Even before US President Obama named broccoli as his favorite vegetable, the green asparagus cabbage was already increasingly inspiring domestic hobby gardeners. In order to be able to harvest the vegetables fresh and he althy, you have to cut them in time and correctly.
How to cut broccoli correctly?
To cut broccoli properly, harvest large, ready-to-harvest florets just below the base. Cut out the thick flower head in the middle to produce a second harvest from side shoots. Ideally, you should cut the broccoli early in the morning when it is still damp from the dew.
The most important types of broccoli at a glance
Depending on how and when you want to cut and harvest your broccoli, choose annual or perennial, early or late varieties. When it comes to color, you can also choose between the classic green, purple or yellow broccoli. A selection of the most important broccoli varieties:
- Atlantic
- Corvet
- Green Sprouting
- Purple Sprouting
- Primo
- Sparco
- Southern Comet
- Legacy
- Corona
- Samurai
Cut broccoli correctly and harvest on time
Unlike cauliflower, you can harvest broccoli several times during a gardening year. To do this, cut off large, harvest-ready florets just below the base. New, smaller florets grow back from the underlying leaf axils along the thick stems in 3 to 4 weeks. The flower buds of broccoli must not open, otherwise they are inedible. Cut out the thick inflorescence from the middle, then you can get a second harvest from the side shoots. The ripening period for broccoli takes 2 to 3 months, depending on the variety. A few degrees below zero during the autumn harvest doesn't bother him. It's best to cover it with fleece (€34.00 on Amazon) in good time.
The ideal time of day to cut broccoli is early in the morning, when it is still damp from dew. Then it has the best aroma and lasts longer. The thick stalks taste like asparagus when peeled. Hence the name asparagus cabbage. If you are a recreational gardener working with the lunar calendar, broccoli is a flowering plant and you should therefore grow, care for, cut and harvest it on flowering days.
Broccoli harvested and then what?
Broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked with the stems and leaves. When freshly harvested, you can store it in the refrigerator for 3 days. Do you want to store your broccoli longer? Pull the entire plant out of the soil and place it upside down in a cool place. This way you can preserve the broccoli for 3 to 4 weeks. Broccoli also freezes well. Simply blanch for three minutes. Packed in a freezer bag, it lasts up to nine months.
Tips & Tricks
If possible, do not store broccoli together with ethylene-producing apples, bananas or tomatoes. This means it spoils faster.
