Broccoli is a favorite cool-season vegetable. Growing Broccoli is not hard and it tastes much better right from the garden. I got a blend of three different broccolis this year. The cultivars in the packet can differ depending on supply, but I got Green Magic – Early, Gypsy – Mid, and Matsuri – Late. Planting a range of varieties means I will have broccoli starting in about 90 days from when I start my seeds and should have some until the heat sets in and they quit producing.
Preparing the Soil
Before you plant broccoli, till your soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. A full 12 inches is best. Spread about three inches of compost on top of the tilled soil. Mix that into the tilled soil.
Soil Tests
Before you go further, it is a good idea to send off a sample of soil to your state soil lab and have it tested. Your Extension Agent will have sample bags and instructions. In Texas, a soil sample costs $12 for a basic profile. When you get the soil test results, fertilize the soil according to the recommendations the soil lab makes.
Fertilizing Before Planting
If you do not have a soil test, fertilize with a basic vegetable fertilizer such as 10-20-10. Spread one to two pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet or about 30 feet of row. Mix the fertilizer in the first 2-3 inches of soil.
Make A Raised Row
Pull soil into a hill about 12 inches high, 6-8 inches tall, and spaced 36 inches from the center of one row to the center of the row next to it. This arrangement makes the soil drain well, as vegetables do not like poor draining soil.
Seed Starting
You can grow broccoli from seed like I do or buy transplants from a reputable nursery. If starting from seed, begin about 4-5 weeks before planting them outside. Place one to two seeds in each peat pot or section of the container. In 5-10 days, when they come up, let them grow until they have their first two leaves. Pinch off the weaker of the two plants at the ground. Do not pull it, as that will damage the vigorous plant.
Hardening Off Plants
Before transplanting your seedlings, be sure to harden them off. This process is to get them used to being outside. Place your plants in a shaded, protected area in your yard for a few hours. Gradually move them to a sunny spot and extend the time they are outside to all day over a week.
Spacing
Space the plants 14-18 inches apart when you plant your transplants. You want to leave this much space, so the plants have room to grow. Crowded plants do not grow as big and are more prone to disease. Plant the growing broccoli transplants at the same level in the soil as they were in the pot. Otherwise, the stems will rot. Water the plants in.
Mulching
Mulch around the plants with three inches of mulch. Do not let the mulch touch the seedlings. The mulch conserves soil moisture, keeps weeds down, and protects the plant from getting dirt splashed on its leaves. Mulch also conserves water.
Watering
Water enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Irrigating every 2-3 days is usually sufficient, depending on the weather.
More Fertilizer
About four weeks after transplanting, apply a pound of 10-20-10 fertilizer every 30 feet of row. Put it beside the plants but about 6 inches to the side of them. Repeat in four more weeks. Make sure you water the fertilizer in each time.
Pests
Broccoli has several pests. Aphids, harlequin bugs, cabbage looper, and the imported cabbage worm will eat your growing broccoli. You can kill the cabbage looper and imported cabbage worm by using BT, which is allowed in organic gardens. The aphids and harlequin bugs can be killed by pyrenthrins, which are derived from chrysanthemums. They are also allowed in organic gardens. However, pyrenthrins will kill pollinators and other beneficial insects. If you must use them, apply at night when most beneficial insects are in bed.
Diseases
Broccoli can get several diseases. The best way to prevent diseases is to rotate your crops each season. This means not only planting the broccoli elsewhere, but also any other Cole crops, such as cauliflower, cabbage, Brussells sprouts, and kohlrobi. Also, be sure to space the plants out as recommended so the air can circulate around them. Water the plants from below, with drip irrigation or a soaker hose, so the leaves do not get wet. If you must water from the top, do so between 5-10 a.m. so the leaves have all day to dry.
Harvesting
Harvest the center head of broccoli when the first flower shows even a hint of yellow. Leave the side shoots behind as they will develop into heads of broccoli, too. You can prolong the harvest by growing cultivars that take different lengths of time to ripen.
Eating
Broccoli is nutritious and can be eaten raw or cooked. Steamed with a little melted butter on it is very good.
Want to learn to garden? My first attempt at gardening ended up in failure. The weeds took over and squeezed the vegetables out. I was very frustrated by this waste of good seed, time, and money. So I became a master gardener and spent a lot of time helping other people avoid or overcome problems in their garden.
In order to help others garden successfully, I have written a book, Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up, available in an ebook or a paperback from Amazon. It is also in Kindle Unlimited.
