{"id":2326,"date":"2019-06-06T09:31:49","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T09:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/?p=2326"},"modified":"2020-01-22T09:00:33","modified_gmt":"2020-01-22T09:00:33","slug":"14-care-tips-for-tasty-broccoli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardener.guide\/14-care-tips-for-tasty-broccoli\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Care Tips for Tasty Broccoli"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Broccoli is a vegetable that we all know that we should eat more of. It has a high nutritional value and is quite tasty. It 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. If you love broccoli, planting just a few broccoli plants in your garden will provide a steady supply for a long season. \t<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. When to Plant<\/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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do a bit of planning it can be a great cool weather crop. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. 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. Broccoli Varieties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another thing that you need to consider when you are trying to successfully grow broccoli at home is the type of broccoli. There are several different types of broccoli from which to choose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most varieties of broccoli will be green in color. However, there are some purple varieties that are quite tasty as well. There are early season varieties available that can be planted earlier in the growing season and will produce a harvest for a long period of time. Other types will take a longer time to grow and are typically planted midseason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you are choosing the type of broccoli to grow in your home garden it is important to make sure that you choose one that is good for your particular soil type and seasons. Talking to someone in a grow club or asking someone at your local farmers market can give you an idea of what type of broccoli that you should be growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Planting Schedule<\/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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are transplanting you should assume ten fewer days for the growth or what is noted as the days to maturity as provided on the seed packet. 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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4. 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 a 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. You should push them in at about a half-inch depth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. 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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5. 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. 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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6. 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. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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7. 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 be 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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8. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Placing mulch around the plant will help to protect the plants from heat and also slows down evaporation. It is important to make sure that you keep your broccoli plants moist all throughout the growing season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\r\n