I'm always surprised that more people don't grow broccoli in their vegetable gardens. Broccoli has so many things going for it. It's very compact and well behaved. A single plant can continue to produce throughout the summer. After the initial head is harvested, you get bonus side shoots for weeks. The few pests that bother it are usually gone by mid-season, when the harvesting begins. And it's so good.
There are enough plants in my garden that demand attention. When I find a plant that doesn't need staking or pinching and is happy to sit there and grow for months on end, I'm impressed. Of course, I'd grow broccoli just to have it handy to eat. It's many virtues as a plant are just a bonus. If you haven't tried growing broccoli yet, make room for at least 2-3 plants. I'm sure you'll be hooked. For most of us, it's time to start seeds of broccoli, either indoors or out.
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Comments
What about those green bugs that like broccoli? The last time I grew it they would float up to the top of the pot! Yuck!
You are right about broccoli being easy and prolific and it is SO MUCH more tasty than anything from the store. I raised it for the first time last year and will again every year!
Soak the broccoli in a little salt water before cooking. All those little green cabbage worms will come out.
If you have a real problem with the worms, you can avoid most of them by growing your broccoli under row covers. The butterflies and moths that lay their eggs on the broccoli plants won’t be able to get to them under the covers and the plants will still grow just fine.
But, as Patty says, a little salt water will bring them all out.
We love garden-grown broccoli. Last year we planted two varieties and were very impressed by ‘Umpquah.’ It was prolific, slow to bolt, and very flavorful. We’ll plant it again this year for sure. One caution with broccoli, as with all brassicas, is to watch for club root fungus. Our nursery-bought seedlings had it, so our soil is now contaminated. This year we’ll move our brassicas to the opposite end of the garden to avoid infecting our new crop.
I believe adding a little lime will help discourage club root fungus.
Start saving all your egg shells now. When you turn over the garden crush them up real fine (use rolling pin) spread them where you will plant tomatoes
Really helps.
can use for other plants also.. good calcium