Stop Wasting Broccoli's Nutrients
More than two-thirds of broccoli’s nutrients end up in your compost or trash bin. In fact, only roughly 15% of broccoli’s total biomass is typically consumed. The nutrients you’re unknowingly missing out on are in the stem and leaves. People discard the stems and leaves without realizing that they contain similar nutrient levels as the florets and even more antioxidants and phenolic content.
Compared to the floret, broccoli stems contain:
- More potassium
- More calcium
- Similar levels of magnesium
- Similar levels of phosphorous
- Higher antioxidant activity
Compared the floret, broccoli leaves contain:
- More manganese
- More calcium
- More vitamin K
- More vitamin E
- More carotenoids
- More chlorophylls
- Higher levels of phenolic compounds
- Higher antioxidant activity
The takeaway here is that you should start incorporating the broccoli stems and leaves into your salads and cooking. Piecing the data together, a research team found that consuming stems and leaves would increase broccoli crop yield productivity from 15% up to as high as 83%! If you want to start growing broccoli at home, I carry five heirloom broccoli seed varieties here on my site!
You can direct sow broccoli seeds as early as 2-3 weeks before your last frost or start the seeds indoors as early as 5-6 weeks before the last frost. Germination will take between 5-14 days, and the seedlings can be transplanted outdoors before the last frost when the plants are 5-6 inches tall.
