Week 3...Broccoli 101
- Primal Motherhood
- Jun 26, 2019
- 5 min read
Week 3...Broccoli
I have found that broccoli is one of the easiest of the cole crops to grow for the home gardener. Cole Crops include; broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi.
All cole crops are cultivated varieties of the species Brassica oleracea. Unlike some vegetables, broccoli is well-known for its amazing temperature swings makes it ideal for almost any home garden. Weather you’re garden all the time or new to gardening, consider this helpful tips for creating the perfect broccoli crop.
Most gardeners successful harvest two broccoli crops per year during both spring and fall. Because broccoli has such a unique heat tolerance, broccoli is a successful crop in many parts of the country regardless of climate.
Health Benefits
“One ounce of broccoli has an equal amount of calcium as one ounce of milk.”
Broccoli has a ton of health benefits, Broccoli's health benefits include:
Aids in Digestion
Prevents Chronic Diseases
Boosts Liver and Brain Health
Reduces Allergies
Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Anti-aging properties
Controls diabetes
Improves Metabolism
Anti-Cancer Potential
Detoxifies Body
Skin and Hair Care
Prevents Heart Disease
Boosts Eye Sight
Boosts Immunity
Improves Bone and Teeth Health
Helps in Pregnancy
Helps control blood pressure
Fights anemia
Varieties
Green Duke
This variety if heat tolerant and an early variety that’s especially good for Southern gardeners.
Calabrese
This is the most common type of broccoli. This is a Italian Heirloom that sprouts side shoots that will mature for harvesting. This tough broccoli variety grows well for fall harvest.
Flash
Like it's name, this is a fast-growing and heat-resistant hybrid variety.
Green Goliath
Is heat-tolerant and sprouts side shoots that will mature for harvesting. This variety is a great variety for fall harvest.
When to Grow Broccoli
This is a great tool that I use when figuring out my planting cycle. Almanac has a Planting Calendar that will give you information on your planting location. It will give you the information on starting seeds indoors, planting seedlings or transplants, and starting the seeds outdoors. I have attached a picture of Tampa, FL area planting schedules.
Growing Broccoli from seeds
Broccoli germinates in cool, moist soil. You want to start seeds about 2-3 weeks before the last spring frost. If you don’t have a spring frost like we have in FL, it is recommended to start around January or beginning of February. If you choose to plant a Fall crop, aim to plant your seeds about 85-100 days before the first Fall frost. This timing usually falls around mid-to-late summer (Aug/Sept).
You will want to start your plants indoors or in a greenhouse and then transplant outdoors or into a container when they are 3-4 weeks old.
1) Pour organic soil or composted soil directly into small container or seedling starter kits. You can grow them in recycled egg cartons, blueberry/strawberry containers (acts like a greenhouse), etc.
2) Add water to your soil, broccoli grows well with damp soil. So, like a wet sponge.
Plant seeds ½” deep.
3) Water daily until seedlings start to grow and place seedlings where there is an adequate amount of sunlight.
4) After about 3-4 weeks you can start to get your plants ready to transplant outdoors. Just like your tomato plants (see tomatoes 101).
You will want to slowly transfer them outdoors to sunlight. I recommend placing plants outdoors in the sun for an hour at a time for 10-14 days before transplanting outdoors. After this is completed you will want to get your containers ready or your find your garden placement. If you are monitoring your soil temperature you will have to keep your soil temperature between 45 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Transplanting outside:
1) Mix your soil, it can be composted soil or organic gardening mix.
2) Add water to your soil, you will want it to be well drained. The soil can be moist like a sponge.
3) Plant the seedlings about ½” deep and 12-24” apart within 36” between each row.
Water, Feed, Placement
Fertilize your broccoli plants three weeks after transplanting seedlings outdoors in your garden or containers. Provide consistent soil moisture with regular watering. Some varieties of broccoli are heat tolerant, but all need adequate moisture. (Do not get developing broccoli heads wet when watering.) A helpful hint: mulch will help keep soil temperatures down. Broccoli plants like moderate sun (about 6 hours), but not direct sunlight.
Pest/Diseases
Some common pest and diseases that you may encounter when growing broccoli include:
Flea Beetles
Aphids: curling leaves may mean that the plant’s sap is being sucked by insects. Apply soapy water to all sides of the leaves whenever you see aphids.
Downy mildew: Yellow patches on leaves are usually caused by moist weather. Keep leaves as dry as possible with good air circulation (make sure to have proper placement between plants).
Cabbage loopers: small holes on the leaves between the veins mean small green caterpillars represent. Look at the underside of the leaves. You will want to either hand pick the leaves to control a small problem or you can purchase a natural bacterial pesticide.
Cabbageworms: treat same as cabbage loopers
Cabbage root maggots
Whiteflies: LADYBUGS- ladybugs will keep the whiteflies away from your plants.
Nitrogen deficiency: If bottom leaves start turning yellow and the problem continues toward the top of the plant, the plant needs high nitrogen. Blood meal, Fish emulsion, are good ways to get nitrogen back into your plant.
Clubroot: Quickly wilting plants may be due to a fungus in the soil. If this happens, you will have to quickly remove the plants (do not compost the plants). You will want to raise your soil pH to above 7.2. You may also need to sterilize your soil.
If you are container gardening you will want to sterilize your containers before planting anything in your containers. This is why plastic containers are the best option for container gardening.
Growing Broccoli in Containers
Broccoli is perfectly happy when growing in containers. When growing in containers you will want only one plant per 5-gallon container, you can fit 2-3 plants in a 15 gallon container.
When growing in containers it is important that you frequently feed your plants with a nitrogen rich fertilizer and water them regularly. Like I said above Blood Meal and Fish Emulsion is a good option for nitrogen rich fertilizers.
When picking containers you will want to choose plastic containers if you plan to reuse your containers. Plastic containers work well because you can sanitize them after every use killing the bacteria and possible cross contamination between plants. You will want to have a container will proper drainage, if your pot does not have that proper drainage you are at higher risk for contamination in your soil. Place pebbles or river rocks into the bottom of your pot in an even layer. Place your soil on top of the rocks. Place your seedlings in the container, planting them about ½” deep.
Harvesting and Storage of Broccoli
Harvest broccoli when the buds of the head are firm, if you see yellow flowers harvest immediately. To harvest, cut heads from the plant, taking at least 6” of stem. Cut the stalk of the main head at an angle, about 6-10” below the head.
A helpful hint: for best taste, harvest in the morning before the soil sets up.
Store broccoli in refrigerator for up to 5 days. If washing before storing, make sure to dry it thoroughly. Broccoli can be blanched and frozen for up to one year.
Tell me about your growing experience, I'd love to hear about it. Comment below
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