Detailed Explanation of Key Points for High-Yield Broccoli Cultivation Techniques

Broccoli, also called green cauliflower, young-stem cauliflower, or broccoli, is eaten for its tender green heads made up of plump, tender flower shoots and buds. It is not only tender, delicious and nutritious, but also highly adaptable and easy to cultivate. It is a high-grade nutritious and health-promoting vegetable with great development prospects.

Cultivation Season

Broccoli can be cultivated in both spring and autumn. For spring cropping, seedlings are mostly raised in cold frames in mid-to-late January, with a seedling period of 50 to 60 days, transplanted to open fields in mid-to-late March, and harvested beginning in mid-to-late May; for autumn cropping, seeds are sown and seedlings raised in early-to-mid July, transplanted to open fields in early-to-mid August, and harvested in mid-to-late October.

Land Preparation, Fertilization and Transplanting

Broccoli has strong growth vigor and a high fertilizer requirement, so sufficient base fertilizer must be applied in combination with land preparation.

Generally, apply 5000 kg of high-quality barnyard manure per mu, 500 to 1000 kg of decomposed dried night soil, 30 to 40 kg of superphosphate, and 50 kg of plant ash. After spreading the base fertilizer, plow deeply and harrow finely, then level the soil and make flat beds 1.3 to 1.5 m wide. Transplant when broccoli seedlings have grown 5 to 6 true leaves. Generally, plant 2 rows per bed, with a plant spacing of 30 to 40 cm, and a transplanting density of about 2500 plants per mu.

Early-maturing varieties can be planted somewhat more densely, preferably about 3000 plants per mu.

Fertilizer and Water Management

Broccoli likes fertilizer and water, and timely topdressing and watering in stages is the key to high quality and high yield. Nitrogen fertilizer is the main type of topdressing; when entering the head formation stage, appropriately increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote rapid head growth. Broccoli's terminal heads and side heads are harvested multiple times, and after each harvest, topdressing must be done promptly to promote side head growth. Broccoli has a high water requirement, so water promptly during the rosette stage and head formation stage to keep the soil moist; in rainy areas or seasons, drain promptly to prevent waterlogging from damaging the roots.

Harvesting

Broccoli is best harvested when the head at the top of the plant has fully expanded and the buds have not yet opened; harvesting too late easily causes the head to loosen and flower. When harvesting, cut off the head together with about 10 cm of the stem below it. After the terminal head is harvested, the axillary buds of the plant sprout and quickly grow side branches, and heads, namely side heads, form at the tips of the side branches; when the side heads grow to a certain size and the buds have not yet opened, they can be harvested again. In this way, 2 to 3 successive harvests can generally be made.