Beautiful Bountiful Broccoli

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Children may not like broccoli because it doesn't taste like sugar. Most adults have never enjoyed the delightful flavor of broccoli fresh from the garden or produce market or farmer's market. And, there is a difference!

One of the many email newsletters I receive is from the World's Healthiest Foods. WHF says that one cup of steamed broccoli has 200% of the daily recommended amount of vitamins C and K. Plus it is reported to have cancer prevention "phytonutrients sulforaphane and the indoles, which have significant anti-cancer effects. Research on indole-3-carbinol shows this compound helps deactivate a potent estrogen metabolite (4-hydroxyestrone) that promotes tumor growth, especially in estrogen-sensitive breast cells, while at the same time increasing the level of 2-hydroxyestrone, a form of estrogen that can be cancer-protective. Indole-3-carbinol has been shown to suppress not only breast tumor cell growth, but also cancer cell metastasis (the movement of cancerous cells to other parts of the body)."

And the good news is that if you can grow or otherwise get your fork on a pile of freshly picked broccoli it just plain tastes great.

I grew ours from Renee Seeds All Season Blend which is one of their 3-types of seeds in one envelope combinations. In this case the seeds are early, mid and late season harvest. (Renee's also has 3-types of eggplant in one envelope, 3-carrot blend, etc. The combo packs mean you can grow more varieties without having to buy and plant more than you can use.)

It's too late for a spring harvest planting but consider late summer seed planting for a fall harvest.

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