Broccoli, one of the most productive plants per square yard, produces masses of sprouting spears at the quietest time of the gardening year. Learn how to grow broccoli and enjoy this cancer-fighting vegetable.
Broccoli is probably the most confused about all the vegetables. It has been mislabeled in supermarkets for many years. What you would know as purple sprouting broccoli is true broccoli, not the larger green speared relative, which is actually calabrese.
Preparing The Soil for Growing Broccoli
Broccoli is part of the brassica group (here’s a handy list of cruciferous vegetables), which tend to be plants that are large leafy green vegetables.
Because they are such large vegetables they need a nutrient-rich soil that is particularly high in nitrogen.
To achieve these high levels of nutrients you need to add copious amounts of manure. BUT, since manure tends to increase the acidity of the soil, and brassicas will not thrive in acid soil, this does cause a problem with soil preparation.
To overcome this problem plant your brassicas in last year’s legume beds. Legumes obtain nitrogen from the atmosphere and store them in root nodules. If left to rot in the soil legumes will help raise the levels of nitrogen in the soil.
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Also add a dressing of a fertilizer (fish, blood, and bone is a good one), as well as a dusting of lime to make the soil more alkaline.
If your soil needs a heavier feed, you could add manure as long as it is well-rotted. Even better, add it in the fall so that the brassica bed has time to settle and compact.
A compact soil is important as these plants can often be damaged by winds. Even a gentle rock can cause damage to the root ball making it difficult for the plant to draw all the nutrients that it needs to thrive.
How To Grow Broccoli
It’s best to start your broccoli plants off in modules or cell packs early in the year so that they have a good start before planting in their final position.
Sow the seeds in a general-purpose compost, thinning to one per module to grow on. When the seedling has a few leaves and is large enough to pot, move it to a 3″ pot using more general-purpose compost with a dressing of lime.
Sow broccoli in modules thinning to one per module.
Grow on seedlings in 3″ pots, adding a little lime to remove any acidity.
Plant out in a firm soil when plants are large enough.
Once the plants have established, put them in their final growing position spacing the plants about a yard apart. You can reduce the spacing in raised beds and by staggering rows, but these plants can be very large, so space is important.
Cut a collar to place at the bottom of the plant to stop the cabbage root fly.
Broccoli Pests And Diseases
There are a number of pests and diseases that affect all of the plants in the brassica group.
Club root
Club root is a soil-dwelling disease that causes the roots of the plant to become distorted and swollen.
If your soil suffers from clubroot, it does not mean that you cannot grow brassicas, but it does make it extremely challenging.
To avoid the problems of club root, pot on your plants from a 3″ pot to a larger 6″ pot and grow the plant on further. When it is time to plant the broccoli, dig a large hole and line the hole with compost and lime before planting.
Although most brassicas can be grown quite well in soil infected with club root, broccoli may struggle as it spends so much time in the soil.
Cabbage root fly
Cabbage root fly is another problem insect, although it is quite easy to protect your plants against this pest. Simply create a flat square barrier that fits around the stem of the plant, the barrier can be made from roof felt, carpet underlay, or cardboard.
Caterpillar of the cabbage root fly
Another problem insect is the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly,
A hungry family of caterpillars can turn broccoli leaves into skeleton leaves really quickly.
The best way to deal with these critters is to remove the eggs before they hatch, and a weekly check on the underside of leaves will help you to stay in control.
However, an attack of caterpillars will not be as devastating as an attack on a cabbage plant. Since you are not growing edible leaves, and at the time of sprouting there will be no caterpillars yet.
To disguise your plants from these insects plant your broccoli with dill and rosemary, and if you grow nasturtiums among these plants, any caterpillars that hatch from eggs you miss will be attracted to the nasturtiums they love to eat.
When To Harvest Broccoli
It is very difficult to tie down the harvest time for broccoli as it is very weather dependent.
In a warm spring, broccoli should readily sprout starting in March, although in certain conditions and with certain varieties you could be picking broccoli from December.
As soon as the broccoli spears are ready pick them. It does not take long for the broccoli to become bunches of tiny yellow flowers, and the more often and the more regularly you pick, the more broccoli you will have.
How To Cook Broccoli
Broccoli is very easy to cook: just steamed for 5 minutes will give you the perfect, delicate homegrown vegetable.
You can also freeze broccoli: just blanch for 30 seconds and plunge into ice-cold water to stop the cooking process, before draining and freezing.
Broccoli is great for risotto and stir-fry, and if you have a glut, broccoli with Stilton cheese makes a delicious soup.
You could even griddle broccoli spears with sesame seeds to top a mixed salad. YUM!
I hope you now know enough about how to grow broccoli and you’re excited about growing your own.
BTW, you can grow broccoli in raised beds as well as in pots: just need to get some larger post for them.
Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:
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