Broccoli is a tasty member of the cabbage family, packed with healthful vitamins. They are among the easiest cabbages to grow, and require little intervention during their growth. Broccoli has a unique peculiarity: it can produce two crops a year (one in the fall and one in the summer), if you plant them at the right time. Choose an area of the garden that is always exposed to the sun and rich soil, and start planting today!
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Plant the Broccoli Seeds
Step 1. Check the pH of the soil
Broccoli prefers a soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. You can test the soil and add various nutrients to regulate its acidity. Be sure to check the soil periodically during cultivation.
- You can find the kits needed for pH measurement in agricultural consortia.
- If the soil pH is below 6.0, add compost or acidic mixed soil.
- If the soil pH is above 7.0, add some granular sulfur.
Step 2. Make sure the soil drains well and is very fertile
If the area does not have these characteristics, there are many things you can do to prepare your garden for planting broccoli.
- If the soil has a tendency to flood, you can build planters to raise the soil above ground level. If possible, use cedar wood to build your planter so it doesn't rot when exposed to water.
- To increase soil fertility, mix 10 cm of mature compost into the soil. If the soil is in particularly bad conditions, also add a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer to enrich it.
- Organic fertilizers, such as alfalfa, cottonseed meal, and manure, are great choices for growing broccoli.
Step 3. Choose an area of your garden that is exposed to full sunlight
Although broccoli prefers full sunlight, they tolerate some shade.
Step 4. Plant your seeds directly outdoors
For a summer harvest, plant the seeds two to three weeks before the last spring frost. For a fall harvest, plant seeds directly outdoors 85-100 days before the first autumn frost.
- Alternatively, you can germinate your own seeds indoors. If you choose to do this, plant them in small pots. Keep them in a sunny room.
- If you are planting seeds indoors, follow the same steps for planting outdoors. You will be able to skip the thinning step because you will be able to plant the most distant seeds.
Step 5. Dig holes about 1cm deep in rows, spaced about 8-15cm apart
Put some seeds in each hole and cover them with soil.
- Use a rake to gently even the soil over the seeds if you are planting outdoors, but be sure not to move the seeds themselves.
- Just level the soil over the seeds with your fingers if you are planting in a pot.
Step 6. Water generously after planting
Make the soil soggy, but make sure you don't leave puddles of water, as broccoli needs drained soil. If you have planted seeds indoors, use a spray bottle to moisten the soil.
Step 7. Adjust the soil temperature
If you are sowing directly outdoors, apply an organic mulch made from mature compost, leaves or bark, to keep the soil cool. Alternatively, if the temperature is lower, you can apply a black plastic cover to warm the soil. You can buy plastic roofing from a consortium or garden store, but any sheet of semi-resistant plastic will do.
Step 8. Thin out the sprouts
When the seedlings reach 2-3 cm in height, you will need to prune the plants to give them room to grow. Remove one in two plants. Keep the plants that seem healthier to you. This will prevent the plants from hindering each other's growth.
Method 2 of 4: Transplant Home Planted Sprouts
Step 1. Transplant the seedlings when they have reached 10-15 cm in height
This will generally take six weeks. The height and development of the plant are more important than the duration of germination.
Step 2. Water the soil well before transplanting the seedlings
Make sure you have completed the soil preparation described above before doing so, including fertilization.
Step 3. Dig holes about 8cm apart and space the seedlings about 30-60cm apart
The soil must reach the base of the first leaves, without covering them. You can plant broccoli of smaller varieties as little as 30cm apart.
Step 4. Adjust the soil temperature
Apply organic mulch made from mature compost, leaves or bark, to keep the soil cool. Alternatively, if the temperature is lower, you can apply a black plastic cover to warm the soil.
Step 5. Wet the soil by watering abundantly after transplanting
Method 3 of 4: Take Care of Your Broccoli
Step 1. Water the plants regularly
Give your plants 2-4cm of water per week. Broccoli prefers moist soil.
- If you want to be very precise, you can use a rain meter to assess the moisture level of the soil.
- Make sure you don't get the broccoli crowns wet when you water them. If I did, they would get moldy.
- In particularly hot or dry conditions, water your plants more.
Step 2. Fertilize the plants for three weeks after planting
Use a nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer when plants start producing leaves. You can use fish emulsion, which guarantees good results. You can continue fertilizing the plants twice a week until harvest time.
Step 3. Avoid digging or turning the soil
Broccoli plants have very shallow roots. If you disturb the soil, you may accidentally break the roots and damage the plants.
- If weeds grow around the plants, smother them with mulch instead of weeding them to avoid disturbing the roots.
- If you choose not to go organic, you can use chemical pesticides to get rid of unwanted weeds from your garden without disturbing the broccoli roots.
Step 4. Collect the broccoli
Collect the crowns when the shoots are tightly closed and dark green. Don't wait for the shoots to open into light green or yellow flowers. Cut the crowns where they meet the stem using garden shears.
- Read "Choosing a Variety" below to know the exact growing times for specific varieties.
- Avoid breaking crowns. A clean cut will promote regrowth.
- Thanks to a clean cut, the broccoli plant should grow small twigs from the sides of the stem.
Method 4 of 4: Choose a Variety
Step 1. Choose a large variety if you have a lot of space
These varieties produce large crowns between fall and spring. They are the most common varieties. They take 50-70 days to mature if planted in the fall, and 65-90 days if planted in the fall. Below are some of these varieties:
- Arcadia
- Belstar
- Munchkin
- Nutri-Bud
- Packman
Step 2. Choose a germinating strain if you plant in a climate with mild winters
These varieties have a bushy appearance and produce small crowns. They ripen best between autumn and spring. They take 50-70 days to mature if planted in the fall, and 65-90 days if planted in the fall. Below are some of these varieties:
- Calabrese
- De Cicco
- Purple Peacock
- Purple Sprouting
Step 3. Choose a Roman variety if the soil is of good quality
These plants produce cone-shaped crowns that can beautify your garden a lot and are crunchy on the palate. They prefer temperatures around 27 ° C and lots of water. They take 75-90 days to mature if planted in the fall, and 85-100 days if planted in the fall. Below are some of these varieties:
- Natalino
- Romanesco Italy
- Veronica
Step 4. Choose turnip greens to grow these plants quickly in a cold climate
These varieties are harvested as sprouts, which is why they have a richer flavor than the others. They only take 40-55 days to mature if planted in the spring, and 50-75 days if planted in the fall. Below are some of these varieties:
- Early Fall Rapini
- Big Sixty
- Sorrento
- Zamboni
Advice
- Bush beans, cucumbers, carrots, chard and other vegetables offer good results when planted alongside broccoli.
- If you live in a warm climate, remember that it is best to plant broccoli in the fall.
- Sprouting white and purple varieties should be sown in the spring after the last frost.
- Broccoli can sprout down to temperatures as low as 4.5 ° C.
- If you transplant your seedlings, it will take ten days less for the broccoli to reach full maturity.
Warnings
- Broccoli is vulnerable to worms and cabbage pests. Inspecting your plants daily and removing pests is often enough to keep them healthy. You can also grow broccoli under guards or fight pests with chemical pesticides.
- Bedbugs and grasshoppers love to feed on broccoli plants in the summer.
Sources and Citations
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- https://usagardener.com/how_to_grow_vegetables/how_to_grow_broccoli.php
- https://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/How-To-Grow-Broccoli.aspx
