The Best Broccoli Seeds of 2024

The Best Broccoli Seed Buying Guide

Broccoli seeds are so easy to grow. Whether you sprout them on your windowsill or grow them in soil, they are an excellent seed variety for first-time growers to sow, nurture, and harvest. The sprouts and microgreens are packed with flavor and nutritional benefits since they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and even protein. Generally, sprouts will be ready to eat within 6 days or microgreens within 8 days of starting the germination process. When choosing your seeds there are a few things to consider to make sure you get good quality nutritional value. Once you’ve got your seeds, it is vital to take the right steps to sprout them to ensure maximum germination rates. Here’s everything you need to know.

What To Consider When Buying Broccoli Seeds

To ensure your sprouted seeds will offer the most nutritional value, you want to make sure they are completely natural and have not been chemically treated. Therefore, always choose seeds that are non-GMO and where possible certified organic.

Some smaller companies find the cost of organic certification very high and may produce organic seeds which are not necessarily certified. Other companies do not chemically treat their produce or use chemical pesticides but cannot guarantee the organic soil quality which will disqualify the certification of the produce.

In addition to ensuring you only purchase non-GMO seeds, look out for companies who test the germination rates of seed lots to avoid getting seeds that won’t sprout. Sprouts from different suppliers may taste a little different depending on the seed variety.

Broccoli Seed Growing Guide

Regardless of the method, you use to sprout or grow broccoli microgreens you need to sanitize them first. Place 2 tablespoons of broccoli seeds into 1 cup of water mixed with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Let the seeds soak in the water-vinegar mixture for 10 minutes. Drain the seeds and rinse them with clean water. The seeds are now ready to be used for sprouting or planting.

How To Sprout Broccoli Seeds in a Jar

Step 1: Use three tablespoons of seeds for a one-quart size jar. Place the seeds in the jar and rinse the seeds twice by filling the jar with water, putting the sprouting lid or screen on, swirling it around, and draining out the water.

Step 2: Fill the jar halfway with water and place it in the refrigerator to soak for 8 to 10 hours overnight.

Step 3: Pour out the soaking water and cover the seeds in clean water to rinse them well. Shake out as much water as possible after rinsing. Turn the jar a few times to allow the seeds to coat the sides of the jar.

Step 4: Place the jar at an angle in a small bowl so any excess water can drain out.

Step 5: From this point forward, you need to rinse and drain the seeds one to two times daily and place them in the same angled position for excess water to drain out. It is important to get rid of excess water to prevent mold or other issues. You will begin to see them sprouting. After 6 to 9 days your sprout will be ready to eat

For a visual how-to, check out this seed-to-harvest video.

How To Grow Broccoli Microgreens

Broccoli is one of the easiest and fastest-growing microgreens to work with. To grow your broccoli microgreens, you will need:

• A planting tray with draining holes in the bottom
• A water traying without any holes
• A cover for your planting tray
• Potting Soil
• A spray bottle (optional)

Step 1: Fill the planting tray with a premium potting mix, firmly compacted. Don’t fill the compartments to the brim, leave a small amount of space at the top open since you will be adding more soil later.

Step 2: Spray water to wet the soil surface. Let the water soak into the soil and then respray. 

Step 3: Spread a small number of seeds evenly over the soil without overcrowding. Cover the seeds with a light coating of soil and very gently press down the soil.

Step 4: Use the spray bottle to wet the seeds and settle them into the soil. Cover your seeds with a lid to keep them in a dark and cool environment. If the lid is clear, place a small towel over the lid to keep it dark and retain the moisture. Leave your seeds for 2 days to germinate.

Step 5: If your seeds have only germinated very slightly, give them another one to two days under the cover. If there is a large amount of germination remove the lid and allow your sprouting seeds to receive a lot of light, whether sunlight, a special grow light, or LED lighting.

Step 6: Add water to the watering tray as the little plants will now be watered from the bottom to prevent disease. You may have to add more water for the first round as the soil will be dry and absorb more moisture until it is saturated. Leave your greens in plenty of light and add water to the bottom tray as needed.

Step 7: After 8-to-ten days your broccoli microgreens will be 2.5-to-3 inches tall. Harvest only the amount you intend to use at a time by using a sharp knife to cut the stem just above the soil. Wash your broccoli microgreens just before using. If you are storing them in the refrigerator, wait until you use them before giving them a rinse.