Broccoli

This is the first time I've tried to grow broccoli. I bought a couple of starts, and planted seeds.  The starts already have a beautiful broccoli in the center.  I didn't realize how big broccoli gets.  I planted the broccoli seeds to close. So once they were about 6 to 8 inches I pulled them out.  I hate to thin veggies, it seems like such a waist. Not only did the broccoli I left in the bed keep growing, but I planted the broccoli I pulled out, and it's growing too. I didn't actually think it would survive, to much root damage, but happily I was wrong.
I know once you cut the top broccoli off the plant will continue to grow smaller broccoli in the lower branches.  What I don't is how do I know when to cut the first broccoli.
My family loves broccoli.  I'm so glad I gave it a try this year.  It's a very fun veggie to grow.

I'd cut that one today or tomorrow.  The little green balls start to open up and get loose fairly quickly so keep an eye on it.

Thanks Mike. I can't wait to taste home grown broccoli.

I'm growing broccoli for the first time this year too and I had the same question... but mine hasn't made a floret yet. Thanks for asking Jen!

I'm growing broccoli for the first time too. Don't think I'll get heads so I'll just harvest the leaves most likely. Turns out I probably planted them too late in the season. Our winters are cold so they won't overwinter. They've got about 1 month to do what they can before we get temps <20F that'll most likely kill them. But I too thinned them and replanted and they took minimal damage. I was pretty careless too, I just yanked them out with just a small amount of root matter attached and they bounced back quick. It seems like they have fairly small and much more resilient root systems compared to winter squash for example.

The leaves & stems are edible so if you have to thin them out ... you can eat them.

Watch them carefully. When the florets first start to loosen up a bit they are ready. If you see tiny flowers starting to appear that floret needs to be harvested asap. It's fun to let a few completely flower out though. For the seeds & I think they look good.

And the bees love them