Garden-fresh broccoli tastes delicious and is rich in vitamins. Whether in the garden or on the balcony – broccoli thrives in poor soil in cooler temperatures. You can grow annual or perennial plants. Growing perennial broccoli is worthwhile for anyone who wants to save on gardening labor and enjoy broccoli every year.
How to grow broccoli in the garden?
To grow broccoli successfully, you should plant it in a sunny, wind-protected location and enrich the soil with compost, vegetable fertilizer and lime. It is important to water regularly, fertilize and keep the soil loose, as well as avoid waterlogging. For a longer harvest period, early and winter varieties can be combined.
Early cabbage varieties should ideally be sown in doses from March and then planted as young plants in the bed in May. The planting distance is 50 centimeters. Late broccoli varieties can be sown directly into the bed until the end of June. To do this, sow 3 seeds per planting hole and only let the strongest seedling continue to grow.
The optimal broccoli location
Broccoli plants prefer a sunny, wind-protected location. The ideal conditions are alkaline, nutrient-rich and loose soil. You can also add compost (€12.00 on Amazon) or special vegetable fertilizer and lime to the plants and thus significantly improve the harvest. Broccoli needs a lot of water and likesto be pampered from cultivation to harvest:
- Loose the soil
- water and fertilize regularly from below
- Cover the root area with a layer of mulch
Important for all types of broccoli: Keep the soil evenly moist. Avoid waterlogging! In order for the plants to survive cold periods safely, they must grow slowly and form firm leaves. Broccoli are heavy eaters. Fertilize with simple manure from June. This is very rich in nitrogen and offers perfect conditions for vegetables. Because the enjoyment of broccoli should not be impaired by chemical agents.
Harvesting with stem and stem
In summer it can happen that you miss the ideal harvest time. Because the flowers open quickly in warm weather. Ripe broccoli can be recognized by a well-developed inflorescence, the buds of which are about to open. If the flower is already loose and shows a yellow glow, the buds taste too charcoal. Don't just break off broccoli buds. It is better to cut off the stem or stem cleanly directly above the armpit.
If you want to extend the harvest season, you can sow special winter varieties in early summer and plant them in late summer. Watering daily will help the plants get used to their new location. If you grow a perennial variety correctly instead of annual broccoli and take good care of it, you can harvest fresh broccoli for several years.
Tips & Tricks
By carefully pulling the upper leaves you can see whether the young plants are planted firmly enough in the soil.
