Broccoli Gardening - How To Effortlessly Grow Broccoli in Your Garden

The members of the Brassica family of vegetables, of which Broccoli is one, have been shown to produce a enzyme called sulforaphane, which can aid in the fight against cancer. It may seem like a simple thing to include more Broccoli's in your diet, alas that would be easy if the price of fresh produce had not recently went through the roof. Broccoli is a vegetable that grows best in milder temperatures. There are easy ways to grow Broccoli and if you are planning a garden and want to know how to make the most of your broccoli seedlings read on.

Understanding your soils composition is key to growing great broccoli. The ideal soil for the most popular brand of purple sprouting broccoli is firm, rich and heavy. Heavy soil does not mean clay by any stretch of the imagination. The heavier rich soils are higher in concentrated nutrients.

Broccoli plants will be in the earth for 38-42 weeks and soil prep before planting is crucial. The plant bed should not be somewhere that had a lot of standing water during the winter months. The area should be in a partially shaded place that gets quite a bit of indirect sunlight. Two weeks before planting add a thin layer of fertilizer and tamp into the existing earth but do not pack it. Broccoli will grow best in soil with a pH of 7.0 but it will also do well in slightly lower pH.

Using garden planters for planting brocolli is not the best approach for beginners. Instead, sow the seeds a month or so before the final frost or in early spring. Better yet, start the seedlings in doors and transplant the sprouts at the appropriate times. Set the seedling in soil all the way up to the first leaves, at a bout 18 inches a part. Add a bit of compost around the bottom of each plant. This will give the plants the nutrition needed to get a firm grip on their new soil homes. Water lightly to keep the ground moist only an inch or two per week.

Use mulch to keep down weeds, and keep an eye on the weather and if the temperature is going to dip cover the plants to keep them warm and unaffected by the cold. Cutworms are a particular bother for young plants so using a foil collar at the base of each plant will greatly inhibit their ability to get to the tender plants.

As soon as the heads are big enough for use at the table you can start to pick them. Harvest these stalks before they begin to turn yellow. You want to catch them before the buds begin to open.

Broccoli can be harvested several times during their growing season. With proper education and great care you can reap the benefits of this remarkable vegetable.

Broccoli is one of Amy's favorite vegetables, ranking number 2 in her list, right below spinach. To help your vegetable garden look even more spectacular, Amy invites you to browse beautiful Garden Statues. Amy also offers guest blogging and small business consulting in her spare time.

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