There are some vegetables that just taste better in season. Everyone knows that a tomato, ripened on the vine in the warmth of the sun, tastes better than any perfect looking hothouse tomato. Certain cool season vegetables like asparagus, broccoli and cabbage are no different.
The ideal temperature for growing broccoli is between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Like many cool season vegetables, weather over 80 degrees Fahrenheit will cause vegetables to bolt, and broccoli is no different.
Broccoli only takes 40 to 80 days to reach maturity when planted from a seedling, so it can be planted right now and harvested before the weather gets too hot. Broccoli is also easy to start from seed, but that adds an additional 25 to 35 days before the plant reaches maturity. In fact, broccoli grown from direct seeding tends to be a little more disease and stress resistant.
Frost will not ruin a broccoli plant, and broccoli can actually go down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit without any negative effects. Long term cold below 35 degrees can cause discoloration of broccoli florets and might soften the broccoli head.
Vegetable gardeners should remember that early spring, cold season vegetables can also be grown successfully for a fall harvest.
When planting broccoli, it’s important to remember that they are nitrogen lovers, so fertilizer is a key to successful broccoli growth. A two to four-inch layer of compost should be added to the soil or the hole where the broccoli transplant will be planted.
Watering with a compost tea or fish emulsion is also beneficial. As the broccoli plant begins to develop, an additional side dressing of fertilizer would benefit the plant, too.
There are two types of broccoli – heading and sprouting. Heading types of broccoli grow a large central head in the center of the plant. After it is removed, additional side shoots may grow, but they will not be as large as the central head.
Sprouting types of broccoli grow small florets within the leaf axils of the broccoli plant. These will continue to produce in smaller quantities as they are harvested.
On heading or sprouting broccoli plants harvesting of the side shoots will cause the plant to continue to produce side shoots. It’s best to harvest broccoli in the morning, and it should be harvested while the buds are still tight. If the florets begin to sprout, they are edible, but the broccoli taste is a bit stronger.
Questions or comments related to gardening? Contact Joleen at missourigardener@hotmail.com.