Broccoli
Here are my tips for growing great broccoli:
Site, soil type:
|
Broccoli needs very fertile soil.
It likes moisture and coolness.
Plant after a legume for extra nitrogen.
Consider planting in light shade to avoid maturing in the high heat of summer, but it will slow down growth.
|
Planting requirements:
|
Start indoors six weeks before planting outside. Plant outside after temperatures won’t go below 45 degrees. Otherwise the stress will cause heads to mature at a small size.
Set transplants 1” deeper in the ground than they were in the container.
|
Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:
|
Add ¼ to ½ cup of complete organic fertilizer per plant.
|
Water needs:
|
It’s thirsty. Keep soil wet constantly.
|
Other tips:
|
Plant a variety that produces many side shoots for an extended harvest period.
Aromatic herbs planted nearby will deter cabbage worms.
Use Bt for the elimination of cabbage worms.
Create a Bt bait by mixing wheat bran into Bt. Add 1 tablespoon of molasses. Spread around the base of plants.
Eliot Coleman says that cabbage worms aren’t a pest when plants are grown well.
|
It also will help keep the rabbits and deer from munching your goodies.