My first broccoli

Stanley2 · April 9, 2014

Here is a picture of my first broccoli.

gssgarden · April 9, 2014

aaaaawwww! soooo cute!!

Enjoy......in a couple weeks!!

Greg

peppero · April 10, 2014

LLOKS GOOD!

JON

BucksCountyGirl · April 10, 2014

That is awesome! I always wait until too late to start my brassicas...

b54red · April 10, 2014

I usually grow Bonanza, Packman, Flash and Green Goliath or a mix of those. This year I ordered one called Coronado Crown from Harris seed and planted it along with Bonanza for my spring broccoli. The Bonanza is really early and is almost done with just a few side shoots remaining as I have already picked the main head and the first good crop of side shoots off of it. I am going to be cutting my first heads of Coronado Crown today and I must say they are very impressive. They are larger than the Bonanza but the best thing is how tight the heads are and what a small bead they have. I hope they taste as good as they look.

Bill

Rachel W · April 10, 2014

I planned my broccoli last week! Great job!

Stanley2 · April 10, 2014

Hi all I can almost taste it new pic

newatthiskat · April 11, 2014

This is my first year to try to grow Broccoli. have to let me know how it tastes compared to store bought

Vespertino · April 11, 2014

Not only is it cute as heck, I'll bet that it's just as delicious!

Tracydr · April 11, 2014

I've yet to have any luck with broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or brussel sprouts. I'm waiting for our move to NC to try again.
I think we get too much fluctuation from hot to cold and too short of a cool season.
Looks like some nice broccoli!

b54red · April 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

I've yet to have any luck with broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or brussel sprouts. I'm waiting for our move to NC to try again.
I think we get too much fluctuation from hot to cold and too short of a cool season.
Looks like some nice broccoli!

Down here broccoli and similar plants are really affected by sudden changes in temps. Frequently in the fall it will be too warm when plants are set out and it doesn't cool down quick enough and they will head when very small resulting in small heads and side shoots. The same thing can happen in the spring if an early warm spell lasts too long the plants will go ahead and head before they are mature. It is always hit and miss for me with broccoli but I have learned more about when to plant over the years and as a result have gotten much better at producing a good crop most seasons. I think you will have better luck with them in NC once you get the hang of when to start seed and when to set them out.

Bill

Tracydr · May 1, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

Down here broccoli and similar plants are really affected by sudden changes in temps. Frequently in the fall it will be too warm when plants are set out and it doesn't cool down quick enough and they will head when very small resulting in small heads and side shoots. The same thing can happen in the spring if an early warm spell lasts too long the plants will go ahead and head before they are mature. It is always hit and miss for me with broccoli but I have learned more about when to plant over the years and as a result have gotten much better at producing a good crop most seasons. I think you will have better luck with them in NC once you get the hang of when to start seed and when to set them out.

Bill

That will be great if they do better. So far, I've only gotten kale and collards to grow. They sometimes get loaded with aphids, probably from stress. I grow across winter and they start to take off early spring. We sometimes have days in the 90s in Feb/March.
I do have a volunteer patch of kale in shade that always pops up in late spring and has actually produced through early summer. Weird!
I even tried sprouting broccoli and Rabe with no success.

b54red · May 1, 2014

Tracy, I just don't know enough about your weather other than it is very hot and dry. Conditions that broccoli doesn't like. The trick to making good sized heads with broccoli is to get the plant large enough before hotter weather signals it to head. We too sometimes have those middle of the winter heat spells and the young broccoli will start heading and the results are almost nothing fit to eat. The same thing happens when we go from winter to summer in a matter of a week or two. This year we are actually having a real spring and the broccoli are loving it; but it should be over very soon. I usually set out broccoli plants two or three different times during the fall and winter and hope one or more of them will hit it right.

Bill

b54red · May 8, 2014

I picked what well may be the last side shoots from my broccoli a few days ago. If things go as planned I will pull them tomorrow and may bet a few more but with this 90 degree weather their isn't much point in waiting. I need them out of the bed so I can start preparing it for other things. I took this pic of the side shoots I cut and even though they have been making side shoots for weeks many of them are still nice size. The roll of orange surveyors tape behind them is about 4 inches wide so you can see they are still fairly nice but nothing like the first ones I was getting after the main head was cut a month ago.

Bill

Vespertino · April 13, 2014

Wow, I've never gown broccoli but I had no idea they were so temperature sensitive. Good to know! thanks Bill!

April 9, 2014	#1
Stanley2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: México zone 8 Posts: 22	My first broccoli Here is a picture of my first broccoli.

April 10, 2014	#4
BucksCountyGirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Holland, PA/Zone 7A Posts: 692	That is awesome! I always wait until too late to start my brassicas... __________________ - Kelli Life's a climb...but the view is fantastic

April 9, 2014	#2
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	aaaaawwww! soooo cute!! Enjoy......in a couple weeks!! Greg

April 10, 2014	#3
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	LLOKS GOOD! JON

April 10, 2014	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I usually grow Bonanza, Packman, Flash and Green Goliath or a mix of those. This year I ordered one called Coronado Crown from Harris seed and planted it along with Bonanza for my spring broccoli. The Bonanza is really early and is almost done with just a few side shoots remaining as I have already picked the main head and the first good crop of side shoots off of it. I am going to be cutting my first heads of Coronado Crown today and I must say they are very impressive. They are larger than the Bonanza but the best thing is how tight the heads are and what a small bead they have. I hope they taste as good as they look. Bill

April 10, 2014	#6
Rachel W Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Everett WA, zone 8b Posts: 95	I planned my broccoli last week! Great job!

April 11, 2014	#8
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	This is my first year to try to grow Broccoli. have to let me know how it tastes compared to store bought

April 11, 2014	#9
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Not only is it cute as heck, I'll bet that it's just as delicious!

April 11, 2014	#10
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I've yet to have any luck with broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage or brussel sprouts. I'm waiting for our move to NC to try again. I think we get too much fluctuation from hot to cold and too short of a cool season. Looks like some nice broccoli!

May 1, 2014	#13
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Tracy, I just don't know enough about your weather other than it is very hot and dry. Conditions that broccoli doesn't like. The trick to making good sized heads with broccoli is to get the plant large enough before hotter weather signals it to head. We too sometimes have those middle of the winter heat spells and the young broccoli will start heading and the results are almost nothing fit to eat. The same thing happens when we go from winter to summer in a matter of a week or two. This year we are actually having a real spring and the broccoli are loving it; but it should be over very soon. I usually set out broccoli plants two or three different times during the fall and winter and hope one or more of them will hit it right. Bill

April 13, 2014	#15
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Wow, I've never gown broccoli but I had no idea they were so temperature sensitive. Good to know! thanks Bill!