HOW TO GROW BROCCOLI FROM SEEDS IN CONTAINERS.
Broccoli is an edible plant in the mustard family. It is a very tasty vegetable. It has a thick stalk and a flower head. It is surrounded by leaves. It looks like a small tree. It is rich in vitamin C and K . It reduces inflammation in the body and boost the immune system.
It is used in many dishes. It is eaten raw, cooked, steamed, microwaved and stir-fried. It is native to Eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor. It was introduced to America in the 1700s.
Broccoli is a cool season crop. You can start growing in the winter. September or October are the best months to start growing broccoli. It takes a few weeks to germinate the seeds. You can start the seedlings 7 to 9 weeks before the last frost.
WHAT WOULD YOU NEED?
You will need:
Soil with compost and fertilizer for growing seedling
Broccoli seeds
A container 8 inches deep, and 10 inches wide
Water
A warm well lit place for the seeds to germinate
STEPS TO FOLLOW TO GERMINATE THE PLANT
Place the soil in the container more than half of the container. Water it. Make sure the soil is moist. Take the seeds and spread them on top of the soil . Make sure the seeds are not touching each other. That will allow the seeds to germinate well. Cover the seeds with more soil. Pat the seeds lightly. The seeds only need to be 1 inch deep. Add water. Water the new seeds softly daily. keep them moist all the time specially when they are babies. Place them in a very sunny area. The temperature must be between 60-80 degrees F. It will take up to 14 day for the seeds to germinate. Watch them grow. Enjoy them.
WHEN TO TRANSFER THE SEEDLINGS INTO BIGGER CONTAINERS
When the new seedlings are 5 to 7 inches tall; it is time to transplant them to a bigger container. It will take 40 days for the first transfer. Carefully, transplant them to a new bigger container. Each seedling must have nice big green leaves. Replant them carefully, Take each new plant out carefully not to damage the roots. Plant each plant 8 inches apart and 8 inches deep. If you are growing broccoli in containers Each plant will fit in a planter. If you are putting them in the ground make sure each plant has enough space. Broccoli plants need a lot of space to grow well and strong. Keep them moist all the time. Broccoli plants need 8 hours of sun daily.
GROWING UP
As the broccoli plant starts to grow get rid of the bottom leaves. That will make the plant send nutrients to the upper part of the plant the head. The head is the part of the plant you will eat. Make sure the plant is moist all the time and free of insects and weeds. The broccoli plants can grow up to 3 feet. Add some compost or fertilizer rich in Nitrogen to the soil after every 20 days.
BROCCOLI PLANT READY TO BE HARVESTED.
The head of the broccoli plant is ready to grow. It will take 20 -30 days ( a month) for the head to grow. Cover the head with the leaves. It will protect the heads from pest. Continue to keep the plant moist. When the head is big enough you can harvest. Harvest the broccoli head in the morning. You could have a second broccoli head by continuing to water and feeding nutrients to the plant. However; often broccoli plant produces only 1 head.
