Broccoli is a low-maintenance, easy vegetable to grow. It just needs full sun, good soil, and plenty of water. The only tricky part of growing broccoli is that it can bolt (flower) when temperatures get hot. To get around this, grow broccoli in the spring and fall.
You can also optimize your harvest by choosing the right type and variety of broccoli. Some broccoli varieties are more heat tolerant, and others grow quickly, so you can fit them into a short shoulder season. Regardless of the type you choose, understanding broccoli harvest time and how to harvest it is essential for getting a healthy crop.

When to Harvest Broccoli
The harvest time for broccoli depends on several factors, mostly the type and variety but also your local conditions. In many locations, broccoli is harvested in late June or September and October.
Maturity time varies for broccoli types and varieties and can be anywhere from 50 to 90 days. Check the official maturity time for what you planted. Use that as a guideline, but more importantly, watch for signs it’s ready to harvest: The main, central head is four to eight inches (10 to 20 cm) across. This, of course, varies by type. The individual flower buds look plump and are dark green in color. The flower buds on the edge of the head are about the size of a match head. If you see any yellow on the head, harvest immediately. This indicates the flowers have started to open, and you have waited a little too long.
After you harvest the main head, look below the cut for the formation of side shoots. These will develop into smaller heads that you can harvest broccoli plant side shoots when they’re ready and they are just as tasty as the head of broccoli.