{"id":2259,"date":"2019-06-06T09:09:34","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T09:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2259"},"modified":"2020-01-22T08:51:50","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T08:51:50","slug":"14-steps-to-grow-broccoli-in-your-vegetable-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-steps-to-grow-broccoli-in-your-vegetable-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Steps to Grow Broccoli in Your Vegetable Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Broccoli is a vegetable that is a part of the Brassicaceae family. This family of vegetables includes kale, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, and several varieties of Asian greens such as bok choy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The part of the plant that we eat is actually the buds from the broccoli flower. If broccoli is not harvested the head opens up into flowers that are greenish-yellow in color. While most broccoli is green, there are some beautiful and delicious purple variations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing broccoli is very rewarding because it can be started early and will send more shoots for many weeks after the main head is harvested, providing you with a harvest for a long season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to growing broccoli, many home gardeners seem to be a bit intimidated about growing broccoli plants in their garden. However, this fear is unfounded as growing broccoli in your home garden is really quite easy as long as you follow a few basic steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Growing Times<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Broccoli is a cold-weather crop. This means that it does not grow well in warmer climates. While broccoli does require a bit more attention and care than growing other types of vegetables, if you do a bit of planning it can be a great cool weather crop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should begin your seeds in the latter part of the summer if you are growing the vegetable outdoors. You can also plant broccoli indoors in a cooler spot such as a cellar or a basement. If your local temperature does not go below 20 degrees F, you can grow broccoli outside during the winter months and then harvest the vegetables during the spring months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure that you remember that broccoli will not grow well in weather that is too hot, so if you are in a subtropical climate, growing broccoli may not be the best choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Spring and Fall Planting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are planning to plant your broccoli during the spring months you are going to want to sow your seeds or set up your transplants in your garden about two or three weeks before the last frost date of the spring. If you are transplanting you should assume ten less days for the growth or what is noted as the days to maturity as provided on the seed packet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to protect the young plants from frost, you may want to use a cold frame to protect them. If you are planting broccoli during the fall months you will want to plan to plant the seeds about 85 to 100 days before the average first frost of the fall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you live in a warmer climate, planting in the fall is the best. The reason for this is because broccoli thrives in cooler weather. In most places, planting of broccoli should be done in the middle to late summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Preparing Broccoli Seeds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before planting broccoli seeds the first thing that you should do is to check for the recommended planting dates for your particular climatic zone. Generally speaking, you want to start seeds a month to six weeks before the last forecasted frost date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since broccoli grows best when it is started in seed trays with some seed compost instead of multipurpose compost. When you are ready to plant your seeds you will want to plant one or two seeds in each cell. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You should push them in at about a half-inch depth. If both of the seeds germinate, choose the one that is most robust and snip the other one using gardening shears. Do not pull out the second plant as this can cause damage to the roots of the stronger plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Place the seed tray in a greenhouse and gently wet it. It will take about four weeks for the seeds to germinate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Soil Preparation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to the type of soil that you need in order to grow broccoli, it is important to note that broccoli is a bit persnickety. You will want to make sure that you are planting the seeds or seedlings in soil that has a high amount of nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The soil will also need to be well-watered during the season. Before you plant your broccoli you will want to make sure that you have the soil tested and make sure that there are no key nutrients missing in the soil. You can purchase a soil testing kit to test the soil that you are planting the seeds in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there are nutrients missing from your soil you can add some manure to it in order to boost the nutrient content. Fertilizer can also be added to the soil to improve the nutrient supplies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the time to make sure that your soil has the proper nutrients will go along way when it comes to growing broccoli. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Fertilizing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, broccoli plants are particular about the soil that they are grown in. These plants need plenty of nitrogen in order to grow properly. In order to ensure that your plants are getting the nutrients that they need, you should apply a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen at least once every couple of weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the best fertilizers are liquid seaweed feed, compost tea, fish emulsion, chicken manure pellets, or a combination of chicken manure and seaweed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that your broccoli plants are starting to turn brown or if the tips of the leaves of the plants start to become distorted, there is a good chance that the plant is lacking the nutrient boron and you will want to make sure that there is boron in the fertilizer that you are using. Make sure that you are testing your soil regularly to ensure that it contains the proper nutrients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Proper Transplanting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have started your broccoli from seeds in seed trays the next step will be to properly transplant them into your growing bed. If you have purchased plants, you will also need to properly transplant them into your garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For seedlings you will want to prepare them to being outdoors for at least a week before you put them in the ground. To do this you will place them outside for an hour the first day and then increase the time they are outside each day after. This will help to harden them and prepare them for the elements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once the seedlings are ready to be transplanted you will want to wait for a day that is somewhat overcast or during the evening areas so that you prevent wilting. You should plant each seedling about twenty inches apart. Make sure that your soil is ready for the plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Proper Watering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Broccoli plants need plenty of water in order to thrive. You are going to want to water your plant trays regularly. When the seedlings are ready to be transplanted you are going to want to make sure that you water the trays about an hour before you plan to transplant them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you have placed the seedlings in the ground you are going to want to make sure that you water the plants again. Do not soak the ground. Placing mulch around the plant will help to protect the plants from heat and also slows down evaporation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure that you keep your broccoli plants moist all throughout the growing season. If your broccoli plants taste bitter it is a sign that they have not been watered enough. You can create a dam around the broccoli plants in order to prevent water runoff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Caring for your Broccoli Plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have planted your broccoli it does not really need much care until it is ready to harvest. As long as you keep the plants watered it is going to grow. Make sure that you keep the soil rich with nutrients and they should be fine. Watch for pests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the common pests that affect broccoli plants include cabbage worms, cabbage looper, and aphids. These pests are most troublesome during the early part of the growing season. Some diseases that may affect your broccoli plants include black rot, blackleg, and clubroot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rotating the crops each year can help with disease control. If your plants are getting too much sun they may dry out. Keeping them watered and providing them with shade can keep this from occurring. Proper weeding of your garden is important as well as weeds can take nutrients away from your vegetable plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Companion Plants
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Broccoli is a low-growing vegetable with a stocky profile, and it goes well with plenty of other vegetables and herbs to give your garden more variety during harvest time. We enjoy planting herbs around our broccoli, especially lemon balm, and lemongrass, along with sage and thyme. These herbs help to keep pests away from your garden and protect the broccoli crop from insect destruction during the growing season.
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We also recommend that you sow a row of marigolds around the border of your garden. These flowers release pheromones that deter bugs from entering the growing area, protecting your broccoli from hungry invaders. Other plants that offer defensive properties for your veggie garden include chamomile, mint, oregano, and rosemary \u2013 and then harvested and dried herbs also add flavor to your meals as well.
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Using plants instead of insecticides to manage your broccoli crop is a better strategy than having to souse your veggies with toxic chemicals or neem oil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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10. Broccoli Pests
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Broccoli has to deal with a variety of pests throughout the growing season. Some pests cause minor damage to your crops, while others can ruin your entire yield. Check this list of common broccoli pests to see what\u2019s affecting your garden.
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Flea beetles \u2013 These pests are the biggest concern for broccoli growers. The bugs burrow into the leaves, creating yellow spots in the foliage that wilt and curl the leaves of the plant.
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Aphids \u2013 Aphids are brought to your plants by ants, and when infesting broccoli, it challenging to see them due to the stocky nature of broccoli and how the florets cover the stems.
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Cabbage loopers \u2013 These bugs are also a concern for broccoli growers, leaving tiny holes in the leaves that start to turn the foliage yellow. Look on the underside of the leaves to check if caterpillars are present. 
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You can use neem oil as an effective natural pesticide to remove bugs from your plants. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11. Broccoli Diseases
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Along with pests, broccoli growers also have to deal with the effects of the disease in the crop. Fungal infections are common in gardens, especially those that do not receive enough sunlight, or where the gardener over-waters the plants.
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We recommend that you avoid watering your plants from an overhead position. Getting the heads and leaves of the broccoli wet, invites fungal disease to take hold in your garden. Always remember to remove any dead plant matter from your garden to ensure that illness does not get the opportunity to transfer from dead plant material onto your fresh crops. 
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Powdery and downy mildew are cause for concern with broccoli growers, and you\u2019ll need a sulfur blower to remove this deadly pathogen from your broccoli. However, the disease may damage your veggies, aiming them unsuitable for eating.
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Clubroot \u2013 This fungus attacks the roots of the plant, causing the foliage to wilt rapidly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Broccoli Varieties
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When we think of broccoli, our mind conjures up the typical picture of the dark-green vegetable. However, did you know that there are several different varieties of this vegetable? When planting broccoli in your garden, it\u2019s vital that you don\u2019t make the mistake of planting another member of the brassica family alongside your crop. The plants will compete for the same nutrients, rapidly depleting the soil of nutrient needed to flower the vegetables, reducing your final yield.
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Here are the top varieties of broccoli that we feel suit beginner veggie growers.
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Green duke \u2013 This heat-tolerant broccoli variety does well in the Southern States, and produces between the early spring to late fall.\u00a0
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Green Goliath \u2013 This is the largest broccoli species, with think stems and dark green florets. You will notice sprouts shoot from the stalk when it\u2019s time to harvest this giant. 
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Calabrese \u2013 This Italian variety, produces side shoots suitable for harvesting throughout the growing season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Harvesting Tips
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You\u2019ll know it\u2019s time to harvest your broccoli when the florets on the heads start to tighten up and develop a firm texture. Harvest as soon as you notice yellow petals start to form on the broccoli. 
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It\u2019s vital that you harvest the broccoli in the morning while the air and soil are still cool. Harvesting in the midday heat reduces the taste of the vegetable and makes it turn mushy while cooking. 
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Cut the stem of the plant, about 6-inches below the start of the first florets. Many broccoli varieties produce shoots that reach out to the side of the stem, producing florets that finish after you harvest the main head. 
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We recommend you cut the broccoli head, rather than pull it from the ground. Picking the head may result in you getting dirt trapped in-between the florets, inducing rot during storage of your vegetable, that may spread for the broccoli to other veggies in your fridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14. Storage Tips
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After harvesting your broccoli, we recommend that you don\u2019t rinse it until you intend to cook the head. Cleaning the broccoli may result in the water becoming trapped between the florets, accelerating the rotting process. 
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We recommend that you clean away all of the foliage and store the broccoli head whole, in the crisper drawer of your fridge. If you separate the florets from the main stem, then you can expect them to rot faster than if you leave the head intact. If you leave the head intact, then you can store the broccoli in your fridge for up to five days before you need to throw it out.\u00a0
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Broccoli also freezes well. You\u2019ll need to trim the florets from the stem and blanch them before storing. Make sure that all of the florets are completely dry before freezing. Add the broccoli florets to a Ziploc bag in the freezer for up to 10-months.
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