how do i grow brocolie and what are some tips and warnings?

Question

tips and warnings im looking for

Answer 1

Broccoli can be started from seed or you can buy plants fro a garden center. The plants can get quite large, so space them 12-18 inches apart.

The major pest is the cabbage looper caterpillar that eats the leaves. You can control them organically with neem oil sprays or an organic pesticide that contains bacillus thurengiencis (BT) spores like Dipel. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves because that's where the caterpillars like to do their work.

Visit our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 2

Here in CA., you can buy broccoli 'starts' in the Spring normally. Seeds can be bought at any time. They do ok in the cool months of growing. They do need room to grow, so figure on about the size of a regular rose bush.
Plant in a sunny place and watch out for moths that may lay eggs on your plants. The catapillars will chew them up! Research the 'net for more info.
Of course, when they are big enough to eat, take the center 'head' and more little 'heads' will grow out of the lower portion of the plant for later! Enjoy!

Answer 3

It's best to grow your spring planting from small starter plants to get a head start on the growing season & to avoid the problems that come with the heat of summer. There are heat tolerant varieties if you really want to start from seed.

For fall planting, start seedlings in midsummer for transplanting into the garden in late summer. To determine the best time for setting your fall transplants, count backward from the first fall frost in your area and add about 10 to the days to harvest from transplants. Remember that time from seed to transplant is not included in this figure.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/broccoli1.html

If you see cabbage loopers, lightly sprinkle flour on the broccoli while the dew is on the broccoli or after it rains. It'll coat the caterpillers as they climp up from their hiding places & suffocate them. They'll fall off the plant.

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Just make sure that you soak them in water once you harvest them. They have little green bugs on them that look exactly like the florets and if you soak them then you drowned them and then you don't eat them.