In episode 119 of the Encyclopedia Botanica podcast, host Hilary Dahl is joined by her husband and business partner, Colin McCrate, to dig into the cultivation of broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. They discuss the importance of scientific nomenclature, focusing on Brassica oleraceae, and emphasize aspects of growing these crops, such as spacing, nitrogen requirements, and transplanting. The episode offers practical advice for dealing with pests, managing nitrogen levels, and ensuring proper growth conditions. It also touches on the challenges of growing cauliflower and the importance of timely harvesting. The discussion aims to help home gardeners improve the success of their brassica crops.
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The Brassica family includes crops like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi, among others. These crops are cold-hardy, which makes them ideal for Fall gardens and in many cases, overwintering. The term ‘Fall Brassicas’ refers to crops that are planted anywhere between mid/late summer and early fall and are then harvested throughout the Fall.