How do you know when broccoli is ready to harvest?

You need to check broccoli harvest readiness daily as the heads develop. The critical window for harvesting is only 4-7 days, after which quality begins to decline. I do a daily garden check each morning to observe the bud formation. Timing mistakes are very costly and irreversible. The goal in cultivating broccoli is to harvest the sweetest, crispiest heads.

Visual indicators are your foremost harvest cues. Look for florets forming tightly packed buds (with no gaps); the heads should exhibit a uniform deep green coloration across their entire surface area. Purple varieties should exhibit liveliness, not just darker purple tones, throughout their entire surface area. A pasty yellow color indicates it is time to harvest, and bud separation is a sign that it has become overripe.

Temperature control has a great effect on your harvest window. The optimal temperature range of 60-75°F allows for a harvest period of 5 to 7 days. At temperatures above 80°F, it shrinks within 24 hours of flowering. Cooler temperatures below 50°F increase the time. During heat waves, I use shade cloth.

Morning harvesting ensures maximum flavor and texture. Plant sugars accumulate overnight, resulting in sweeter heads. I harvest by 8 AM, using sharp, sterilized knives. Cut stems at a 45° angle, approximately five inches below the heads. Place heads in a cool, shaded area as soon as they are cut.

Make sure you're not guilty of these common harvest errors: Waiting for heads that are supermarket-sized often causes the plant to produce flower stalks. Ignoring the color change from deep green to light green causes bitterness in taste. Cutting after noon lowers crispness. Ruining the side shoots while harvesting cuts down on regrowing. Follow this simple procedure to be sure of continued production.

Read the full article: When to Harvest Broccoli: Essential Guide