MB>from an heirloom okra that worked out ok.  But never tried
MB>anything in the cole family. I thought they were biennial and
MB>needed 2 years to produce seeds. I'd never get them to live
MB>through the summer here. :)
  Broccoli, a cole family member, flowers and goes to seed easily in the
  same year. As long as it doesn't get too hot, too fast, the seeds
  should be viable. Broccoli can actually be set out after well
  hardening off, as a small seedling long before frost ends. Although
  timing is everything, you might be able to start broccoli seedlings
  anytime, and set them out in Feb, or whenever your expected big
  freezes are over. Not frost...freezes. (Whenever the temps dip below
  freezing and remain there for several hours.)
  If you don't expect any of those, why not set your broccoli out
  shortly, and you'll be hopefully harvesting a crop in two months, just
  when everyone else is thinking of starting some. :-) (I start mine in
  March, set it out in April, and even when frosts run right through to
  the end of May, begin harvesting the middle of June.) Keep the soil
  cool and moist with a deep mulch, and who knows, you may get so much
  broccoli you'll be happy to see the sun fry it after a while. 
  But you MUST harden it off quite well, being prepared to lug the
  seedlings in during that period if a heavy frost threatens. After they
  have spent several days in full sunlight, and maybe a couple of nights
  as well, they can be planted in prepared soil and mulched. For your
  peace of mind, if a heavy frost threatens, you can always toss a
  blanket on them for overnight. :-)
                        ...Sandra...
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