Broccoli is a very vitamin-rich vegetable, which to taste in many ways resembles a cauliflower, but much more yielding. Over the season, one can get not one but two whole broccoli crops, while growing it is not difficult - the plant is very unpretentious. For adherents of diets and proper nutrition without this ingredient simply can not do.
Where are broccoli grown?
Broccoli cabbage and its cultivation have become very common in recent years. It is planted either in a greenhouse or in open beds in a garden. In each of the options, the correct selection of the variety and the implementation of care recommendations are important. It is equally important to be able to choose the varieties in accordance with the climatic characteristics of your region of residence. Such varieties as "Caesar" and "Continental" grow equally well both in sheltered greenhouses and in beds.
How to grow broccoli in the garden?
Although it is known about the cold resistance of broccoli, the cultivation of cabbage in open land is not suitable for all regions. Terms of sowing seeds on the bed - end of May. The ground should already be heated to + 20 ° C. The following fertilizers should be introduced to the ground in advance:
- organic matter;
- wood ash;
- urea ;
- superphosphate .
Seeds must be properly prepared before sowing. Do this according to the following algorithm:
- We place seeds for 15 minutes in warm water (+ 50 ° С).
- We immerse them for a minute in cold water.
- We process during the night (12 hours) with a solution of trace elements.
- Thoroughly wash the seeds.
- We put in the refrigerator for a day.
- Dry it.
In addition to the direct sowing of seeds on the bed, pre-cultivation of seedlings in boxes is practiced. Preparation of seeds in this case is identical to the above. Sow them in boxes with prepared soil (turf, peat and sand), disinfected with dissolved potassium permanganate. Already on the 3rd-4th day the first seedlings appear, and after 40 days they can be planted in a permanent place, observing the planting scheme of 20x50 cm.
The best varieties for open ground:
- "Varus";
- "Green Favorite";
- The Emperor;
- "Corvette";
- "Comanche";
- "Lucky";
- Marathon.
Growing broccoli in a greenhouse
Owners of greenhouses are interested in the natural question of how to grow broccoli in a greenhouse protected soil. The preparation of seed for planting and the process of growing seedlings are exactly the same as in the case of planting in an open bed. Planning to grow broccoli in a greenhouse in a seedling method, the seeds are sown for 1-1.5 months before planting on a permanent growth site. The beds in the greenhouse are filled with organic and mineral fertilizers since autumn. The soil must be neutral or slightly acidic. In early spring, the soil is sprinkled with nitrogen fertilizers .
The best varieties of broccoli for growing in a greenhouse:
- "Tone";
- "Lazarus";
- "Vitamin";
- "Continental";
- "Caesar";
- «F1 - Broccoli».
Conditions for growing broccoli
Like other types of cabbage, broccoli, its cultivation and care have some characteristics that need to be considered if you want to get the best result:
- Broccoli is very hygrophilous and light-loving. The humidity of both ground and air is important here. The soil under it should always be moistened by 70%, and the ideal humidity of air - 85%. The head of broccoli, unlike cauliflower, does not need to be shaded.
- Despite the cold resistance and resistance to heat, the best yield of broccoli gives, subject to some optimal temperature regime - from +16 to +20 ° C.
- For broccoli, permanent loosening of the soil is vital - the ground must be well ventilated, not compacted.
Broccoli cabbage seedling
The earth for broccoli seedlings can be bought ready, and you can prepare yourself. To do this, carefully mix turf, humus, ash and sand. It should be a loose and light substrate, which is good for water, since stagnation is completely unacceptable - cabbage can get black leg . In this case, cabbage loves moisture. Acidity should be weakly acidic or neutral. Very good broccoli responds to the liming of the soil.
To give an exhaustive answer to the question of how to grow broccoli cabbage and get the maximum yield from it, it is necessary to touch upon the issue of soil fertilization. Since autumn, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied to the beds at a rate of 5 kg per square meter. Before a direct planting, you need to add nitrogen fertilizers to the beds, moisturize well, and then loosen the soil to enrich the soil with air - all these measures will greatly facilitate further care for cabbage. The best predecessors of broccoli are carrots, potatoes, beans.
Home broccoli growing - watering
One of the most important moments in answering the question, how to grow broccoli in the country, is literate watering. It is extremely important to comply with the moisture regime. Watering should be both moderate, but also sufficient to maintain a constant moisture content of the soil. If watering is excessive, the cabbage gets a black stalk. If moisture is not enough, this affects the quality of the heads - they turn out to be dwarfish. Together with this, it is important that the soil is compacted from moisture regularly loosen. Each time after watering, the soil is loosened to a depth of 8 cm. Such agrotechnical methods give the best result.
How to plant cabbage broccoli?
Lovers of broccoli grow it through the seeds and in a seedling manner. Whichever way you choose, you first need to properly prepare the seeds. The preparation algorithm was described above, it is suitable for any method of planting. This stage is extremely important, as does the qualitative preparation of the substrate. Below we will look at how to grow broccoli seed and seedlings.
How to grow broccoli from seeds?
If you want to try the seed method of planting broccoli, the cultivation will consist of the following: in the prepared, fertilized, loosened and moistened beds, the prepared seeds are sown according to the scheme of 20x50. The irrigated method is often practiced with a second planting of broccoli (2nd and sometimes the 3rd time in a season). Planting broccoli when grown from seeds allows you to get a conveyor crop until the fall. To do this, you can plant a new batch every 3 weeks instead of collected, prolonging the harvesting period and increasing its volume.
Broccoli seedlings - cultivation
So, we have come to how to plant broccoli in the open ground through seedlings. Preparation consists of mixing in equal parts sand, turf and turf. This substrate must be poured with a solution of potassium permanganate for decontamination. Further, the prepared seeds are closed in boxes with soil to a depth of 0.8-1 cm. After sowing seeds, the ambient temperature is maintained at + 20 ° C.
With the emergence of shoots, the temperature is lowered to + 10 ° C, and after a week it is raised to +14-16 ° C in the daytime, at night the temperature should be + 9 ° C. If the seedlings are grown at a temperature above + 20 ° C, this will lead to the fact that the heads will start forming ahead of time. No less scrupulous need to monitor the level of soil moisture - poorly affects both moisture stagnation and waterlogging, and its lack.
You can dive seedlings at the age of 12-14 days. After that, the temperature can be raised to + 21 ° C, but only until the moment of survival. Then it is again reduced to + 17 ° C in the daytime and + 9 ° C at night. A couple of weeks before the proposed landing in the soil, seedlings are beginning to accustom to sunlight and wind. With the landing it is better not to hurry, because the low temperature of the air on the street will lead to the cabbage. You can plant seedlings on the street at the age of 35-45 days. If the weather is favorable or you have a greenhouse, you can do it in early May.
Features of broccoli
Those who were interested in the agrotechnics of this culture know about broccoli - growing it is possible even on the balcony or loggia. With optimal temperature, light and humidity, there is every chance to collect an excellent harvest without leaving the apartment. Here are some secrets of growing broccoli cabbage at home and in the garden:
- To avoid the death of seedlings from the black leg and powdery mildew , it is better to use imported seeds treated with fungicides, and also to use a purchased peat substrate for its forcing.
- At the seedling stage, you do not need to feed the cabbage with organic. You can use special fertilizers for cabbage in the form of soluble crystals.
- Like all cabbage, broccoli responds well to watering seedlings with calcium nitrate. Do it best in a week before landing in the ground and again after a week after disembarkation. You can also feed it with a complex of trace elements with boron and molybdenum.
- All further care after planting in the ground care for cabbage consists in regular weeding, loosening, moistening, feeding and processing from pests.
- It is recommended to water broccoli once in 2 days, and during periods of heat - twice a day. The soil under the cabbage should always be moistened to a depth of 15 cm. Water better in the evening, after loosening, in order to prevent rotting of the roots.
- Top dressing is done three times per season. The first two consist of a mixture of cow manure and bird droppings. Introduce diluted organics after rooting the seedlings in the garden with a difference of 2 weeks. The third feeding is done at the beginning of the formation of the inflorescence. For her take this composition - superphosphate 40 g, potassium sulfate 10 g and ammonium nitrate 20 g, dilute them in 10 liters of water and water cabbage.
- Protection of young cabbage from cruciferous flea - a frequent enemy of all types of cabbage - is to cover the garden with a thin non-woven cloth. Before the formation of inflorescences, you can spray broccoli with Iskra. When the heads begin to form, you can sprinkle them with a mixture of wood ash and tobacco dust.
- Do not rush to remove the plant from the garden immediately after cutting the central head, as broccoli quickly grows lateral shoots, which guarantees you an additional crop.
Growing broccoli "Caesar"
The variety "Caesar" refers to the mid-ripening. Cabbage of this variety is a large and very dense head of green color with a slight purple hue. The density of cabbage resembles a colored cabbage. The broccoli "Caesar", its sowing and cultivation is produced by seedling method and sowing seeds in the open ground. Thanks to the friendly maturation and timely harvesting for the season, you can get two crops in time.
Growing broccoli "Tonus"
Broccoli varieties "Tonus" refers to the early ripening. Ripeness occurs on the 60-90 day after emergence. Her heads grow very fast and amicably. They are characterized by medium density, their color is dark green. How to grow broccoli at home: you can do it through 45 day seedlings or by direct sowing seeds in the open ground. The yield of the variety is up to 2 kg per square meter.
Growing broccoli "Linda"
Broccoli cabbage "Linda" and its cultivation is produced by seedling and seedlings. The variety belongs to the medium-ripening - technical ripeness comes on 90-100 days after the beginning of cultivation. Cabbage heads are dark green and very large. Cut off the central, wait for the ripening of the lateral processes - you will be pleased with six more relatively large heads.
Broccoli cabbage "Fortuna" - cultivation
Broccoli "Fortune" refers to medium-ripening varieties. It features an elevated rosette of leaves and a gray-green head of medium density. The technology of growing broccoli is similar to other varieties - it is possible both seedling and seed method. Sow seeds on the bed can be after the threat of frosts, that is - at the end of May. You can plant the seedlings in mid-April.