Broccoli is a stout, thick-stemmed plant in the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts. Large, blue-gray leaves are leathery and oblong, arranged around an upright trunk-like structure that supports a flowering head. The part we eat is actually the buds of the broccoli flower. If left unharvested, the broccoli head would open into small greenish-yellow flowers. Although most broccoli is green, there are also some delicious and beautiful purple varieties. Broccoli has a moderate growth rate. It is typically planted in the early to mid-spring for an early summer harvest. And in warm climates, a late summer planting can yield a fall harvest. The secret to the best-tasting broccoli is in the seasoning - not the spices, mind you, but the time of year. Broccoli that matures during cool weather produces healthy heads that taste sweeter than those you pick at any other time. Broccoli grows best in fall because spring conditions may be unpredictable. Long, cool springs, for example, cause young transplants to form small, early heads. If temperatures heat up early in spring, heat-stressed broccoli opens its flower buds prematurely, and high temperatures as broccoli matures can cause bitter, loose heads to form, with smaller and less tasty florets. Here's what you need to know about planting the perfect veggies. When to Plant You can easily calculate the perfect time to plant broccoli seeds this fall. If you want to sow seeds directly in the garden, do so about 85 to 100 days before the average first fall frost in your area. If you prefer to grow from transplants, figure the date for getting your plants in the ground by adding 10 days to the "days to maturity" for the variety you're growing and then counting backwards from your expected first fall frost date. Ready to discover more? Get a copy of this book now.