All Facts On Broccoli

If you are in dilemma what you want to grow, green leafy vegetables might be the one that come first in your head right? But have you ever thought of broccoli as the options for you? If not this might be the one you wish for in terms of both taste and health.

Let’s learn all the facts on this species with high level of specialties.

INTRODUCTION

Broccoli is an edible green plant of great nutritional values which is originated in Italy and belongs to the cabbage family. If you are thinking of cool-season crop then this species might prove to be the best under these circumstances.

The global production of broccoli along with cauliflowers was 27 million tons in 2019 where China and India together accounted for 73% of the worlds total production.

CLASSIFICATION

Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. italica

It has been classified as below:

Kingdom: Plantae

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta

Super Division: Spermatophyta

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Subclass: Dilleniidae

Order: Capparales

Family: Brassicaceae

Genus: Brassica L.

Species: Brassica Oleracea L.

This classification will give you idea about the species and which type of condition it prefer as this could also be analyzed from family and species perspectives.

VARIETIES OF BROCCOLI

Usually, three types of broccoli are found to be common and grown around the world.

1.Calabrese broccoli

2. Sprouting broccoli

3. Purple cauliflower

Among these Calabrese broccoli is the most popular one. Beside this purple sprouting, Coronado crown, Romanesco, watham are also cultivated.

GENERAL INFORMATION

– Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable which has a very high beneficial medicinal value. This species could be consumed either raw or cooked. 

– It has a high content of nutrients like protein, fibre, vitamin k, vitamin C, potassium and iron. It is also a rich source of antioxidants.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF BROCCOLI

Broccoli is rich in its nutritional values. It consists of protein, carbohydrate, minerals, vitamins and a large amount of water. It is also a rich source of antioxidants.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BROCCOLI

Broccoli is high in nutrition so it has many health benefits. Some of them are listed below:

1. Antioxidant property

Antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin are present in broccoli. This antioxidant molecules supports healthy cells and tissues. Compounds within broccoli helps to reduce oxidative stress inside the body and also play its role in anti-ageing.

2. Prevents cancer

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli consist of numerous bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds may reduce cell damage caused by many chronic diseases thus, is very well known for its anti-cancerous property.

3. Blood sugar control

Broccoli is rich in antioxidant content. It is assumed that the presence of antioxidants helps in controlling blood sugar level in type 2 diabetic people.

4. Reduce constipation

Broccoli is very rich source of fiber which helps in the proper and easy digestion of food. It maintains healthy gut functioning reducing constipation.

5. Health immune system

Broccoli is rich source of vitamins and minerals. This excellent vitamin C source boosts up proper immune functioning.

Along with this, there are many other health benefits of broccoli.

• It helps in strengthening bone as it is a good source of calcium, vitamin K and zinc.
• Vitamin B9 present in broccoli helps in a healthy pregnancy.
• Vitamin C and Calcium present in broccoli plays a role in supporting dental and oral health.
• It may also protect our skin from sun damage.

HOW TO GROW?

Here is the complete guide on how to plant broccoli on a local as well as commercial scale.

1. Best season to cultivate broccoli

– Broccoli is a sun-loving crop. It grows best in the cool-season i.e, during late winter or early spring. Post winter is the best time to cultivate broccoli.

– Exposure to high heat affects the development of sprout. Thus, it can’t grows properly during summer.

– To obtain well-developed broccoli, these must get matured before or after high-temperature exposure to climatic condition.

2. Preparation of planting site

– Prepare a well-drained bed with moist and fertile soil.

– Fill the bed with 2-4 inch of compost to increase fertility.

– The pH of the soil should be slightly acidic between 6.0 to 6.8.

– The planting site must get full exposer to the sun for 6-8 hours per day.

– Select the planting site as mentioned above for better production of broccoli.

3. Cultivation of Broccoli

– Dig holes on the bed you prepared to culture, slightly deeper than the starter vessel.

– Make sure the bed have a rich amount of compost present.

– Transplant the plant after showing it for 4-6 weeks on the contoured bed

– Plant the small broccoli plant on the pattern of 12-20 feet apart.

– Irrigation should be provided frequently. As it is a shallow-rooted crop dry soil drainage must be carried out frequently in order to prevent it from injury.

– During growth, the side shoots might appear which must be cut as soon as possible for its best yield.

4. Harvesting of Broccoli

– Broccoli can be harvested 55-80 days after sowing the transplant. If it is grown directly from seed; it takes about 100-150 days to be matured.

– Cut the head of the plant taking about 6 inches of the stem. Make a slant cut on the stalk.

– Harvest it in the morning time, as the buds and head are firm and tight during this time.

– Broccoli is always harvested by hand because of its delegate and soft nature.

PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL

– Broccoli is prone to pests like aphids, cabbage loopers, clubroots, cabbage root maggots, cabbage worms, whiteflies etc. To overcome the pest or disease affecting broccoli follow the following procedures:

– To get rid/ to control aphids, spiders, mites and whiteflies you can use soap spray. The fatty acid present in soap spray kills these bugs.

– Sprinkle wood ash. Wood ash helps to overcome much broccoli -munching pests by dehydrating the organisms that affect broccoli.

– Use floating row cover. This keeps away the insects and pest that feeds on broccoli directly such as sting bugs, darkling beetles, egg-laying cabbage maggot flies, flea beetles.

– Practice crop rotation to avoid some of the pest and disease or plant it in a different garden bed for next time.

CONCLUSION

This is how we cultivate and harvest broccoli. Broccoli has great medical values. Make your meal healthy and tasty with a sprout of broccoli. Keep a friendship with broccoli, cause it makes you live healthily!

References

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/

https://www.healthline.com/

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/

https://www.almanac.com/

https://harvesttotable.com/