Broccoli Seedling Raising Techniques and Key Points to Note Explained

Broccoli is a vegetable with very high nutritional value, and it can be seen in major shopping malls and vegetable markets. With such high demand for broccoli, seedling raising and cultivation are also a concern for many vegetable growers. What are the broccoli seedling raising techniques and points to note?

1. Broccoli seedling raising techniques

1. Seedbed preparation. For broccoli seedling raising, the seedbed must first be prepared well. The seedbed is best chosen in loose soil with good drainage, good ventilation, and rich organic matter. A field plot where cruciferous vegetables have not been grown in the past two years is also required. The seedbed should be tidied, disinfected, and weeded, and humidity and temperature should be adjusted well.

2. Sowing. Broccoli seedling raising generally adopts the method of mixing seeds with fine silt and direct sowing of dry seeds, sowing the broccoli seeds evenly on the prepared seedbed. The most suitable sowing time is on a clear evening or a cloudy day. After sowing, spray water with a fine nozzle so the seeds make close contact with the seedbed surface, then cover the seedbed surface with 2 to 3 layers of shade netting to shade, cool, and retain moisture.

3. Seedbed management.

(1) Broccoli takes two to three days from sowing to emergence, and during this period temperature and moisture need to be adjusted. During the germination period, field observations of sunlight and field moisture should be carried out three times a day: in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.

(2) From the greening of the cotyledons to the 2-leaf 1-heart stage is the basic nutritional period of broccoli seedlings. At this stage, if root growth and absorption are poor and the temperature in the seedbed is too high, it is very easy to cause poor seedling development. During this period, shade netting needs to be set up in time, shading and cooling from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drainage should be carried out promptly after rain.

(3) After the 2-leaf 1-heart stage, the seedlings enter a rapid growth period, and at this stage the temperature still needs to be relatively high. In order to cultivate strong seedlings, management work should be the main focus at this time, preventing typhoons and heavy rain, and managing soil moisture as well as possible.

2. Points to note in seedling raising

1. Soil. Broccoli is suitable for planting on sandy loam with good drainage and irrigation, deep topsoil, and loose, fertile soil.

2. Temperature. The temperature for growing broccoli is within 5 to 20 degrees, and the higher the temperature, the faster the growth. The germination temperature is 20 to 25 degrees, and the seedling stage growth temperature is 15 to 20 degrees.

3. Moisture. Broccoli needs relatively more water during its growth process, especially during growth water must not be lacking; if there is too little water, it will affect yield.

4. Fertilization. Broccoli has a relatively shallow root system and a relatively high demand for nutrients, so base fertilizer needs to be applied. Generally, per mu, 100 kg of organic fertilizer, 10 kg of urea, 25 kg of compound fertilizer, and 2 kg of borax are needed as base fertilizer.

5. Pest control. If diamondback moths and cabbage borers occur on broccoli, they can be controlled with 5% fipronil 1500-times solution. If beet armyworms and tobacco cutworms are found, they can be controlled with 20% miman 1000-times solution plus 10% beta-cypermethrin 1500-times solution. If aphids are found, they can be controlled with 10% imidacloprid 3000-times solution.

Growing broccoli is not complicated, and it is also very popular in daily life. It can be stir-fried plain or served cold, and it is a delicious and nutritious food.