Broccoli withstands the cool climate very well, so it can be grown in warm autumn. In a warm climate, broccoli matures very quickly in the summer, giving you a high yield that will last all autumn and winter.
1. Where to grow broccoli:
- Choose a place with good air circulation.
- Broccoli loves a lot of sun and does not like shade.
- Optimal soil moisture for growing broccoli is 70% and air moisture is 85%.
To plant broccoli does not need much space, choose the area to plant 4 × 6 m, for the beginning, it will be enough, as broccoli brings a perfect harvest.
Broccoli withstands frost perfectly from -4 to -7°C, but the optimal temperature for its cultivation, which produces a good yield from +16 to +20°C.
Broccoli needs soil with a high content of nitrogen and calcium.
Before planting, the soil should be fertilized with compost or organic fertilizer - this should be done in the autumn. Fertilizer selection should be carried out due to the peculiarities of plants, in this case, nitrogen and calcium are required.
In addition to the broccoli listed above, broccoli prefers loose, fertile soil with neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
Broccoli cabbage can also be grown on a balcony or loggia.
2. Planting of broccoli:
To grow a spring crop, you can start planting seeds in a sunny place indoors, but not earlier than 6-7 weeks after the frost is over, around the end of April or early May. To be able to plant seedlings in the ground, you should have 5-6 sheets of seedlings, which can be done within 30-40 days.
For the spring harvest, seeds can be planted directly into the soil. In a cool climate, you can sow seeds one month after the date of the last frost. In a warm climate, you can start planting in early spring.
Broccoli can be planted several times a season and is well preserved until the end of the harvest in your garden.
For the autumn harvest, broccoli should be planted at the end of June or July, but in warm climates, it can be planted in August or early September.
It is not advisable to plant broccoli in the area where it used to grow: turnip, radish, radish or cabbage. Pulses, carrots, and potatoes are considered to be the best forerunner at the broccoli planting site.
Broccoli seedlings should be planted in the ground in cloudy weather or in the afternoon. Landing scheme: 40 centimeters between holes, 50-60 centimeters between rows.
3. Care for broccoli:
Broccoli needs frequent weeding, soil loosening, watering, and top dressing.
Unlike cauliflower, broccoli heads do not need to be covered or shaded when planting in the ground.
Broccoli needs to be treated frequently for pests, as it is particularly popular with shovels and caterpillars.
Broccoli should be fed 4 times during the vegetation period, 3 times when the first inflorescences begin to form, and the last time after the cut of the central head to stimulate the growth of lateral shoots.
4. Collection and storage of broccoli harvest:
Broccoli is ready to be harvested when its heads turn green, so there is no need to grow it to form inflorescences. Of course, it is possible to prepare and eat stems with flowers that have begun to open, but the flowers storm during cooking, which does not look very attractive on the plate.
When harvesting, at the beginning it is necessary to cut the main-central stem, it should reach 10 cm in length, and only then the side shoots are cut off. It is better to cut off the side inflorescences together with the shoot, as it is also tasty and juicy.
It is best to collect broccoli early in the morning so that it does not wither under the scorching sun.
Early broccoli, which you collected in the summer is not suitable for long-term storage, it can be kept only 1-2 weeks in a cool room. Therefore, it is best to freeze or just eat the early harvest.
The late broccoli harvest harvested in October can be stored at zero temperature in the basement or fridge for 2-3 months.
Broccoli has another positive feature: if you leave it lying on the bed for a month with its roots, it can tie small inflorescences, providing you with another latest harvest.