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Garden Gate:  What's the trick to broccoli?  |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 05:45:03 AM
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I've only tried to grow broccoli one other time, a few years ago at my old house. We bought it as plants and about a week later, all the tops went to yellow flowers. Someone told me the plants got too hot and that's why they flowered.
My mom decided this year she wanted to try broccoli, so we bought plants again but a couple days ago they went to the yellow flowers. It has NOT been hot here, but we have had a ton of rain. Also, they looked nothing like broccoli at the store - you know, a fat stalk with tons of florets. These were spindly with one little floret on top. I usually don't have issues growing veggies, but this whole broccoli thing escapes me. Tips please!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Jun 21 2010 : 2:10:39 PM
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Broccoli is more of a cool weather crop that doesnt like it when temps get much above 60 degrees. You should sow seeds in trays around mid summer and plant the seedlings in the soil about 6 weeks later. It will then be another 8-12 weeks before they are ready to harvest so plan according to your frost dates. If you want spring broccoli you need to again start the seeds indoors and plant as soon as any danger of a hard frost has past. They can handle a mild freeze but you may want to cover them with a row cover.
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 12:52:05 PM
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Yep...cool weather is the trick for broccoli for sure. I always grow quite a bit. Shade cloth suspended over the crop helps sometimes, or planting them in the shadiest bit of your garden, but the heat will get them for sure. The yellow flowers are good in salad. (I always have some that bolt like that too..can't resist planting them as many times as I can! We had a late winter this year so mine are still not ready to harvest ..I have hope that with our hot days lately they will be okay. They have had a very cool start)
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 7:51:51 PM
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How awesome that you can eat the flowers! I only wish I would have known that before my hubby went off and cut all the heads off!!
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.wakeupstartlearning.blogspot.com
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com |
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Jennifer Q.
Farmgirl in Training
26 Posts
Jennifer
Irmo
SC
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - Jun 22 2010 : 8:18:53 PM
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| That is neat to know! I am trying to grow broccoli this year, my first year with this crop! At least I know that if I miss the broccoli I can still eat the flowers! (we keep adding pots in front of our window and keep diversifying our crops each year with the added room!) |
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Garden Gate: What's the trick to broccoli? |
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What's the trick to broccoli?
