How do you grow broccoli for beginners?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.The first step in growing broccoli is to prepare the soil. You can check the pH of your garden bed with a $15 kit available at any nursery. Broccoli grows best in a pH of 6.0-7.0, and if the soil is too acidic, you can add lime; if the soil is too alkaline, you can add sulfur. I learned this lesson after the first crop of broccoli I grew turned yellow as a result of soil imbalance.
Soil Testing & Amendments
- Use a pH meter or test strips weekly until stable
- Add 2 cups of lime per 10 sq ft for acidic soil
- Mix 1 cup sulfur per 10 sq ft if pH exceeds 7.5
Pest Prevention
- Install floating row covers at planting
- Handpick caterpillars every morning for 10 days
- Spray neem oil at dusk to avoid sunburn on leaves
Both Gypsy and Green Magic are resistant to common diseases which makes them great for first-time growers. In my first experience growing broccoli I lost half my crop to black rot before switching my varieties. Space the plants 18-24 inches apart. Crowding will cause mildew in the fall and heads will be small.
Time your planting around frost dates. Start sowing seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost. When transplanting fall crops, plan on transplanting seedlings 10 weeks before the season's first frost. I simply keep a wall calendar to keep track of frost dates. It helps to prevent crops from bolting from excessive heat waves late in the spring season.
Read the full article: How to Grow Broccoli: Expert Tips for Home Gardens
