Broccoli

Use broccoli as a mid-bed crop or along the back edge of a bed that is viewed from the south, where its height is less likely to shade lower vegetables. Keep the row close enough to a path for repeated cutting of the main head and later side shoots, without stepping into the bed. It can share a plan with onions, garlic, dill, chamomile, rosemary, or lettuce. Keep it out of beds planned for strawberries or tomatoes.

Set plants 18 inches apart, center to center. Each plant can reach about 2 feet across, so expect neighboring leaves to meet or overlap as the row fills in; reserve the full mature spread when setting bed edges and path lines. In a narrow bed, use a single row rather than crowding two rows together. Leave a clear working edge beside the planting for watering, weeding, and harvesting.

Give broccoli a full-sun position with fertile, well-drained soil that also holds moisture. Plan irrigation before planting: the root zone needs regular, deep watering, especially as heads form. A bed that dries quickly or receives irregular watering is a poor fit unless it can be watered reliably. Keep mulch or shallow cultivation space available between plants so weeds do not compete in the row.^[1][2][3]

Reserve broccoli space for spring to early-summer or fall harvest rather than the hottest part of the season. It prefers cool weather, while temperatures above 80°F can trigger flowering stalks and shorten the useful harvest window. Treat the bed as seasonally occupied: after the main head is cut, leave room for side shoots for several more weeks before replanting the area.^[2][3]