Growing Broccoli
Most long-haul gardeners would probably say that there is one crop they grow successfully every year. For me, that vegetable is broccoli. Talk with someone else about tomatoes, since I am Growing Tomatoes in the Fog Belt. To keep me humble though, I did have problems with my broccoli last year. Read How I Ruined My Broccoli Crop.
I’ve grown ‘Premium Crop’ broccoli most every year for 25 years. It is a reliable performer in my coastal garden, with 9-12 inches heads that are dense and mild-flavored. It produces many side shoots after the main harvest. Tightly budded heads of ‘Premium Crop’ hold longer than other varieties which is helpful at harvest. This F1 hybrid is resistant to heat and fusarium wilt.
Here’s what I found after cutting the main head last week. These side shoots will grow into larger as seen in the thumbnail above.
Some years I buy broccoli starts from a favorite nursery but this year I grew them from seed for later transplant. You can purchase ‘Premium Crop’ seeds at Urban Farmer Seeds, Gurney’s Seed or Google for other sources.
‘Premium Crop’ is an All-American Selections winner, tolerant of warmer conditions which makes it an appropriate choice for southern states. In Southern California it is best planted in the fall, preferring the cooler days but will tolerate nights in the 30’s like most brassicas. I plant my seeds for transplant in late August and move them to the garden in early to mid-October when longer day length gets them off to a good start.
I enrich the soil with compost and an organic vegetable fertilizer and intensively plant the broccoli 15 inches apart. Other gardeners with more growing ground may choose an 18-24 inch separation. With a thick mulch and enlarging leaves, weeds are rarely a problem and the soil remains cool during the occasional hot days we get in SoCal.
For more growing tips view a short video, How to Grow Broccoli at GrowOrganic.com
Some years when I remove my broccoli plants this is what I find. If I had sufficient garden space I’d remove the old stalk and let this upstart have a chance. I have read that in some Mediterranean areas the plants can be perennial.
A few years I’ve been able to successfully grow purple sprouting broccoli though success eludes me with most attempts. I admire the British gardeners who seem to grow it with ease.
What variety of broccoli do you grow and what do you like about it? Share your experiences in a comment.
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