How to Grow Broccoli? Learn to Grow the Queen of Vegetables Well
Broccoli is hailed as the queen of vegetables, a famous health vegetable with rich nutritional value, suitable for all ages, with substantial economic value and high returns per mu. So, what are the cultivation methods for broccoli? Let's take a look together!
I. Sowing Time
The most suitable growing temperature for broccoli is between 5°C and 25°C, so based on broccoli's optimal growing temperature, the usual sowing times are spring and autumn. Broccoli is neither drought-tolerant nor waterlogging-tolerant, so when watering, you must pay close attention to management and control the amount of water given.
Of course, now that greenhouses exist, many vegetables can be grown without much consideration for the season. In a greenhouse, broccoli can also be grown well in winter. Winter-grown broccoli can be marketed around the Spring Festival, when fresh vegetables are relatively scarce, exactly filling the market gap, and the selling price is also higher than usual, bringing substantial economic benefits.
II. Land Preparation and Seedling Raising
Broccoli is a crop grown in fertile, loose-textured soil with good water retention. Broccoli's growth has a relatively large demand for fertilizer, so when applying base fertilizer, it must be applied in sufficient quantity to ensure broccoli grows better. In terms of variety selection, it is recommended to choose those with better disease resistance and relatively good cold tolerance. The temperature for seed germination is about 20°C.
III. Transplanting
When the seedlings have grown 5 true leaves, they can be transplanted. Pay attention to the spacing between each plant, which should be about 35cm. A plastic film can be laid on the ground to control water evaporation and also raise the soil temperature. Half a month after transplanting, the first topdressing should begin. When buds appear, carry out the second topdressing. If growing in a greenhouse, during this period you must pay attention to maintaining a good temperature, neither too high nor too low. If the temperature is above 24°C, the quality of the curd that grows will not be very good. If it is below 8°C, growth will enter a very slow period.
IV. Disease and Pest Control
When growing broccoli, you must pay attention to disease prevention. Broccoli is very prone to cabbage caterpillars and aphids. Pesticides should be used as soon as they first appear. It should be noted that half a month before harvest, no more pesticide can be applied.
V. Harvesting
Broccoli is best harvested when the curd at the top of the plant is fully swollen and the flower buds have not yet opened. Harvesting too late easily causes the curd to loosen and flower. When harvesting, cut off the lower part of the curd together with about 10 cm of the flower stalk. After the top curd is harvested, the axillary buds of the plant sprout and quickly grow side branches, and curds, namely side curds, form at the tips of the dry side branches. When the side curds grow to a certain size and the flower buds have not yet opened, they can be harvested again. Therefore, broccoli can generally be harvested continuously 2-3 times.