How to grow broccoli in a garden
Nutritious and delicious, broccoli is a must grow in your veggie patch! This one little plant gives so much back - the heads, stems, and tender leaves can all be cooked or thrown raw into your salads, giving you a variety of textures and flavors. It used to be regarded as a winter-only vegetable, but newer varieties mean broccoli can now be grown all year round. Broccoli seed can be sown from summer to autumn in all but the coldest districts. In cold areas, it’s better to start broccoli seeds in late spring or early summer so that the plants are well on their way before winter arrives.
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| How to grow broccoli in a garden |
How to grow broccoli in a garden
- In a sunny spot, fill pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and sow seeds. Firm down and water regularly to keep the soil moist. Allow seedlings to grow to about 7cm h before transplanting.
- Once seedlings have emerged, feed with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Prepare the planting area by adding Yates Thrive Natural Blood Bone with Seaweed to activate the soil microbes. Transplant seedlings and water in well with Yates Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Broccoli is susceptible to a soil-borne problem called club root, which causes the plants to wilt rapidly on hot days. To help avoid this problem, make sure you plant broccoli into a different bed or area each year – don’t go back to the same bed for at least three years.
How to grow broccoli in a pot
- In a sunny spot, fill pots or trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix and sow seeds. Firm down and water regularly to keep soil moist. Allow seedlings to grow to about 7cm before transplanting.
- Broccoli can grow quite large, so ensure it has enough space to grow by selecting a pot that is at least 50cm in diameter. Fill with Yates Premium Potting Mix. Transplant seedlings, backfill with potting mix, and water in well with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Feed weekly with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
Watch this video to see how to grow Kiwifruit in the garden
Growing tips
Broccoli grows relatively slowly in the cooler months and is usually ready for harvest in 16 – 20 weeks. Cut the large central head when the buds are well-formed, but before the flowers start to open. Removing this central head will encourage smaller side shoots to form. They’ll be ready for a second picking in a few week's time.
Gai Lan is a popular Chinese broccoli cultivar that forms a looser, lighter head and is usually harvested when a few of the flowers have opened.
A layer of mulch will retain moisture in the soil.
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| How to grow broccoli in a garden |
