To help you out, below I have included some detailed broccoli seedling care tips. For those who live in a warmer climate, you can sow them directly into the garden, or you could try winter sowing them. Required fields are marked *. Step 4: Cover the seeds – Lightly cover the seeds, and gently press the soil down to ensure it comes into contact with the seeds. Once the main head is gone, broccoli will continue to produce smaller offshoots that you can harvest all summer long. When you say the seedlings are drooping over…do you mean they are falling over at the base of the stem and dying? The seedlings won’t grow well if the soil is too dry or too wet, and improper watering can lead to problems down the road. The worst part is that my husband bought the seeds around January, and I didn’t realize they were a cool season crop- because I didn’t read the package. You don’t need to do anything special to prepare the seeds for planting. Otherwise, if you’re just looking for a refresher, or a quick-start guide for growing seeds inside, then grab a copy of my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook. Don’t pull them out though, or you could damage the tender roots of the one you want to keep. How to grow broccoli Sow seeds in modules of peat-free compost, every six weeks from spring to autumn. Since they’re accustomed to living in a cushy indoor environment, they’ll need to get used to the harsh elements outdoors. Start with a weak dose of liquid fertilizer, and gradually bump it up to full strength as the seedlings mature. You’ll know they need repotting if the seedlings are taller than the height of the cells, or roots are coming out of the bottom. Today, we're going to show you how to grow broccoli, when to harvest it, and how to get an abundant crop. Plus, you can grow some pretty cool varieties when you buy seeds rather than seedlings. If you're planting in the spring, seed or transplant two to three weeks before the last frost. It also needs rich, fertile soil in order to produce large, beautiful heads. Broccoli seedlings absolutely love these, but they can get a little stinky when you use them indoors. So, if you live in a hot place, plant sooner than 3/17. No one is talking about that. If you live in a warmer region, then you can sow them as soon as the soil is workable in your garden in early spring. Grown from seed, broccoli takes anywhere from 70 to 100 days to mature for harvest. So make sure you do not skip this critical step, or your pampered seedlings could die as soon as you plant them outside. If both of your seeds have germinated, after a few days, thin to one plant per cell by cutting the smaller seedling with scissors. Broccoli plants are heavy feeders, and fertilizing them is very important. Broccoli is a cool weather plant, preferring soil temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 27 degrees Fahrenheit). All of the ones that grow after that are called the “true leaves”, and those look like tiny broccoli leaves. Or place the seed on top, and then gently press it into the soil. Some seeds need light to germinate, but broccoli seeds do not. In spring you can grow them in partial shade to prevent them from going to seed. The moment you see them germinate – after 5-10 days – set your trays in a sunny windowsill or point a grow light at the emerging seedlings. Broccoli prefers fertile, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. They usually start to form within a few days after the seed leaves have opened. The optimum depth is about a quarter inch, spacing about 3 inches apart. The most fool-proof method to growing broccoli is to grow them from seedlings. Depending on the variety, it can take anywhere from 50-90 days from seed to harvest. They are thick and strong and produce small babies along the sides. This will help prevent mold growth, and strengthen the seedlings. I recommend mixing a high-nitrogen fertilizer into the soil at planting time. It s best to grow broccoli in fall since spring conditions may be unpredictable. Cabbage worms are the most common broccoli plant pest, and you can learn how to get of them here. It should be kept on for 14-16 hours per day. If you planted them indoors, and you want them to germinate faster, put the trays on a heat mat to speed things up. Never allow it to dry out completely, but it should’t be soggy either. Fresh broccoli tastes best when grown in cool weather- great in spring and tasty in fall. There are between 6,000 to 6,500 broccoli seeds in an ounce. However, there are a few steps you can take that will ensure they will germinate, and maybe even speed things up a bit. Learn about the timing for when to transplant seedlings here. There’s no cold stratification or nicking necessary. Grow broccoli in full sun for best yield, but broccoli will tolerate partial shade. Move the broccoli sprouts out of the dark once the seeds have started to … Including the best sowing methods to use and when to start them. Transplant thinned seedlings to another part of the garden. If you're planting in the fall, seed 85-100 days before the first frost. Otherwise, if your broccoli seedlings are growing leggy and flopping over, that means they aren’t getting enough light, and you need to add grow lights. Broccoli Seeds Broccoli is one of the most nutritious garden vegetables you can grow. Broccoli Growing Guide Soil Temp for Germ. Place a few seeds in each hole and cover with soil. Plant seeds and transplants at the same time for succession crops or plant early and midseason varieties at the same time. 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