Broccoli comes in all different shapes, sizes

Take a trip to the nursery these days and you will find a huge selection of broccoli starts. There are so many varieties from which to choose and not all are the typical big, green-headed variety that you typically see at the produce sections of the grocery store.

Here is a rundown on what you might find these days:

Romanesco — This Italian heirloom goes back to the 16th century. Its growth habit is that of a cauliflower and its flower bud is nothing like any other vegetable. Each head is a pointy, chartreuse spiral of individual pointy chartreuse spirals. It is called a Fibonacci fractal. As crazy as this broccoli looks, it has a sweet, nutlike flavor. The heads are small compared to the huge leaves and stems that support the flower bud. This one takes a bit of time and space before harvest.

Broccoli raab — Also called rapini, this Italian heirloom broccoli sends up multiple long green shoots with small broccoli heads. The plant is to be eaten stems, leaves and buds. The flavor is slightly bitter mustard. This is a fast grower, sending up harvestable heads within a few short weeks after setting out starts.

Chinese broccoli — Also called gai lan, this fastgrowing broccoli produces numerous slim stalks with small buds. This broccoli is equally valued for its leaves and stems as its flower buds. There is an abundance of tender stem, much like the asparagus spears. Fast growing, expect to harvest within 60 days after transplanting. Broccolini — Recently introduced in the mid-1990s, this one is a cross between broccoli raab and gai lan.

It is far sweeter than the slightly bitter broccoli raab. It also has a mild peppery bite. The plants grow quickly, within 60 to 80 days.

Purple sprouting broccoli — Like the other broccolis, this one produces multiple small heads. Purple flower buds turn green when cooked. This broccoli is best planted in early fall and allowed to mature during the winter for early spring harvest. Multiple harvests can be expected from mature plants.

Broccoli growing tips

Broccoli starts can be set out from now through late spring here on the coast. It is useful to use row cover during the growing process. Early crops will benefit from the extra warm and cold protection that row cover offers. Spring and early summer broccoli plants will not be attacked by green cabbage worms, gray aphids or root maggots when covered.

Broccoli also likes a heavier, deep rich soil. It will produce few, inferior heads if planted in shallow raised beds or containers that offer limited space. You will still get a broccoli crop, but the leaves, stalks and heads will be far smaller than those grown directly in deep soil.