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Growing Guide: Broccoli — Bay Area (USDA Zones 9–10)

Broccoli is a cool-season crop that loves the Bay’s mild winters. Success = plant at the right time, keep growth steady, and harvest firm heads before florets loosen.


When to plant (USDA 9–10)

• Fall (prime): start late Aug–Oct; heads size in cool weather.

• Spring (backup): transplants Feb–Mar before heat.


Bed prep, spacing, water

• Mix in 1–2” compost; keep soil evenly moist; mulch 2–3”.

• Space 18 in apart in rows ~24 in. Even moisture = tighter heads.


Hand-drawn top-down raised bed showing broccoli at 18-in plant spacing with ~24-in rows, a labeled drip line, and a 2–3-in mulch layer

Pest Management:

• Cabbageworm/looper/DBM: white butterflies, green frass, windowed holes. Row cover early; hand-pick; Bt for small larvae.

• Aphids: sticky tips + ants; blast with water; manage ants; oils/soaps if needed.

• Powdery mildew (late): improve airflow; water mornings.


Hand-drawn brassica pest cues: white butterfly above leaves, small green frass pellets on a leaf, and the edge of a floating row cover—no chemicals shown.

Harvest

Cut the main head while tight; keep plants for side shoots.


Hand-drawn broccoli at ideal harvest stage with compact dome head and a snip mark at stem; “harvest while tight” label



ree

“GrowBot did some digging… Plant two waves (late Aug + mid-Sep) so if a hot spell hits one, the other still lands.”



Additional Reading:

Masterclass: Broccoli


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