Broccoli is a sun-loving, cool-season crop that thrives in the cooler months of the year. It’s also extremely healthy, earning the title of “crown jewel of nutrition.” Here’s how to grow, harvest, and plant broccoli in your garden!
About Broccoli
Broccoli is worth cultivating simply because of its nutritional value. This cole crop is high in vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, iron, and fiber, and is a healthy source of these nutrients.
Be calm as broccoli takes a long time to develop. When the main head of a broccoli plant is harvested, it will often continue to produce tiny side shoots that can be consumed for months.
Broccoli Growing Conditions
The following are conditions necessary for growing Broccoli:
1) When to Plant Broccoli
Broccoli is a cool-season crop, so plant it in late winter or early spring (based on your climate) for an early summer yield or mid-to-late summer for a fall crop.
Because high temperatures will impair the development of the broccoli head (the component that can be harvested), the aim is to have broccoli mature before or after extreme temps are predicted.
Broccoli seeds can germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40°F (4°C), but warmer soil is favored and will hasten growth.
It can be started indoors or outdoors a few weeks before the latest spring frost date for spring plantings.
Plant seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. Sow seeds outside 2 to 3 weeks before your last frost date, or as early as the soil is workable in the spring.
Sow seeds outside 85 to 100 days before the first fall frost, when soil and ambient temperatures are moderate, for fall plantings (ideal in warm areas).
2) Preparing the Planting Site
Broccoli demands a location that receives full sun (6 to 8 hours per day). Lack of sunshine might result in slender, leggy plants with poor heads. Plant in a wet, fertile, well-draining soil bed.
The pH of the soil should be somewhat acidic, ranging between 6.0 and 7.0. In early spring, work in 2 to 4 inches of rich compost or a thin layer of manure to boost productivity before planting.
3) How To Plant Broccoli
Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 3 inches apart if beginning seeds outside. Thin seedlings when they reach a height of 2 to 3 inches, spacing them 12 to 20 inches apart.
Plant transplants that are 4 to 6 weeks old (and have 4 or 5 leaves) outside, 12 to 20 inches apart, in holes slightly deeper than their pot depth, if you began seeds inside.
Rows of broccoli should be 3 feet apart. (Smaller main heads result from closer spacing, but more secondary heads result from closer spacing.) When you’re planting, make sure you give it enough water.
4) Broccoli Plant Care
Plants thrive in temperatures ranging from 65°F to 70°F (18° to 21°C) in the open air. Fertilize broccoli seedlings 3 weeks after planting them in the garden. Use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen.
When the baby plants are 2 to 3 inches tall, thin them out. The spacing between plants should be between 12 and 20 inches.
Frequent watering will keep the soil moist, especially if the weather is dry. 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week is recommended.
When watering budding broccoli heads, avoid getting them damp as this can induce rot.
Because the roots are shallow, avoid disturbing the plants. Mulch will kill weeds. Mulching around plants can also help to reduce soil temperatures.
To keep pests at bay, use row covers. Maintain an aggressive feeding and watering routine after the first head has been harvested to encourage the growth of a second head.
5) How To Harvest Broccoli
Harvest broccoli in the daytime, just before the heads bloom, when the head buds are strong and tight.
If you notice yellow petals, harvest them right away because the quality will quickly deteriorate.
Remove the plant’s heads, leaving at least 6 inches of stalk. To allow the water to slide away from the stalk, create a slanted cut. (Water can gather in the core of a flat-cut stalk and rot it, causing secondary heads to run.)
After the primary head is plucked, most kinds have side-shoots that will keep growing.
If your summer isn’t too hot, you can harvest from a single plant for several weeks, even from spring to fall.
FAQ:
Can you grow Broccoli from scraps?
Yes, You can grow Broccoli from scraps. But, make sure the scraps are disease free and still fresh.
