When Is the Best Time to Plant Broccoli? A Detailed Guide to High-Yield Growing Techniques
Broccoli, also known as green cauliflower, is a fairly common vegetable in China. It is very popular because it is rich in vitamins. The current price is around 5 yuan/jin, so it is a little expensive. So when is the best time to plant broccoli? How do you grow it for high yield?
Broccoli is usually sown in autumn, grows through winter, and comes to market normally after Spring Festival to reach the table. In spring it begins to flower, and the seeds mature by April to May. For summer and autumn seedling raising, seedlings are raised during the high-temperature season from August to October. At this time the temperature is generally above 25°C, sometimes with high temperatures of 30-35°C, and there are also hazards from heavy rain and hail, so shade nets are used for open-field seedling raising. The seedling age is generally 35-40 days, and sowing or direct hole sowing can be used. The seedling stage averages about 30 days, and from transplanting to harvest takes 80-90 days. It has somewhat strong winter habit; when the seedling stem is 10 mm thick, it can be affected by low temperature and complete the vernalization process.
High-yield broccoli cultivation methods
1. Sow at the right time and raise strong seedlings
Choose a plot with high, dry terrain, good drainage and fertile soil for planting, and sow at the right time in early August. Before sowing, plow deeply and build beds. Apply 500 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 15 kg of high-concentration ternary compound fertilizer per mu as base fertilizer. Water thoroughly 1 day before sowing, broadcast sow, then cover with fine soil and press firmly so the seeds make full contact with the soil. Spray 100 ml of 60% butachlor emulsifiable concentrate mixed with 50 kg of water per mu to control weeds, and at the same time apply 3 kg of 3% Hudijing per mu to control underground pests. Build a shade shed to lower the temperature, uncover it in the morning and evening after emergence, do not cover it on cloudy days, and harden the seedlings to improve their stress resistance. In heavy rain or rainstorm weather, shade nets should be covered promptly.
2. Apply enough base fertilizer and plant at a reasonable density
10-15 days before transplanting, while plowing, apply 1000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer or 100 kg of commercial organic fertilizer, 30 kg of ternary compound fertilizer and 1.5 kg of boric acid per mu as base fertilizer; when transplanting, apply 20 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer per mu into the transplanting holes. Build beds 1.4 m wide with ditches 0.3 m wide, planting 2 rows per bed with a plant spacing of 35-45 cm. For harvesting fresh-keeping curds, plant 2500-3000 plants per mu; for harvesting large curds, plant 2000-2300 plants per mu.
3. Strengthen fertilizer and water management
Water once a day for 3-4 days after transplanting, and control watering after the plants survive. After that, keep the soil alternately dry and moist. Topdressing should be early, mainly to promote growth. 15 days after transplanting, apply 15 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per mu; 30 days after the first fertilization, apply another 10 kg of urea and 10 kg of ternary compound fertilizer per mu; after the heart leaves begin to curl, apply 20 kg of ternary compound fertilizer, 10 kg of urea and 20 kg of potassium chloride per mu to ensure there is no fertilizer shortage during the curd-forming stage.
4. Pest and disease control
The main seedling-stage diseases of Lüxiong 90 broccoli are damping-off and downy mildew, which can be controlled with 72% Kelu 600x solution and 50% carbendazim 500x solution respectively. After transplanting, the main disease is black rot, which can be controlled by spraying 72% agricultural streptomycin 3000-4000x solution, focusing on spraying the base of diseased plants and the ground.
The main insect pests are aphids, cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths, beet armyworms, etc. Aphids can be controlled by spraying 10% imidacloprid 2000x solution; cabbage caterpillars can be controlled by alternating Bt 1000x solution and 20% diflubenzuron 500-1000x solution; diamondback moths can be controlled by alternating Yitaibao 1500x solution and 2.5% Caixi 1000x solution.
5. Harvest in time
For fresh-keeping curds, harvest when a single curd weighs 250-300 g; for large curds, harvest when a single curd weighs 750-1250 g.