This time of year I get a question or two about growing broccoli in the home garden. This vegetable is in the Brassica family and can be grown in the early spring or fall. Let us discuss some points to consider for your fall crop of broccoli.
Gardeners need to start their seeds at the end of July and plant the transplants by the end of August to the first part of September. The soil pH needs to be in the range of 6.0 to 6.8. A soil test would provide information on your soil pH and other nutrients in your soil. Information such as how much lime is needed to adjust pH and fertilizer recommendations is included in the soil test report. If you have questions about soil testing please contact your local Extension agent. If you did not do a soil test, then incorporate 3 to 4 pounds of 5-10-10 per 100 square feet of garden area. Smooth the soil with a rake and plant your broccoli transplants 18 to 20 inches apart. The location of your garden is important. Broccoli needs to have at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day to yield well.
I know that rainfall totals in Colquitt County have been above average this year. Gardeners need to water plants daily for the first week to get the crop established. Continue to irrigate broccoli every four to five days, as needed, to keep the plants healthy. Broccoli is considered a heavy feeder and will require additional nutrients. After initial fertilization at planting, please apply 2 pounds of 5-10-15 fertilizer or equivalent per 100 square feet of bed each month during the growing season.
What varieties do I plant? There are numerous varieties to try, including Marathon, Packman, Patriot, Premium Crop, Bravo, and Decathlon. Please contact your local garden center for variety availability. When do I harvest my broccoli? Harvest the heads when the florets around the edges of the head start to loosen a bit but the center of the head is still tight and green. Removing the heads when they are younger and 6 to 8 inches across will help ensure a tastier crop. Cut the stems at an angle to keep water and diseases at bay. After cutting the initial head, broccoli stems will produce smaller secondary heads. Continue to harvest these throughout the growing season.
If you would like more information about broccoli please contact your local Extension office and request a copy of the publication Home Garden Broccoli. This publication is written by Malgorzata Florkowska and Robert Westerfield.
Jeremy Kichler is the County Extension Coordinator and Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agent for UGA Extension in in Colquitt County. He has been an ANR agent for 21 years. His phone number is 229-616-7455 and his email is jkichler@uga.edu .
