main head is harvested.
- Origin: Developed for the North American market, focusing on home gardeners who appreciate both flavor and yield.
Windsor Broccoli
- Characteristics: Windsor has large, firm heads that are dark green with a blue cast. It’s noted for its uniformity and ability to produce well even under less than ideal conditions.
- Origin: Originating from the U.S., Windsor is designed for growers who need a variety that can cope with a broad range of environmental challenges.
Gypsy Broccoli
- Characteristics: Gypsy is a compact plant that produces small to medium-sized heads. It’s particularly suited for container gardening or small spaces, with good heat tolerance.
- Origin: This hybrid was developed for small-scale and home growers, focusing on space efficiency and resilience to warmer temperatures.
Belstar F1 Broccoli
- Characteristics: Belstar offers medium-sized, blue-green heads with a sweet flavor. It’s well-known for its heat tolerance, which allows for an extended growing season.
- Origin: An American hybrid, Belstar was bred to extend the broccoli season, especially in regions with warmer climates.
Ironman Broccoli
- Characteristics: Known for its high tolerance to heat and its ability to produce large heads even in warm conditions. Ironman also has good post-harvest quality.
- Origin: Developed in the U.S., Ironman is aimed at growers looking to produce broccoli during the warmer months.
Sorrento Broccoli
- Characteristics: Sorrento has deep green, tightly beaded heads that are both visually appealing and flavorful. This variety is also noted for its disease resistance.
- Origin: An Italian variety, Sorrento brings traditional Italian flavors with modern disease resistance to the market.
Green Valiant Broccoli
- Characteristics: Green Valiant produces large heads with a vibrant green color. It’s bred for its cold hardiness, allowing for earlier spring or later fall planting.
- Origin: From the U.S., this variety is designed for growers in colder climates or those looking to extend their growing season.
Arcadia F1 Broccoli
- Characteristics: Arcadia F1 is another variety known for its large, uniform heads with a bluish-green color. It has a reputation for being one of the hardiest and most adaptable types.
- Origin: Although similar to the Arcadia described earlier, this might refer to a different breeding line or version, also from the U.S., focusing on adaptability and yield.
Puntoverde Broccoli
- Characteristics: Puntoverde is a hybrid broccoli known for its early maturity, taking about 78 days from transplant to harvest. It forms lime green, uniform heads that are excellent for both fresh market and processing. This variety is particularly noted for its ability to produce high-quality heads even in areas without extreme heat.
- Origin: This broccoli was developed for commercial production, likely in Italy or another European country, focusing on early season yields and good head quality.
Arcadia Broccoli
- Characteristics: Arcadia is a hybrid with small-beaded, purplish-green heads that are 5-6 inches across. It’s cold-tolerant, making it suitable for fall and winter production. It’s resistant to head rot, downy mildew, and brown bead, which makes it a reliable choice for challenging weather conditions.
- Origin: Bred for commercial growers, Arcadia was developed to extend the broccoli growing season, particularly in regions with cooler climates.
Santee Broccoli (Purple Sprouting Broccoli)
- Characteristics: Santee or Purple Sprouting Broccoli doesn’t form a large central head but instead produces numerous small, purple florets on long stems. It has an extended 3-5 week harvest period, ideal for when you want continuous produce. The taste is slightly sweet, and the color adds visual appeal, though the florets turn green when cooked.
- Origin: This variety is well-suited for cool-weather production, originating from traditional European gardening practices, particularly in the UK where sprouting broccoli is popular.
Beneforté Broccoli
- Characteristics: Beneforté is a unique variety developed to contain 2-3 times more glucoraphanin than conventional broccoli. This compound is a precursor to sulforaphane, an antioxidant known for its health benefits. The heads are similar to typical broccoli but with enhanced nutritional content.
- Origin: Beneforté was created through crossbreeding broccoli with a wild Brassica variety, specifically for health-conscious consumers. The development likely occurred in research institutions aiming at nutritional enhancement.
Veronica Romanesco
- Characteristics: Veronica is a hybrid variety of Romanesco known for its striking, lime green heads that can grow up to 5 pounds. It has a unique, spiral pattern due to its mathematical growth pattern following the Fibonacci sequence. Its taste is nuttier than traditional cauliflower, with a texture that’s both creamy and crunchy.
- Origin: Romanesco broccoli, including Veronica, has its roots in Italy, where it has been cultivated for centuries for its culinary and aesthetic qualities. However, hybrid varieties like Veronica have been developed more recently to enhance size and quality for market appeal.
Cultivation
- Climate: Prefers temperate climates but can tolerate frost, even enhancing its flavor.
- Soil: Requires well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5.
- Planting: Seeds are typically sown in early spring for summer harvest or in late summer for fall harvest.
- Harvesting: Broccoli is harvested when the heads are firm and tight, before the buds open into flowers.
Challenges and Considerations
- Pests: Common pests include cabbage worms, aphids, and slugs.
- Diseases: Clubroot, powdery mildew, and downy mildew can affect broccoli crops.
- Storage and Processing: Broccoli loses its vitamin C content rapidly after harvest, so quick cooling and storage or immediate consumption are preferred.