Broccoli is one of the good vegetables that you can consider adding to your vegetable garden. The Broccoli is simple to grow just like its relatives such as cabbage, kale, and cauliflower.
The Four Broccoli Growing Stages are Germination, Seedling, Vegetative, and Flowering Stage. These four processes together take about 50-70 days to complete to harvest!
The Four Easy Stages of Broccoli Growing
Broccoli undergoes 4 basic stages of development. And all four stages usually take 50-70 days to complete from seed planting to harvest.
The vegetable is usually planted in early spring after the last spring frost, which means the temperature is approximately about 60-65°F. How much does it cost to fix a leaking roof?
Just like other Brassica family members such as cabbage and cauliflower, broccoli too thieves well in cool-weather summer.
However, each stage of growth in the life cycle of broccoli requires a different range of temperatures.
Stage 1: Broccoli Germination Stage
Broccoli is grown as an annual plant; in other words, you can grow and harvest them in just one year. The germination stage is a period when the first developmental stage in its life cycle occurs.
Here, Broccoli seeds begin their life in the presence of moisture, nutrients, sunlight, and temperature.
You can start Broccoli seeds in-house six weeks before the final spring frost. You can make use of a seed-starting tray to plant the seeds.
Apart from a seed tray, you can use any well-drained container, ideal for starting seeds in-house.
Note that the best temperature for planting Broccoli ranges from 65 to 85°F.
Under normal conditions, the Broccoli seeds will start to sprout between 5 to 10 days.
Stage 2: Broccoli Seedling Stage
The second growing stage of the Broccoli plant is the seedling stage. Meanwhile, this stage endures for almost four weeks, at which period every necessary structure needed for water and nutrients absorption and food synthesis has grown.
When we talk about seedling of Broccoli, we are simply referring to a young embryonic broccoli plant that has begun to grow leaf-like and root-like structures.
Contrary to the germination stage, in the seedling stage of Broccoli, you should endeavour to keep the temperature between the ranges of 60 – 65°F.
You can also feed them, if need be, but it must be a slow-releasing fertilizer that contains a small amount of nitrogen.
You are required to allow your Broccoli seedlings in-house until they tale at least 3 to 4 weeks old after which, you’re free to transplant them to a bigger container or garden soil.
It would be best if you also considered its regular watering, as it is another important routine of the Broccoli.
Using a germinating tray, you won’t find it difficult because everything comes pre-installed, the watering stuff inclusive.
However, the best principle of thumb is to moisten the top inches of the soil. But be careful to prevent excessive watering.
Stage 3: Broccoli Vegetative Stage
The next stage is the vegetative stage, where all Broccoli seeds start differentiating, elongating, and expanding to give rise to a whole set of leaves, roots, and stems.
At this stage, the Broccoli plant is old enough to absorb nutrients and water from the soil and synthesize food with sunlight’s help through photosynthesis.
This stage often lasts for only a short period before the flowering routine begins. You can also feed the plants with fertilizer, but it should contain a low amount of nitrogen.
In other words, abstain from any fertilizer containing a high amount of nitrogen, as it can cause your Broccoli not to produce heads. Aside from that, feed them with compost that has a high amount of carbon components.
Stage 4: Broccoli Flowering Stage
The flowering period is the final growing stage of the Broccoli life cycle. The flowering stage often begins between 45 to 65 days after planting.
Depending on the variety, endeavor to harvest the Broccoli heads before they start forming flowers, especially if growing for vegetable purposes
Note that, immediately after a Broccoli plant begins to grow flowers, you can no longer harvest them, as you will have to be patient until it starts to form seeds.
You can then collect their seeds and preserve them for future uses. You can harvest Broccoli seeds when the color has turned brown and the seeds become dry.
Early and Mature Harvest Flowering Tops
Broccoli develops a stalk and mature leaves before producing the flowering top. Broccoli plants mature for harvest in 50 to 65 days after planting.
Transplant broccoli as early as possible in spring after the last frost date and when the soil temperature warms to 60- or 65-degrees F. Use a soil thermometer to determine the soil temperature before planting out the seedlings.
Keep the soil damp around the developing broccoli plants and remove weeds by hand.
Broccoli – Harvest and Seed Collection
The last stage of growth before harvest is the development of flower heads. Harvest broccoli when the flower heads are 6 to 8 inches across and compact, with tightly closed green buds.
Developing broccoli heads can be harvested at any point.
The final stage of broccoli development is the flower and seed development. Any broccoli that is allowed to go to seed will not be harvestable.
Allow a few plants to go to seed for next year’s crop. Harvest the seed pods when they dry and turn brown on the plant. Till the old plant material into the soil in the fall after the last harvest.
Final Thoughts on the Broccoli Growing Stages
Broccoli is wonderful both to eat and to cook with – especially because it’s so versatile.
It lends itself well to salads and is popular in French, Italian, Indian and Israeli cooking. Perhaps we should say it’s used all over the world nowadays.
Thant’s not all, our doctors, nutritionists, dietitians, and all other medical people tell you to eat as much of this wonder veggie as possible because it contains so much goodness.
Easy to grow, we expect many of our readers are out of their chairs and running to the potting shed as we start another article!
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