How to Grow Burpee Hybrid Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica 'Burpee Hybrid'
Burpee Hybrid Broccoli offers a reliable head of tender greens for home gardens. This cool-season brassica thrives in cooler weather, providing a nutritious harvest before summer heat sets in.
Starting Burpee Hybrid Broccoli: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost date, then harden off seedlings gradually before moving them outdoors once soil temperatures are cool.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare soil with organic matter and ensure pH falls between 6.0 and 7.0. Sow seeds indoors or direct-sow 2 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost, as this cool-season crop tolerates light frosts. Press seeds into the soil at a depth of about one inch; they typically germinate within five to ten days.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to allow proper air circulation and head formation. Keep soil consistently moist, aiming for 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly, but avoid wetting the leaves directly. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, feeding lightly if growth seems stunted.
Watch for cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, and loopers; use row covers or hand-pick pests early. Prevent clubroot, black rot, and downy mildew by rotating crops and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest the main head when firm, usually 70 to 80 days after sowing, cutting it at the base.
When to Plant Burpee Hybrid Broccoli
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | April – May | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | April – May | May – July | August – September |
| Zone 3 | March – April | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | February – March | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | March – May | June – November |
| Zone 8 | January – February | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | January – March | April – December |
| Zone 11 | January | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 12 | January | January – February | March – December |
| Zone 13 | January | January – February | March – December |
Companion Plants for Burpee Hybrid Broccoli
✓ Good companions
Repels cabbage white butterflies and other brassica pests
Attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control cabbage worms
Natural fungicide properties help prevent clubroot and other soil-borne diseases
Provides ground cover and efficient space use without competing for nutrients
Repels cabbage worms, aphids, and other brassica pests with strong scent
Acts as trap crop for aphids and flea beetles, protecting broccoli from these pests
Deters cabbage moths, aphids, and cabbage root maggots with sulfur compounds
Compatible growth habits and helps maximize garden space utilization
✗ Keep away from
Same plant family attracts identical pests and diseases, increasing infestation risk
Both plants inhibit each other's growth through allelopathic effects
Competes for similar nutrients and may stunt broccoli growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
