Every child could relate to this blog which is based on broccoli as they get clarification about it. If you remember, in your childhood, you must have thought that broccoli and cauliflower were twin brothers.
Whenever we call broccoli and cauliflower brothers then it can be more of a playful metaphor but on the basis of scientific fact, they are very non-similar on the basis of nutritional value, characteristics, and taste.
But we can also say that they are very close to each other as broccolis also belongs to the Brassicaceae family, Let us understand deeply about broccoli vegetable:
Broccolis is also specified by its scientific name Brassica oleracea which belongs to the same family as cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts. This is also known as the powerhouse of nutrition and is considered the staple veggie in a lot of kitchens.
Broccoli is native to the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, it also connects with the ancient history as it was cultivated by the ancient civilization, particularly in the region of Etruscans in Italy.
During the Roman Empire around the 6th century bc, it was grown by the selective breeding practices that were developed by the wild cabbage. Broccoli gets its name from the Italian word “broccoli” which means flowering crest of cabbage.
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Compared to early times, now people love broccoli more in India, as they found it a superfood and love the texture of broccoli, it gained popularity in some particular regions with suitable climates for its cultivation. Here are several varieties of broccoli:
Rabi or winters is the Broccoli growing season in India that lies between October to February. In India there are several guidelines that must be followed by the farmers for the healthy growth of broccoli plants here are these steps:
Broccoli is the chill season crop that is cultivated in months of winter that have an average temperature of 60°F to 70°F, and in the months of November to January.
In India, the sowing period of seeds is differentiated by the different regions according to their climate condition. In north India seeds are mostly sown in the mid-month of August and September before the cold.
In southern states like Kerala, broccoli can be grown year-round with careful management to avoid excessive heat.
There are various planting methods to own the seeds such as direct sowing in which the plants are directly sown to the soil ¼ to ½ inch deep and spaced approximately 12-20 inches apart.
The next one is transplanting seedlings in which the field will be prepared by making the raised beds and leaving space between rows about 30 cm apart in rows that are 60 cm apart.
This process engages various management such as irrigation, fertilizer application, and weed removal process, for providing sufficient amounts of water to the plant and then providing about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week through rainfall or irrigation.
Incorporate well-rotted compost or organic fertilizers into the soil before planting in a regular manner is sufficient for the healthy growth of plants. Soil drenching with copper-based fungicides helps to remove weeds and diseases from healthy crops.
Broccoli is generally ready for harvesting after 60 to 100 days of planting when the head becomes dark green with the tight texture of the vegetable.
There are many methods of harvesting, One of the common methods is using a knife to cut the main head of broccoli. Make the cut about 5 to 6 inches (12.7 to 15 cm) below the head on the stalk.
Broccoli is mostly cultivated in northern India such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, along with it this also grown in the southern part of India which is Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra is the largest producer of broccoli in India.
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As we discussed earlier broccoli is the nutritional power hub and is also known as super food then according to some scientific research broccoli contains these nutrients that enhance the the health of body:
There are several health benefits also of adding broccoli to our daily diet, here are some of them: