Broccoli is he althy and keeps you fit. Twice as good: when fresh, organic broccoli from your own garden comes to the table. Recreational gardeners who want to plant green asparagus cabbage and harvest plenty should heed the following tried-and-tested recommendations when planting broccoli.
How do you plant broccoli correctly?
To plant broccoli successfully, choose a sunny, wind-protected location with alkaline, nutrient-rich loamy soil. Add compost and lime, loosen the soil, plant broccoli seedlings 50 cm apart and cover the root area with mulch. Sow early varieties in March, plant them outdoors in May and harvest the broccoli when the buds are firm and closed.
A location tailored to broccoli taste
Broccoli plants love a sunny, wind-protected location. If they are then allowed to spread their roots in alkaline, nutrient-rich clay soil, they will thrive optimally with good care. Compost and lime additionally improve the soil quality and create the basis for a he althy harvest when planting. Plant broccoli correctly step by step:
- Loose clay soil
- Mix in compost or vegetable fertilizer and lime
- Place broccoli plants 50 centimeters apart
- Cover the root area with a layer of mulch
Start earlier – harvest longer
If you want to repot broccoli seedlings outdoors in May, you should plant them on the windowsill, in the early bed or in the greenhouse at the beginning of March and adapt them to the light and weather conditions outdoors. Home-grown broccoli seedlings are therefore more robust than purchased ones and cheaper. Perennial broccoli varieties allow annual harvesting without having to sow and plant again every year.
Buy a cultivation kit or put it together yourself?
Whether you buy a growing set (€16.00 on Amazon) or put it together yourself – planting remains the same. When purchasing a special growing kit or indoor greenhouse, make sure that it contains all the necessary parts for growing:
- Broccoli seeds
- Growing substrate
- plastic potties
- Plant stickers
- Greenhouse with lid or foil
- Fertilizer
The best time for sowing, planting and transplanting
For early varieties, start sowing in planters in March. Then repot the broccoli young plants into the bed in May. You can sow directly outdoors at the end of April. If you sow late broccoli varieties in early summer, you can harvest all year round.
Substrate – the right mixture guarantees he althy growth
Broccoli prefers a pH value between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil has a pH value below 6.0, simply mix in compost or potting soil. Adding sulfur granules balances a pH value above 7.0.
How much distance do broccoli plants need?
Depending on the type of broccoli, 40 to 50 centimeters of space between the plants is recommended. If you sow the broccoli directly in the bed, press the seeds a maximum of 1 centimeter deep into the soil.
How to harvest broccoli correctly
Harvest the broccoli while the small buds on the head are firm and closed. Cut off the head including 10 centimeters of the stalk. By removing the stem, small broccoli florets will grow from the armpits again.
Tips & Tricks
Do you want to harvest broccoli all year round? Then plant broccoli plants twice. You plant the first generation of broccoli in May and the second in June. 2 to 3 broccoli plants are enough for a family of four.
