Thursday, June 3, 2010

Superfood: Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the original superfoods loaded with nutrients and many healthy benefits including: increasing immunity, increasing cardiovascular health, reducing risk of cataracts, building bones and reducing birth defects.  Broccoli is high in vitamin C, K and A and full of dietary fiber.  
 
Broccoli is also rather easy to grow at home.  I attempted to grow it from seed last year and was unsuccessful.  It is possible that I pulled up all the seedlings thinking they were weeds.  This year I bought a package with eight beginner broccoli plants and they have grown super quickly. 
I cut two heads of broccoli this weekend and roasted them for our Memorial Day cookout.  I was worried they would be over ripe (not sure if this is possible), but they were actually kind of young, very similar to the expensive broccolini.  They were super tasty and I am looking forward to eating the rest of them.
 
After I but the head off, I noticed there were a few other florets coming out of the same plants.  I am hoping I will get multiple heads per plant, but I have a feeling the others will be kind of small. 
 
Along with broccoli, I pulled out a bunch of baby lettuce, a few raddished and a few strawberries. 
I was reading that some broccoli plants are perrenials meaning they come back every year.  I am hoping that mine come back. 

What are your favorite things to grow?

P.S. Check out the WiFi Scale give away by DC Rainmaker

6 comments:

  1. I don't have a garden unfortunately, but if I did, I would love to grow fresh herbs, tomatoes, broccoli, and loads of peppers!

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  2. wow. nice job with growing broccoli!

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  3. the brocolli is absolutely gorgeous!!! i'm not good in the garden - i've only tried tomatoes and herbs. and i'm sticking to herbs.

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  4. broccoli is so great! calcium and dark green in the same veg

    I don't grow anything; I'm so impressed you created those babies
    Katherine

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  5. Your produce is beautiful! I am not a gardener...I can't grow anything and always love to see what other people grow!!

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  6. Love your blog! I can't wait to start my own garden. I am afraid my whole back yard is going to be FULL of veg!! I love it!

    Broccoli is the best!

    XXOO

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