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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After winter
My broccoli did well this summer and now in the fall. When the weather gets colder do I need to pull the plants and replant new in late winter or will my current bud again in the spring. I live in SC if this helps
You can leave your plants in
You can leave your plants in the ground and keep harvesting the side shoots in the winter months. In the spring you need to plant new broccoli plants to get new buds and florets.
When is a good time to plant broccoli in NW TN?
When is a good time to plant broccoli in NW TN? Im not sure about my dirt either, okra did great, but tomatoes are very small. The dirt is hard packed and rust colored. My garden spot gets about 8 - 12 hours of sun, depending on which end Im on (great big tall wild cherry trees offer shade).
Please see our fall planting
Please see our fall planting chart here and look for your frost dates. It lists broccoli and more! http://www.almanac.com/content...
bad soil
I would add 3 to 5 inches of strait compost u can buy it by the cubic yard from any nursery or the city dump(its cheaper)till it in before spring planting do this every year until the soil will stay loos in summer
First Time Planting Broccoli
I live in south Louisiana and would like to grow broccoli-I don't have a green thumb and would like to know how to get started. I think now is the time to plant but should I start seeds indoors, buy seedlings and plant outdoors, or sow seeds outdoors?
For southern Louisiana,
For southern Louisiana, August is a good time to seed broccoli in the ground. It's probably fine in September, too. Here's a good guide from LSU:
http://www.lsuagcenter.com/NR/...
broccoli never gave florets
I planted my broccoli by seed about 3 months ago. The plant grew nice but never gave me florets. Should I trim it or just pull out the whole plant and start again?
It may have been too hot for
It may have been too hot for your broccoli. Or you may have added too much nitrogen to the soil which encourages leaf growth. Next time try a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer for better bloom growth.If you have room in your garden leave the plants and you may get some florets with cooler temps.
When do you start to plant fall garden.
In Havana Florida where due I find planting dates
Click on the yellow
Click on the yellow "Gardening" tab to the left and you'll see planting links.
harvesting seeds?
How do I harvest seeds from my Broccoli plant? Ive let one plant flower but not sure when or how to harvest seeds.
Broccoli isn't the best
Broccoli isn't the best veggie for seed-saving but you can do it. First, note that you can't have any other crops from the Brassica oleracea family within a mile or they'll cross-pollinate and it won't be pure broccoli. Also, you want to seed save from heirloom veggies versus hybrids. Do not harvest heads on broccoli plants that you wish to save for seed. Carefully dig the plants and pot them in sand. Store plants between 32-40° F. Plant back out in early spring and allow to bolt. Harvest seed pods when dry and clean by hand. See more on Seed Saving: http://www.almanac.com/content...
When to pull up broccoli plant
I've harvested the main head and some of the side heads have gone to seed. Should I pull up the plant now and plant something else? How do I know when to pull up a plant after it's done.
Yep, it's done. Pull out the
Yep, it's done. Pull out the broccoli plant. It's gone to seed and will only start to taste bitter. Now you can sow a plant that fits the middle of summer in your area!
Floating row covers
In the Northeast climate, can you use floating row covers during July and August?
Yes. Floating row covers is
Yes. Floating row covers is an excellent way to prevent pests. Apply just after planting. You can keep over broccoli for the life of the plant since they do not require insects to pollinate them. However, it is important to secure the edges of the cover tightly (with landscaping pins).
it's been 30 days
Its been 30 days all I have are big big leaves. Is that okay
Keep on watering and your
Keep on watering and your broccoli should soon sprout!
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
flower stalks and heads
I planted broccoli plants from a nursery about 6 weeks ago. Broccoli heads are growing nicely but I have tall stalks with flowers too. Should I cut those off? They are now so tall they are leaning over.
It seems as though your plant
It seems as though your plant has gone to seed! Pick them off and hopefully smaller florets will grow in their place.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
Broccoli plants after harvest
when do you know it's time to pull out the plant after harvesting the florets?
Harvest while buds are
Harvest while buds are starting to swell (match-like size) or if it begins to loosen from the plant itself. If you wait to long, they'll flower.
Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
broccoli
when YOU CUT THE HEAD TO EAT, WILL ANOTHER HEAD GROW THERE , or will it be just side shoots from there ?
It won't grow the same
It won't grow the same central head, but it will grow more, smaller heads to enjoy.
Broccoli Help
I planted my seedlings about a week and a half ago. For some reason, there is already a broccoli on some of them. It is small and the plant itself is only about 12 inches high. Can I clip this little broccoli and more will grow later, or is it a goner?
It's hard to say without a
It's hard to say without a photo link, but does the broccoli head look like a small "button"? There are several possibilities for this: 1) Plants that remain too long in seed flats or have outgrown their container may produce "button" heads soon after planting. 2) Plants that have experienced a rapid change in temperature such as warm to cold nights without any "hardening off" and transition may button. 2) Dry spells, cold nights, or really erratic weather can affect the early broccoli growth.
If you have this issue with the main head, your broccoli can still produce great side shoots after the main head is cut.
Broccoli Help
It didn't look like a button. It looked like a side shoot would look like towards the end of the season. It was tall, but small and coming out of the middle. I took it off, hoping to get the plant to produce another one. We have had weird weather her in Maine. Very hot in March and April for a week or so but now we have has lower than normal temps in the 40's and 50's. I have more broccoli and caulif. growing for the fall in the house, so if these are a loss I do still have more coming.
It sounds like the plants are
It sounds like the plants are healthy. I think they will grow more broccoli flowers.
Late harvest
I did not harvest my broccoli before the yellow flowers grew. Will the plant still grow after I cut them off?
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