How to Grow Broccoli
I didn’t like to grow broccoli in the old days because of all the insect problems. Two things changed that attitude. First, I learned how easy it is to keep damaging insects away from the plants. And second, I discovered a fantastic variety called ‘Belstar’. Need I say more! Well, yes I do, as you’ll see below!
Latin Name: Brassica oleracea var. Italica
Plant Family: Brassica (Brassicaceae)
Cool-season crop
Did You Know?
Broccoli is native to the Mediterranean and Asian regions of the world. It has been very popular in Italian cooking dating back to the Roman empire. Americans and the British didn’t get their first taste of broccoli until sometime in the 1700s.
Plant Seeds or Seedlings? Start indoors or purchase seedlings at a nursery.
When: Sow seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last anticipated frost. Transplant outdoors once the danger of hard frosts has passed. If growing sprouting broccoli, plant seeds in the fall for a springtime harvest.
Days to Germination: 5 to 10 days
Depth to Sow: 1/4 inch
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches apart when transplanting into the garden.
Days to Maturity: Standard heading types 60 to 75 days; sprouting broccoli 80-140 days.
Cultural Information:
Be sure to follow the above spacing recommendations as broccoli plants are quite stocky and need plenty of room to produce nice heads. Once the seedlings have been transplanted out into the garden, it’s time to feed them. Use an organic nitrogen fertilizer such as fish emulsion at half-strength. If aphids or cabbage worms are a problem in your area, immediately cover the bed with floating row cover or agricultural insect netting to create a physical barrier over the plants. (See photo below for ag insect netting.) Water the plants regularly.
Susan’s Picks: OK, I have to admit that ‘Belstar’ is my all-time favorite broccoli variety. I’ve grown a lot of varieties over the years and you can’t beat the size and production of it. ‘De Cicco’, ‘Early Dividend’, ‘Romanesco’, ‘Santee’ (sprouting broccoli). Note that ‘Romanesco’ grows best in regions that get plenty of precipitation. Sprouting broccoli is usually planted in the fall where winter temperatures do not fall below 15 degrees F. and then harvested in early spring.
Potential Insect Problems: aphids, cabbage worms, slugs, pillbugs
When to Harvest:
Cut off broccoli heads while they are tight but well-developed. If you wait too long, the individual buds will start opening into yellow flowers. Then the broccoli will be much less flavorful. Once the main head has been harvested, a plant will produce smaller heads on side shoots that are just as tasty.
How to Cook & Preserve:
Broccoli can be used fresh in salads or as appetizers, steamed for a side dish, or added to casseroles. To preserve some of your harvest, blanch broccoli florets in boiling water for 3 minutes. Plunge them into ice-cold water, drain and pack in freezer bags.
Copyright: Susan Mulvihill, Susan’s in the Garden, SusansintheGarden.com.