Broccoli

Brassica oleracea var. italica

Broccoli is a brassica grown for its flower buds, but its stems and leaves are edible too. It has a clean green flavor that becomes more sulfurous and sweet with heat.¹

Plant notes

Broccoli contains glucosinolates, sulfur-rich compounds common in brassicas and part of the plant’s defense chemistry.²

Further notes

Broccoli is a flowering member of the cabbage family and can be grown as both a spring and fall crop in Maine.³

Footnotes

1. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, “Food & Nutrition for the Home Gardener,” accessed July 17, 2026. ↩

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, “Glucosinolates,” accessed July 17, 2026. ↩

3. University of Maine Cooperative Extension, “Vegetables and Fruits for Health: Broccoli and Cauliflower,” accessed July 17, 2026. ↩