It likes to be fed, fish emulsion fertilizer until the heads start forming, then a good all around vegetable fertilizer, I use organic, but you dont have to if you dont mind. Those little white butterflies that fly around are cabbage looper breeders, you do not want them, I use wood ash to dissuade them, but a good light weight row cover cloth is worth it, there is also a terrible bugger called a swedish midge, you cannot see it but it will ruin the heads of your broccoli, again, row covers are great. I strongly disapprove of chemical pesticides and herbicides, so that is why my advice leans the organic way. Its a big plant, the leaves are very big, make sure it has enough space, there is nothing like garden picked broccoli, it does not compare to anything store bought. Good Luck! It likes water.