Broccoli is a sun-loving, cool-season crop that is best grown in the chillier weather of spring or fall. It’s also incredibly good for you and has been dubbed the “crown jewel of nutrition.” Here’s how to plant, grow, and harvest broccoli in your garden!
Broccoli is worth growing for its nutritional content alone. This cole crop is rich in vitamins and minerals, and is a good source of Vitamin A, potassium, folic acid, iron, and fiber.
Broccoli takes a long time to mature, so be patient! Once you harvest the main head of a broccoli plant, it will often keep producing smaller side shoots that can be enjoyed for months to come.
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I live in Virginia and
I live in Virginia and planted broccoli about 2 1/2 months ago, I have big beautiful leaves on some with no heads and the others something is eating all of the leaves. Any suggestions? Thank you.
If the temperature is too
If the temperature is too warm, the broccoli will not produce heads. Broccoli is a cool-weather crop grown in spring and fall.
I tried growing broccoli but
I tried growing broccoli but it flowered with very little in the way of edible flower. Is it too warm here in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay?
Broccoli is a cool season
Broccoli is a cool season plant. Local (to you!) sources suggest that the best growing time in your area is fall, but some of the sources seem to have conflicting information. Some say start in winter for spring planting. Just as important, though, is the soil. Cole crops like a pH betw 6 .0 and 7.0 (even 7.5); rich, organic compost; plentiful, consistent moisture; and some say a shot of nitrogen at planting (but not too much; that could cause hollow stems). Finally, consider where it is planted in terms of crop rotation: Broccoli and other cole crops should not be planted in the same location more than once every three or four years. Hope this helps—
Question does anyone know how
Question does anyone know how high and wide I need to put mulch around my Broccoli plants to keep the soil cool so I don't continue to get flowers on my broccoli plants?
A layer of 2 to 4 inches of
A layer of 2 to 4 inches of mulch will help cool the soil (about 4 to 6 degrees cooler). However, you need to harvest broccoli before the flowers open or show yellow. The mulch will help slow down the heat but the broccoli will keep maturing!
I tried growing broccoli for
I tried growing broccoli for the first time this year. I had some very small growths, then they grew high and got yellow flowers all over. Is it too late to do anything? I was expecting them to grow large heads from the flowers, but I guess I should've found this page before making that assumption.
It sounds like they "bolted".
It sounds like they "bolted". The broccoli heads/florets you eat are the compacted flower buds. Usually you can get the head to form and have time to harvest the main head before they open up (not as tightly clumped) then shoot up and open yellow flowers. But, sometimes if the plant is stressed due to high temp or low water they "bolt" right up to flower. You can cut this portion off (same as harvesting main head) and the plant should begin to form side shoot heads that will be smaller but edible nontheless.
Thank you for this answer. I
Thank you for this answer. I am experiencing this problem and didn't know what I did wrong. I'll cut the "bolted" part off and see if the side shoots develop.
harvest
Most varieties have side-shoots that will continue to develop after the main head is harvested. You can harvest from one plant for many weeks, in some cases, from spring to fall, if you’re summer isn’t too hot
this is the best part of this plant side shoots you could steam them and add some olive oil on it great as a side dish
1st time grower in texas
the plants are average nine inches high and beautiful but no buds is this normal? I planted them about a month in a half ago.
My broccoli can get quite
My broccoli can get quite tall before the head starts to form. Even knee-high. It can take 60 to 70 days for some varieties. If you gently push the little leaves away in the centre, can you see florets forming? It may just take some time. If the heads do not form, it's usually due to extreme temperature--usually because it's too hot. This cool-weather veggies does not like heat. Cold shock at seeding can happen, too.
yellow, dying cotyledons
My broccoli seedlings have one or two true leaves and the cotyledons are turning yellow and dying. Isn't that a bit early for the cotyledons to die? They are about 4 weeks old.
After you get the true leaves
After you get the true leaves (within a week or so), the cotyledons will start to yellow. When they start to yellow, begin fertilizing seedlings by applying a WEAK fertilizer solution each time you water. (Be careful not to "burn" with too much fertilizer.)
Long stems from seed
I started by plants from seed and 4 weeks later have 3 to 4 inch stems with very small leaves at the very top. These are indoors in peat pots. Can a plant them with a good part of these long stems in the ground?
Reasons for long stems: temps
Reasons for long stems: temps too warm (broccoli likes it 10 degrees cooler than most seedlings), not enough direct sunlight, too much nitrogen in soil. Yes, when you plant, cover the roots and stem with supplemental top soil; dissipate the nitrogen (use fertilizer high in phosphorous and low in nitrogen). Stake the long stem if needed.
Bring them back inside?
I just transplanted my broccoli plants to their big containers outside. So far, the weather during the day has been in the 50s-60s, with the night temps in the 40s. The forecast calls for high of 48/low of 30 in a couple days. Should I bring the plants back inside, or leave them out? I heard too much variability can make them bolt, but not sure what constitutes "too much." If it helps, I live in right in between zones 7a and 7b. Thanks!
a broccoli chill
Planting zone definitions are guides--good ones, but they are not infallible. Any given spot could be a micro-climate that varies from typical zonal characteristics and expectations. Broccoli is pretty hardy but, yes, it is finicky.
Cold tolerance depends on conditioning. If your plants had been in warmer conditions before transplanting and the temp drops well below freezing, it is very likely you would lose them. If you broccoli plants had experienced relatively cold weather, it is likely that they would survive.
Sometimes it is wise to err on the side of caution. You might do well to bring the containers inside, but into a space/area that mimics recent temp and light conditions. That is, don't bring them into the high heat and lamp light of the house. Perhaps a porch?? Or you could cover the plants.
Either way, return them outside or uncover them during the day.
We hope this helps.
I put mine in 4 months and
I put mine in 4 months and still nothing. I live in HI so plenty of rain but warmer weather. Should I just pull them??
broccoli
It's not just about the weather. Broccoli needs soil with a pH range of 6–7. It is a heavy feeder, so thrives where the soil is rich in aged manure or rich compost—or both. When planted and while growing it can benefit from a general garden fertilizer, such as 10-30-10, with more nitrogen after harvesting. And, if you are not practicing appropriate crop rotation, it may fail to thrive because of whatever grew in the spot before. For specific assistance, contact your local extension service. We hope this helps.
Broccoli never produced
Last year my broccoli never produced anything but BIG plants. The stem itself was a big as 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick. I kept thinking okay maybe it is like the asparagus and takes a little longer. A couple did produce a few very tiny florets,but that was it. I let them go to seed as I figured the flowers were pretty.(I eventually pulled all the other ones out so I could plant other veggies)I actually let 1 plant stay over the winter and it is still living! What a waste of my garden space..Any thoughts? I tried both planting from seed and from nursery plants.
Broccoli never produced
It's hard to know exactly what went wrong with your broccoli crop, but consider this:
• Did you amend the soil to the appropriate pH: 6.0-6.5?
• Did you apply potassium and nitrogen before planting and then again to seven weeks after the transplants (or seedings) got established?
• Did you keep the plants well watered and free from stress—such as diseases, weeds, and insects?
• Did you plant too early in spring? The larger that plants are when exposed to a late-season cold period, the higher is the likelihood that they will bolt.
• Did the plants experience a prolonged cold spell, followed by a favorable temps, then high temps? This sounds normal, but the variability may be the cause of bolting.
There is no easy answer. Consider these risks and try again this year. OH, then there's this—if you see broccoli thriving in a garden in your area, tell your tale and ask the gardener what his/her secret is. The best advice is sometimes right next door. Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
I too have gorgeous plants
I too have gorgeous plants but no broccoli. Be nice if I could eat the leaves!
You Can
You can eat the leaves
eating leaves
In the blooming stage of the plant when the heads are growing It is helpful to free the plant of the leaves and stems that grow near the heads, the more mature ones taste a little bitter but the new growth ones can be as sweet as snap peas.
Broccoli small
I had thumb sized heads until I discovered kelp meal. It along with bone meal helped me grow wonderful tender large broccoli that was so good !
Yes, you can eat the leaves.
Yes, you can eat the leaves. Think of it as collard greens or kale. They taste like broccoli too and are super healthy!
Cool weather crops
I live in north central Arkansas and when I saw broccoli, cabbage plants etc. at my local feed store, I bought a few. They are now about 10 inches tall. I have been trying to cover them when frost is forcast but have failed to do so a couple of times and they seem to be fine. Do I need to cover them over winter?
Broccoli can be grown in
Broccoli can be grown in areas with mild winters, not severe winters. This fits central Arkansas-- zone 7b. The timing depends on the variety of broccoli. For a standard type of broccoli, you would normally start harvesting around October but may be able to stretch to January. For the Northern European varieties of broccoli, you can overwinter. Normally, you'd start seeds early summer and transplants by later summer so the broccoli has time to grow large enough to grow by January and survive low temps. The plants will thrive down to 25 degrees F without covering. Some readers say that their broccoli did well down to 10 degrees. Single digits would kill.
cutting your plant and replanting it upside down will it grow
I was told to cut the top pull the plant and replant it upside down
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