How to Know When Broccoli Is Ready for Picking?

The part of a broccoli plant that you eat is the head -- crowded clusters of unopened flower buds. Broccoli is one of those vegetables that doesn't actually ripen. It doesn't turn from green to red like tomatoes, for example. Instead, it becomes "ready to be picked." For the freshest, best-tasting broccoli, you have to know when it has reached its peak, when it's time to harvest. The signs for this aren't so much color as they are size and formation. There are also signs that let you know if broccoli has been left too long on the stem.

Sharp knife

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the head of the broccoli plant. When it's ready to be picked, it should be firm and completely developed. It should measure at least 4 to 7 inches in diameter.
- 2
  Look at the florets around the outside of the head. They should be approximately the size of a match head.
- 3
  Check the color of the top parts -- the treetops -- of the broccoli head. When they have turned a bluish-green, and are still tightly closed, the broccoli is ready to be harvested.
- 4
  Grasp the head of the broccoli plant with one hand. Reach down to the stem, approximately 6 inches below, with a sharp knife. Cut the stem to harvest the head.

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