Dead Broccoli Comes Alive?

[CatnipandChives]

I have recently started composting and I threw some broccoli into my bin about three or four weeks ago and now it is sprouting. I didn't understand why it should be sprouting?

[pd]

I would say it is naturally continuing growing and possibly aided by a little warmth from the compost heap and also darkness if it is under other material. It will eventually give up and begin to decay. It is a good thing to cut or chop up brassica stems and heads before composting.

[petalfuzz]

Compost is funny that way: I'll never know what I"ll find still alive or growing in mine. Very often the seeds I've thrown in there (like green pepper) will sprout in big groups. And before I knew better, I'd throw dandilions w/ roots attached and find the root with new growth. Oh well, at least it's broccoli and not dandilions!!

[pd]

The problem is lack of heat. Warm enough to induce growth, even in rootles stems depending upon what plant they come from; but not hot enough to kill either whole plants, seeds or many harmful organisms. This is especially so at this time of the year and throughout winter. I would say compost making is a very exacting procedure to be learned and experimented over before being able to turn garden waste into humus.

[Celeferguson]

Looks like you've got a classic case of... THE ZOMBIE BROCCOLI!