People from all over the world are familiar with broccoli, a green vegetable that can be used in a lot of different ways. It’s also highly nutritious, low in calories, and related to other familiar green vegetables like kale and cabbage.
However, broccoli production can vary a lot from country to country and region to region, even though many people around the world eat and enjoy broccoli.
Broccoli, that tree-shaped green cruciferous vegetable, is a staple on dinner tables around the globe. And creative gardeners compete each year to grow the biggest, heaviest broccoli possible. The current record for the largest broccoli in the world stands at a whopping 35 pounds!
In this article, we’ll look at broccoli’s history as a prized vegetable, review the largest broccoli specimens on record, and explore how ordinary gardeners can maximize their chances of cultivating truly massive broccoli.
A Brief History of Broccoli’s Popularity
While broccoli originated in Italy during Roman times its popularity has spread across continents over the centuries.
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The son of Emperor Tiberius became so obsessed with broccoli that he ate nothing but his favorite broccoli dish for an entire month straight,
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Broccoli first came to England in the mid-1700s and to the Americas with Italian immigrants soon after.
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By the 1920s, broccoli was all the rage in upscale restaurants in New York and Boston.
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Today China leads global broccoli production, followed distantly by India and the United States.
Clearly, growers have prized cultivating big, tasty broccoli for centuries. The giant broccoli specimens entered in world record books represent the pinnacle of this passion.
The Largest Broccoli in the Guinness Book of World Records
According to Guinness World Records, the largest broccoli officially documented weighed in at a whopping 35 pounds. This mammoth veggie was grown in 1993 by John and Mary Evans of Palmer, Alaska in the United States.
That same year, the Evanses also held the record for largest cabbage at 106.3 pounds. Their enviable green thumbs allowed them to smash broccoli and cabbage records over the ensuing decades as well.
Interestingly, Alaska’s cold climate and extremely long summer days create excellent conditions for bulking up broccoli to jumbo sizes. The Evans family proved masters of leveraging these advantages.
Other Massive Broccoli Specimens in History
In addition to the Evanses’ record-setting florets, tales persist of people growing broccoli heads even larger:
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An Ontario gardener claimed to have grown a 42-pound specimen in 2014, though it was never officially verified.
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There are reports of broccoli surpassing 30 pounds in other amateur vegetable contests.
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Unverified stories circulate of individual florets the size of soccer balls instead of the usual tennis balls.
While unconfirmed, these accounts testify to gardeners’ endless quest to push broccoli’s size boundaries. The 35-pound barrier has proven difficult to surpass and verify, but that won’t stop growers from trying.
How to Grow Giant Prize-Winning Broccoli
While genetics play a key role, techniques also exist to maximize broccoli size whether gardening in Alaska or Alabama:
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Select an established jumbo cultivar like GroMax or Goliath. Don’t rely on standard supermarket varieties.
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Give each broccoli plant 2-3 feet spacing to reduce competition for light and soil nutrients.
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Prepare the soil deeply with plenty of aged manure and compost before planting.
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Water regularly to keep soils consistently moist but not muddy. Drought stress reduces growth.
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Weed religiously to eliminate competition from other plants.
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Side dress with a nitrogen fertilizer when the plant begins forming its head for an extra growth spurt.
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Allow a few extra weeks before harvesting to let heads reach their full potential.
The Lifespan of World-Record Broccoli Plants
Broccoli is naturally a cool weather crop that goes to seed quickly as temperatures climb. However, dedicated growers have discovered techniques to prolong its productivity:
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Choose heat-tolerant varieties that can better handle warm weather.
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Plant very early in spring and again in late summer for fall/winter harvests.
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Cut the main head when mature, then fertilize and water the plant to encourage secondary shoots.
Employing such methods, the average broccoli plant can produce for 5-6 months rather than its usual 2-3 months. More time equals bigger potential heads.
What Becomes of Accidental Jumbo Broccoli
Gardeners don’t intentionally aim for record-breaking sizes each time they plant. So what becomes of those backyard broccoli that surprisingly grow larger than a human head?
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Many amateur gardeners call the local news station to garner some publicity. Giant veggies often appear on evening broadcasts.
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Others cart their super-sized specimens to county fairs where they compete for prize money in vegetable contests.
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Some families and communities hold competitions among themselves for boasting rights about who grew the biggest.
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Assuming it’s still edible, the broccoli gets cooked and eaten at a family meal or neighborhood potluck dinner.
No matter its final destination, a freakishly large broccoli is a source of pride, amusement and conversation wherever it ends up.
Growing broccoli big enough to rival a toddler may seem like an impossible feat, but dozens of ordinary gardeners have accomplished it. With a bit of luck and adherence to sound cultivation principles, you might just find yourself hauling in a record-busting broccoli this season. At the very least, embarking on the quest will make for an entertaining gardening journey!
Top Broccoli-Producing Countries in the World
On average, the total global amount of broccoli and cauliflower produced is around 25. 5 million tons. The following countries are some of the top contributors to that quantity from year to year.
Producing approximately 10,707,171 tons of broccoli each year, China is by far the world’s biggest broccoli producer. China’s large size and diverse range of climates enable it to produce all year round. Because broccoli is an important part of many popular Chinese dishes, there is a big market for it in the area.
Indian is a big country, just like China. It has a lot of different climates, which means that broccoli can be grown every month of the year. It currently produces about 8. 8 million tons per year.
After India, the United States produces the most broccoli worldwide – around 1. 3 million tons each year. Much of the U. S. ’s broccoli is grown in California, as the state’s temperate year-round climate makes it ideal for the job.
Coming in fourth after the United States is Spain with 746,000 tons of broccoli produced each year. Spain’s location and lovely Mediterranean climate make it possible for it to provide a lot of Europe’s broccoli needs.
Additional countries that produce a good quantity of broccoli each year include Mexico, Italy, Turkey, and Bangladesh.
Factors Affecting Broccoli Production by Country
Broccoli production from country to country is the most profoundly influenced by the climate there. The countries that can give broccoli crops the mild weather they need to grow well are the ones that will be able to make the most broccoli. Additional factors can include the following.
The potential broccoli yield of a country will be higher if it has access to modern growing methods, high-quality tools, and good fertilizers. This gives nations willing to invest in such things an edge. Local Preferences.
Broccoli production is more likely to be a top priority in places where people care about their health or where broccoli is an important part of the local food culture. As more people around the world choose to eat healthier, foods like broccoli are likely to become more popular.
- According to the original source, the data include the amount of broccoli and cauliflower that were grown together.
- All values rounded to the nearest whole metric ton.
- Also known as a tonne, one metric ton = 1,000 kg, or roughly 2,204. 6 lbs.
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FAQ
What is the heaviest, vegetable or fruit?
Which country produces the most broccoli in the world?
Where is the most broccoli grown in the US?
Where does broccoli grow in the world?
Which country produces the most Broccoli?
Producing approximately 10,707,171 tons of broccoli each year, China is by far the world’s biggest broccoli producer. China’s large size and diverse range of climates enable it to produce all year round. Broccoli is also a key ingredient in many beloved Chinese culinary creations, so there’s a large local market for the vegetable.
How many tons of broccoli are produced a year?
On average, the total global amount of broccoli and cauliflower produced is around 25.5 million tons. The following countries are some of the top contributors to that quantity from year to year. Producing approximately 10,707,171 tons of broccoli each year, China is by far the world’s biggest broccoli producer.
When was Broccoli first grown?
Broccoli was first grown commercially in California, and the first ice-packed crop was shipped east in 1924. However, broccoli did not become a crop of any significance in the United States until after World War II. The United States is the world’s largest producer of broccoli.
Where is broccoli grown?
Broccoli also is grown on a large scale in Italy, northern Europe, and the Far East. In recent years, the northeastern United States produced more than 500 acres. Broccoli produced in the northeastern United States is usually available from June through October. Broccoli cultivars recommended for the region are listed below.
Which country produces the most broccoli & cauliflower in the world?
China produces the most broccoli and cauliflower globally at about 10,707,171 tonnes of production annually.
What type of plant is broccoli?
Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea. Broccoli has large flower heads, or florets, usually dark green, arranged in a tree-like structure branching out from a thick stalk, which is usually light green. The mass of flower heads is surrounded by leaves.