Where to Plant Broccoli

If you're planting broccoli in a home garden for the first time, you may struggle to find a spot that offers ideal growing conditions for the plant. Whether you're starting with seeds or young plants, a good location is essential for enabling the plants to grow vibrantly.

These tips can help you determine where to plant broccoli.

The Right Soil

Find a site with good, loamy soil to plant your broccoli. Its texture should be cushiony, not clumpy or sandy. If you can roll the wet soil into a "snake," there is too much clay at the site. If water flows through it freely and the soil can't be shaped or molded at all, it's too sandy. Select a site with adequate drainage and a medium soil texture to plant you broccoli. If no area of your property offers ideal drainage, you may need to till well-composted humus or manure into the ground to improve its integrity.

The Right Sunlight

When determining where to plant broccoli, it's important to consider the plant's sunlight needs. Broccoli does best in an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. It thrives in full sun, but can also tolerate partial shade under some circumstances. Select an area of your garden that is not excessively shaded by trees, buildings or other structures. Broccoli will not grow well in an over-shaded area.

The Right Companion Plants

Broccoli plants can grow surprisingly tall, sometimes exceeding three feet. For this reason, it's not a good idea to grow broccoli near small plants that it may overshadow. Broccoli should not be grown in direct proximity to mustard, peppers, tomatoes or potatoes. To prevent unwanted hybrids, it's also best not to grow it near other members of the brassica family, such as cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and brussels sprouts. The best companion plants for broccoli include dill, fennel, onions, garlic, and rosemary.

Considerations

The answer regarding where to plant broccoli will depend, at least to some degree, on the region and climate in which you live. Broccoli may be able to tolerate more shade in areas with generally sunny climates, while full sun is essential in cloudy or far-northern regions. When in doubt, never hesitate to talk to an experienced gardener in your own area.