DIY Network

Planting Broccoli Planting Broccoli From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-116

Broccoli is a slow-growing plant, but it's worth the wait....

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	The stem of broccoli...
	...as well as the flower buds can be eaten.
	Broccoli will grow in partial shade, but choose a location that’s sunny for the best results.

Broccoli is an unusual vegetable because the parts we eat are the stem and the flower buds. Another interesting thing is that a broccoli plant will sprout side stems if you harvest the center stem. Broccoli is a fairly slow grower and a lot of people say that it gets its deep flavor from being in the ground so long. It takes 60-90 days to harvest broccoli depending on whether you transplant seedlings or you grow seeds.

Broccoli plants like mild temperatures to grow, but the seeds do better if they have warm soil to get started. Broccoli will grow in partial shade, but choose a location that’s sunny for the best results. If you’re going to plant broccoli in the spring you must start with seedlings because the seeds won’t germinate in the cold soil. You can buy seeds and start them indoors. After 3 to 4 weeks your seedlings will be ready to be transplanted outside assuming the soil has warmed up to 50 to 60 degrees.

Broccoli needs a lot of nutrients, especially potassium and phosphorus. They also need a lot of the micronutrient boron, a nutrient that is often lacking in many soil types. I added a healthy dose of compost and manure to the bed since both have boron as well as a good mix of the three main elements needed in plant growth: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Use a garden fork to break up the soil and to turn beneficial nutrients back into the dirt. It’s important to have good soil structure so that the plant roots can get right through to find the food they need.

To plant broccoli seeds you need rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart. Use the end of a hoe handle to make the rows. Plant broccoli in a place where it won’t get knocked around, they don’t like to have their roots disturbed.

To get the seedlings up to a quick start water them in with a liquid starter fertilizer. Read the label on the package to see the recommended dosage for each plant.