As a kid, I just hated broccoli. I dreaded the sight of broccoli on the table and every bite was torture! My ordeal continued until mom took to growing broccoli in her precious kitchen garden. Broccoli remained a regular on the food table but the taste was no longer the same. I was hesitant to admit it at that time, but I actually enjoyed mom’s homegrown broccoli! I’m all grown up now and a lot’s changed. But I still enjoy broccoli. Well, homegrown broccoli, to be true. It tastes so much better than broccoli from the grocery store. Also, I’m quite fond of growing broccoli from seed. It’s very simple and very exciting!
Broccoli will grow best in a site that offers full sun or partial shade, and well-draining soil. Broccoli plants require good air circulation, can grow up to 3 feet high, and shade out the low growing plants. Keep all these factors in mind when selecting the right location for planting broccoli seeds.
If you’re living in a colder region, you may sow broccoli seeds in the garden as early as a couple of months from the expected first frost-free date. For warmer regions, I’d recommend planting broccoli seeds at the beginning of spring. Prepare the bed by removing the weeds and adding good quantities of rotten manure or compost to the soil. Refer to the instructions on the seed package for the ideal planting depth and spacing. Water well. Provide the plants with a fine layer of organic mulch. This will keep a check on weed growth and offer a nutrient reservoir to the plants.
Young plants can be susceptible to cabbage loopers, aphids, and other insects. I use insect netting and garlic spray to keep the insects away. Make sure the soil remains moist right through the growing season. A little care and patience, and you’ll soon be picking broccoli from your own garden.
Broccoli is a rich source of iron, calcium and vitamin C. It has low-calorie content and is deemed effective in checking cancerous growths. Considering the ease of growing broccoli, it really is a must for your plate as well as your garden!