Easy Tips for Growing Broccoli Successfully at Home
Broccoli is an incredibly nutritious vegetable. It is part of the Brassica family – alongside species such as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage – and is loaded with beneficial vitamins and trace elements. Broccoli has high levels of folate, calcium, and iron, as well as loads of vitamins A, E and C. Indeed, it contains more vitamin C per ounce than an orange. All these elements help keep the physiological functions of your body running smoothly. It is also full of fiber, to help your digestive system, and has virtually no calories. The members of the Brassica family are sometimes referred to as cruciferous vegetables, from the shape of their flowers, which have four petals that resemble a cross. It s thought that cruciferous vegetables have compounds in them that can be beneficial in preventing cancer.
With all that going for it, broccoli is a welcome addition to any permaculture plot. The most common species that is cultivated is Calabrese, which come in a number of varieties, such as green sprouting, white sprouting, and purple sprouting. They are all fairly hardy plants, so can grow in most climatic conditions, if just a few simple precautionary measures are taken to protect them from the more extreme weather events. They are also a useful addition to a permaculture garden in that they can be planted for harvest in fall or even winter in certain conditions, providing a fresh vegetable during a season when many vegetable plants die back or go dormant. Here are some tips to get you started growing broccoli.
1: Sowing The easiest way to grow broccoli is from seed. Sow between early spring and early summer, depending on when you want to harvest them. (Sow early in spring for an early fall harvest, particularly if you live in a location that experiences very cold winters. In milder locations, you can plant later in the year for a winter crop.) White sprouting and purple sprouting varieties should be planted later in the summer, as they require a period vernalization – exposure to cold – to initiate flower bud growth. These can be harvested in late winter or early spring. Planting a variety of species will give you fresh broccoli from early fall to early spring the following year. Sow approximately 30 centimeters apart to allow enough space for the mature plant to grow into, and add two or three seeds to each hole, thinning out to leave the strongest plant when the seedlings are established. If you have cooler spring temperatures you might want to start them out in a seedbed under a cold frame to protect them. Plant out in late summer. Ideally, broccoli should be planted in a position that gets several hours of full sun per day.
2: Water When planting your seeds or seedlings, water well to provide a good start to grow. Ensure that the plants do not dry out, particularly during the hotter summer months when they are starting to form flower heads, but also make sure the soil is well drained to avoid water-logging, which will inhibit growth. Drip irrigation systems can be a valuable tool for growing broccoli, as can a mulch to prevent moisture evaporation from the soil.
3: Soil Like most plants, broccoli prefers a soil rich in organic matter, and are particularly nitrogen-hungry, so compost at the planting stage and whenever required through the growth period. Avoid adding animal manure, as this can make the soil more acid; broccoli, like all the members of the Brassica family – prefers a slightly alkaline soil. A pH of between 6 and 7 is ideal. If you have an acid soil, add organic agricultural lime to lower the pH.
4: Care It is a good idea to plant nasturtiums next to your broccoli plants. Nasturtiums act as a magnet for aphids, insects, which would otherwise feast on your broccoli. You may also want to plant fennel or dill nearby to attract lacewings and ladybugs, as these insects predate on cabbage butterflies, whose caterpillars can do a lot of damage to Brassicas like broccoli. However, a permaculture plot with a great deal of biodiversity should keep pests down anyway, by attracting lots of species of insects and birds to keep the populations in balance. If you live in a location that experiences strong winds, it is a good idea to plant your broccoli in the lee of taller shrubs and trees, as they can get damaged, particularly in their formative stages. Just make sure they still get some full sun during the day.
5: Harvest Most varieties of broccoli will be suitable for harvesting between three and four months after planting. Look for tightly formed flower buds and when ready slice off the central head. By taking the dominant stem, you will promote secondary growth on the side shoots, giving you a second crop of smaller buds later in the season. Cut the stem at an angle to prevent water pooling on the flat surface with the potential to cause rot. If the buds are starting to go yellow, this means that they are about to bloom, so you want to harvest immediately if you see this color developing.
6: Cooking and Storing Broccoli is a versatile vegetable, lending itself to any number of preparation methods. It can even be served raw in a salad or as crudités with a dip. It makes a good addition to soups, curries, and stir-fries; its robust structure means it retains much of its crunch, even when heated. Complimentary flavors include citrus fruits, garlic, capers, mild cheese, and dill. You can keep broccoli heads for about a week in the refrigerator if necessary, but using them as soon after harvest as possible ensures you get the most nutritional benefit. Try to avoid boiling broccoli as this leaches out the nutrients at a rapid rate; just five minutes in a saucepan of boiling water can reduce their nutrient load by as much as 30 percent. To freeze, blanch cut florets in boiling water for a minute, dry thoroughly then freeze in containers.
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