Cool-Season Broccoli Defies Odds

The broccoli plants I transplanted to patio containers in June prove cool-season vegetables can grow in warm weather.

I ’ve never sample to grow broccoli before this time of year because I ’ve always reserve my garden space for something more versatile , like a dozen unlike sort of tomato plants . This yr , alternatively of sacrificing space there , I adjudicate to flourish my planting options and added three Brassica oleracea italica plant to the container garden on the patio .

I started the semen of an heirloom multifariousness address ‘ Calabrese ’ in mid - March , anticipate an other outflow date to transfer them into the container garden . Timing is important for broccoli , because the heads need to be harvested while atmospheric condition is still cool and before the summertime Day heat up . If the plants are n’t in the ground in other springtime , they ’ll quickly bolt once the temperature starts to turn out . In fact , if temperatures are too hot , the plants wo n’t form any heads at all .

Because of unseasonably cold weather in April and May , the broccoli plant did n’t get into the patio garden until the 2d week of June . Despite my pitiable timing , two of the three plants produced central head . I cut back these heads when they were about 3 - 4 column inch in diameter along with quite a routine of stem .

Even though it was n’t a big harvest , I was glad to see the warm weather condition had n’t stopped the heads from forming . I tailor them , lightly steamed them until lustrous William Green , and good enjoyed them with dinner party .

After cut the central head , I sidedressed the plants with a high - nitrogen fertiliser to give them a rise and to aid the flora shape potent , lateral shoots . If my luck continues to hold , I ’ll harvest these heads when they ’re several inches in diam , too .

However , if this next craw should fail because of hot weather , I can always give myself another chance at broccoli success . unretentive - time of year varieties , like ‘ Goliath ’ , do well in cooler fall temperature and take only 60 days to maturate . I just necessitate to get jump imbed very soon .

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