How long does it take to Grow Broccoli? Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) is a cool-season, annual vegetable plant that thrives in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10. Broccoli is a Mediterranean native that is extensively cultivated and easy to grow in a home garden. And Broccoli is a slow-growing plant that can take 50 to 100 days to mature, though growing times vary across broccoli kinds.
How long does it take to Grow Broccoli?
1. Germination to Grow Broccoli
A broccoli seed takes four to seven days to germinate, which is the process through which a seed sprouts and begins to grow. Broccoli seeds germinate best in temperatures ranging from 45 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can be sprouted in a house, a greenhouse, or the soil of an outdoor garden. When broccoli plants are 6 inches tall and have two to four leaves, they can be moved to an outside garden two to three weeks following germination.
2. Varieties
Broccoli matures at varied rates depending on the variety. “Flash,” “Umpqua,” and “Gypsy” are broccoli types that mature in less than 60 days and are grown for their exceptional flavour. “Rosalind,” “Arcadia,” and “Premium Crop” are heat-tolerant and mature in 60 to 68 days. The “Early Purple Sprouting” cultivar has an exceptionally extended growing season, requiring 220 to 250 days to mature. Depending on your climate, you can have fresh broccoli from your garden from fall through spring if you plant multiple varieties of broccoli with varying growing seasons.
3. Growing Tips
It is critical to provide broccoli plants with regular water and fertiliser during the growing season in order for them to perform optimally. Water your broccoli on a regular basis, allowing at least 1 inch of water to penetrate into the soil once a week. Water only the soil around the plants, not the plants themselves. The presence of water on plant leaves and buds promotes disease and decay. Fertilize the soil of your broccoli plants three weeks after transplanting them to the garden, and then once a month after that. Each time, use a complete, 12-12-12 fertiliser.
For each fertiliser application, apply 1 1/2 tablespoons of that fertiliser to the soil of a potted broccoli plant or 1 cup of that fertiliser to a 10-foot-long garden bed, and then thoroughly water the container soil or garden soil. If daytime temperatures exceed 75 degrees Fahrenheit, apply a 2-inch layer of mulch to the soil to help cool it down.
4. Harvesting Tips
Broccoli is plucked before the blossoms bloom and while the plant heads are still tightly packed. And Broccoli is harvested by cutting the plant’s stem right above where it begins to branch. Broccoli tastes best when picked early in the morning, before the earth heats up. After the main or primary head of a broccoli plant is removed, heads continue to grow on the plant’s offshoots. If you keep harvesting your broccoli, it will continue to produce smaller heads until the fall. Broccoli can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days after harvesting or blanched in boiling water and frozen for up to one year.
Also Read: How to Grow Celery from Seeds?
