I did a post similar to this a few years ago but thought it was worth repeating.
When I say everyone loves broccoli I’m not just referring to people. The list of creatures that go for broccoli include: groundhogs, deer, flea beetles, cabbage worms, and the main one I wanted to talk about, Swede Midge.

The first few years of the CSA we had beautiful large headed broccoli, and was as consistent a crop as kale. The Swede Midge made it’s debut in North America in Ontario in 2000. It found us, and there were a couple years where we would have a whole row of beautiful looking broccoli plants with large lush leaves, but not a single head of broccoli. The Midge goes for the growth point of brassica plants where the head develops.

I started experimenting with sprouting broccoli finally finding a variety that was productive enough to yield a good crop. The sprouting broccoli makes a small main head but puts most of its energy into sending out side shoots for broccoli spears. These side shoots usually out grow the Midge’s efforts, until this year. The first planting had damage on many of the side shoots as well as the main head. The second planting has been better, but is still effected.

I’ve been giving out more leaf with the heads since the leaves have a nice broccoli flavour. I know if you are used to broccoli heads, this is not the same. And you’re right, it’s not the same. I’ve mainly been just chopping up the whole thing, leaves, head, and the tender part of the stem, and adding it to stir fries. I really enjoy it that way. But agreed it’s not the same as a nice big broccoli head.

Row cover is the best defense when we have wild mustard always around as a host plant, so I will keep trying my best to protect it, since everyone loves broccoli.