Annual

Native range: Asia Minor, Eastern Mediterranean

Florets and stems can be eaten

Hardy in zones 6-9

Sun requirements: Full sun

Soil requirements: Well-draining, organically rich soil at a pH of about 6.0-7.0

Spacing requirements: 12-20 inches apart

Possible companion plants: Beets, celery, chamomile, culinary sage, dill, garlic, hyssop, fennel, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, peppermint and other mints, potatoes, rosemary, thyme, yarrow

Water frequency: moderate; about an inch a week

Start date: 8 week before last frost of spring, around February 1 for DC. 

• Start inside and transfer outside 2 weeks before last frost (around March 6). 

Harvest date: About 70 days after planting

• One-time harvest

Common pests: Aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, cabbage worms, cutworms, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, mites, slugs, snails, thrips

• Cabbage worms are especially destructive caterpillars; look for small green caterpillars and small holes across the leaves of Brassicae. 

• Treat cabbage worms by using row covers, rotation planting, and manual removal

Common diseases: Black leg, black rot, downy mildew, fusarium wilt, white leaf spot

Bolting: Bolting is a major issue for the brassica family. When brassicas experience extreme heat, they stop producing edible leaves/florets and start flowering. 

• Reduce risk of bolting by planting fast-growing varietals of broccoli early in the spring or grow in the fall. 

Annual

Native range: Asia

Leaves are edible, seeds are used to make mustard

Sun requirements: Full sun, part shade

Soil requirements: Loamy, organically rich soil. Acidic soil: 6-6.8 pH. 

Spacing requirements: 8-24 inches apart

Possible companion plants: celery, garlic, onions, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, and yarrow.

Water requirements: Moderate amount of water to keep the soil moist

Start date: Start in fall, at least 50 days before the first hard freeze (in DC, the first hard frost is around November 8) Must be colder than 75°F.

• Direct sow

Harvest date: About 50 days after planting for the leaves

• one-time harvest

Common pests: Aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, cabbage worms, cutworms, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, mites, slugs, snails, thrips

• Cabbage worms are especially destructive caterpillars; look for small green caterpillars and small holes across the leaves of Brassicae. 

• Treat cabbage worms by using row covers, rotation planting, and manual removal

Annual

Native range: Mediterranean region

The buttons of the plant are edible

Hardy in zones 2-9

Sun requirements: Full sun

Soil requirements:Loamy, water retentive soil that has a pH from 6.0-6.8.

Spacing requirements: 19 inches apart

Possible companion plants: Marigold, mustard, nasturtium

Water frequency: moderate, 1 inch weekly

Start date: Start in fall, at least 50 days before the first hard freeze (in DC, the first hard frost is around November 8) Must be colder than 75°F.

• Direct sow

Harvest date: About 50 days after planting for the leaves

• one-time harvest

Common pests: Aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, cabbage worms, cutworms, flea beetles, harlequin bugs, mites, slugs, snails, thrips

• Cabbage worms are especially destructive caterpillars; look for small green caterpillars and small holes across the leaves of Brassicae. 

• Treat cabbage worms by using row covers, rotation planting, and manual removal