When to sow broccoli?
You will sow your broccoli early in February (under heated cover) or March if it is under cover, so you can start harvesting between August and September. If you prefer to sow them directly in the ground, you have to wait until you are sure that any risk of frost will be eliminated, preferably in May or June.
You can also sow some varieties of spring that can spend the winter in the garden in late summer and early fall. If you want to plant young plants, wait for the beginning of summer, they will resume very easily. It is necessary to be careful according to the different varieties of sowing at the right time.
Which varieties to choose?
There are two types of broccoli:
Broccoli with jets they are often grown in the manner of biennials. They do not come in the form of a big apple, but in the form of small green, purple or white bunches that are located in the axils of each leaf. They are carried by a long stem that can also be consumed as asparagus. These varieties are harvested in autumn and until the period of March to May of the following year.
Annual broccoli : are early varieties that are harvested between May and November depending on the variety. They are in the form of a large apple, then smaller and lateral discharges to the axils of each leaf. They are usually green or purple.
Thanks to these two types of broccoli sprouts, it can be used all year round without any problem.
Among the annual broccoli sprouts:
- Cape purple : it presents a fine-grained apple that has a purplish hue when mature. Its leaves are bluish green. It turns red due to the cold. You sow it between March and June to harvest it from September to February.
- Calabrian green : its apples are green, tasty and very compact. It has taste qualities and a very fine flavor. You prefer it to steam rather than steam. You sow it in April and harvest it from June to October. Once the harvest is done, other streams repel.
Broccoli with jets :
- The Getti di Napoli : its apple is of medium size which forms lateral jets. It is an Italian variety resistant to cold. You sow it in mid-August and you can harvest between November and March.
What to do before sowing broccoli?
It is far better to sow broccoli which remains the best way to grow. You have to prepare your soil.
After properly digging and properly removing roots, pebbles and weeds, you can enrich the soil. Do it with an amendment based on algae and manure, compost or manure. The soil must be fertilized several weeks before sowing.
How to sow them?
Sow broccoli:
- Sow the seeds on the fly 1 to 2 cm deep in loose soil, you will leave 4 cm between each seed.
- Then cover with a thin layer of earth.
- Tamp lightly and sprinkle in fine rain so as not to disturb them.
- When broccoli has some leaves, three or four, they will be transplanted to the nursery to promote the recovery of roots, spacing them 15 to 20 cm.
- As soon as the plants have more leaves, at least 6 or 7, in the month of April, you can then install them in their final place in the ground, leaving a space of 80 cm between them.
- You will then plant only the most beautiful subjects, do not keep cabbage without central bud or cabbages one-eyed. Praline the roots, it will greatly facilitate their recovery.
- Plant them in depth and especially remember to put on each foot a good dose of ripe compost.
Plant broccoli:
This method is faster than that of the seedlings. It is then enough to buy seedlings, which are already trained, in the trade.
- The plants appear in garden centers in the late spring, but you will wait until mid-May before planting them outside.
- In fact you can do it also in summer and it's also the best time.
- There must be a distance of 60 cm between each plant. It is thanks to this distance that this vegetable will be able to develop without problem. You must also have digged the ground well before transplanting it.
- It is then necessary to water regularly, but in fine rain and sparingly. Care must be taken to maintain some humidity.
- Broccoli fears cold and frost, so you need to protect it during the winter.
- If the climate and winters are mild, you have the option to leave them in the ground by adding for example a small plastic tunnel for protection.
- If you live in an area with harsh winters and harsh frosts, it is best to move the cabbage with its root ball and replant it under cover.
- You will put them back in the ground then, when any risk of freezing is discarded.
Multiply broccoli:
Like all other cabbages, broccoli multiplies by seed. It is strongly discouraged to harvest the seeds, because the conservation of varieties is not done without keeping the seed-holders, cabbages then hybridize quite easily.
Where to plant broccoli?
Broccoli is probably the simplest cabbage variety to grow.
It likes deep, humus and fresh soils, but also slightly clayey soils. On the other hand, it is necessary to avoid soils that are too rich in nitrogen, because these favor the foliage more than the vegetable itself.
Broccoli needs a high enough pH, no more, between 7 and 8 if possible.
He likes sunny places, but he hates excess heat and drought. It is therefore necessary to remain vigilant and maintain the humidity of the soil. In warm or very hot regions, plant preferably in the shade and mulch the soil.
>> Sowing cauliflower: when and how to plant it?
How to maintain them?
The main recommendations for broccoli are: good regular watering and good manuring during planting:
Before planting broccoli sprouts, add a well-decomposed organic manure such as manure and compost or a green manure.
Avoid fertilizers rich in nitrogen, they tend to favor the development of foliage at the expense of the vegetable.
Broccoli are greedy potash, which allows them to form fruit. You can spread wood ash on the boards for the equivalent of a large tin can for 10 m². This will also give them the calcium they need.
During the season, to avoid the formation of the superficial crust, weed and trim regularly.
Also cross several times during cultivation by bringing the soil around the foot. This reinforces their anchoring in the soil and the roots can grow more easily.
Sometimes it may be necessary to put guardians, do it if you see that the cabbage needs it. As soon as the heat is too strong and long, do not hesitate to mulch the foot. Be careful not to mulch on slugs.
In colder areas, mulching and protecting apples that are already under a wintering veil is best to keep them warm.
How to water broccoli?
Broccoli enjoys regular water and watering so the soil is moist all the time.
Be careful to water only the foot without touching the foliage which could then rot and develop fungi.
Straw your feet to prevent evaporation of water.
Bale regularly to let the water pass through the soil and to avoid weeds.
Harvest broccoli: when and how?
Broccoli will be harvested when the head is well formed and compact, and when the flower buds are present and green, it is not necessary that the flowers open. You will recognize it, because on the surface it is slightly yellowish.
The first harvest is generally done between march and november, two months after planting them.
They must be cut 5 cm below the head, in this way they will continue to grow. You will then cut the lateral rejects and the main flower.
Broccoli must be left in the ground, they will give small flowers.
You tear off the plants the following spring.
For the broccoli with jets : you harvest them between September and March. You can cut the stems that are consumed like asparagus.
Keep broccoli:
Once harvested, this vegetable is tasted fairly quickly preferably, you will keep it cool and in the shade for a few days only.
You can also place it in the vegetable crisper for 4 to 5 days. It is best so that it does not dehydrate to wrap in a plastic film or sachet.
It is also possible to freeze it taking care to whiten the bouquets in boiling water for 5 minutes, before cooling them in ice water. It will need to be carefully drained before putting in the freezer.
You can also finely chop the stems and keep them in brine.
Diseases of broccoli and what to do?
The main disease of broccoli is the mildew. Its cause is moisture. Care should be taken to avoid watering the foliage and aerating the plants so that the foliage does not touch. The Bordeaux mixture helps to fight against mildew spray.
They are also sensitive to certain parasites such as aphids, caterpillars, flea beetle and moth. However, avoid treating your crops with a chemical treatment that contaminates your vegetables and the soil.
It is best to use the horsetail decoction and remove the already infected leaves.
The slugs and snails appreciate young plants, be alert and set up ash barriers or beer traps, you can also pick them up and remove them.
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