Broccoli

Broccoli gets two seasons here, a spring round cutting in June and a cleaner fall round from September. Fall gets the vote, since cool nights mean tighter heads and fewer worms.

Growing

Start spring plants indoors in late March, six to eight weeks ahead, and transplant into the bed in May. Sow the fall round in mid June, transplant in August, and let the heads form in September and October as nights cool, which is when broccoli is easiest to grow well. Rich soil and an even drink throughout, because broccoli keeps score: one hard check while the plant is young and it finishes at a button instead of a head. Cut the main head while the beads are tight, then leave the plant for weeks of side shoots.

Varieties

Belstar handles both slots; Green Magic is the fast one for spring; De Cicco is an old Italian type that trades the big head for a long run of shoots.

Pests

The white cabbage butterflies find broccoli first, and their green worms match the stems exactly, usually announcing themselves at dinner. Netting at transplant prevents the whole problem; Bt handles an outbreak. A saltwater soak before cooking evicts anyone who made it into the head.

In the kitchen

Main heads roast dark at high heat. The side-shoot trickle arrives conveniently stir-fry sized, and blanched florets freeze well enough to be worth the pot.