Growing Broccoli: A Guide to Planting, Care and Harvesting

Broccoli is a tasty and nutritious vegetable that can be grown in a variety of climates. It is a cool-season crop that thrives in temperatures between 60–65°F (15–18°C). With a little bit of care, you can enjoy growing broccoli in your garden and enjoy fresh, healthy broccoli throughout the growing season.

Guide to Growing Broccoli

growing broccoli

First, it is important to choose a location for your broccoli that gets full sun and has well-drained soil. The soil should also be rich in organic matter and have a pH between 6.0–7.0. Before planting, it is a good idea to amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to ensure the plants have the nutrients they need to thrive.

Broccoli should be planted in the spring, after the last frost date in your area. You can start seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before the last frost date and transplant them outside once the weather has warmed up. Alternatively, you can buy seedlings from a nursery and transplant them into your garden. Plant seedlings about 18–24 inches apart, with 24 inches between rows.

Once the plants are established, it’s important to keep the soil consistently moist by watering regularly. You can also mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Fertilize your broccoli plants every 4–6 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.

In order to ensure a continuous harvest, it is a good idea to stagger your planting, so that you will have a new crop maturing every 2–3 weeks.

To harvest, cut the main head of broccoli when it is firm and tight, before the flowers start to open. Then, side shoots will develop, which can be harvested in 2–3 weeks.

With a little bit of care and attention, you can enjoy fresh, healthy broccoli from your own garden.

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