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You are here: Home / Gardening Quick Tips / Grow Broccoli to Avoid Cabbage Pests

Grow Broccoli to Avoid Cabbage Pests

2 Comments

Broccoli Attracts Less Pests than Cabbage


Due to its variability and centuries of clever breeding, the cabbage family has contributed numerous cultivars to the home garden. But sadly, most are easily beset by pests like cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, cabbage aphids, flea beetles, slugs, mites, and harlequin bugs.

If this is a particular frustration in your garden but you want your brassicas, try growing broccoli. You may still suffer from insect predation, but it will be much less than you’d see with cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and the like.

Incidentally, scientists have developed pest-resistant versions of broccoli for commercial production that suffer even less predation. However, be forewarned that they contain the same Bacillus thuringiensis genes that have made Bt corn so controversial among organic gardeners.

Broccoli Growing Reference Chart

Life cycleTechnically a biennial, completing its lifecycle in two growing seasons. Most gardeners grow it as an annual to harvest before flowering to seed.
Plant typeAnnual or biennial
Native ToMediterranean region
Scientific NameBrassica oleracea var. italica.
USDA Hardiness zone2-11
Days to Maturity50-100 days
Sun RequirementsFull sun
Planting requirementsWell-drained soil, pH between 6.0 and 7.0, consistent moisture
Spacing18-24 inches apart
Planting Depth1/4-1/2 inch deep
Plant Height18-36 inches tall
Plant Spread18-24 inches wide
Water RequirementsConsistent moisture
Common PestsAphids, Cabbage Loopers, Cabbage Worms, Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Harlequin Bugs, Cabbageworms, Slugs, Snails
Common DiseasesClubroot, Downy Mildew, Fusarium wilt, Powdery Mildew
Soil RequirementsWell-drained, pH between 6.0 and 7.0
Soil PHBetween 6.0 and 7.0
Companion PlantsBeets, Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Lettuce, Marigold, Mint, Nasturtiums, Onions, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach, Swiss Chard,Thyme
Popular VarietiesCalabrese Green Sprouting (Heirloom), De Cicco (Heirloom), Waltham 29 (Heirloom), Arcadia (Hybrid), Belstar (Hybrid), Gypsy (Hybrid), Marathon (Hybrid), Packman (Hybrid)
Attracts PollinatorsHoney bees
Time to Harvest50-100 days after planting
Planting calendarSpring or fall depending on your location and climate
Cool Season or Warm Season CropCool season

What’s the next step to planting broccoli in your home garden?

We’ve got you covered! Check out these in depth articles on growing broccoli:
How to Grow Broccoli One of our own detailed growing guides.
Broccoli from Clemson University Cooperative Extension
Broccoli in the Garden PDF from Utah State University Cooperative Extension
Home Garden Series: Home Garden Broccoli from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension

broccoli plant and cabbage with text overlay grow broccoli to avoid cabbage pests

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Filed Under: Gardening Quick Tips Tagged With: broccoli garden pests, broccoli pests, cabbage loopers, cabbage pests, cabbage worms, growing broccoli, growing broccoli plants

Comments

  1. barbara says

    January 31, 2018 at 1:50 pm

    I have experimented over the years – I don’t plant brassicas near each other, interplant with other veg and flowers, plant later in year when pests are not around for winter harvest.

    When we moved to this large urban property the only edible plant was three old blueberries – lost much of crop to birds even with some netting until the perennials I planted started to flower and fruit – and now I plant lots of summer bird plants too. Hardly a berry lost – even noticed birds leaving strawberries alone.

    Reply
  2. Laurel says

    August 10, 2020 at 12:14 pm

    Please help!! This year I found one of my cabbages had collapsed. Turning it over, I found a a black and off white 6 sided beetles. The rotting mess stunk! What is it and how do I treat to keep it from coming again next year??

    Reply

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