Broccoli is considered as one of the healthiest foods in the world because of what it does for the human body. According to the experts, steamed broccoli has the ability to lower the cholesterol level when eaten regularly. Aside from that, it also aids in removing harmful toxins from the human body through detoxification.

Growing broccoli in your garden is a great idea if you love gardening. Growing vegetables is a good way to make sure that you include greenies in your diet. If you’re interested in planting and taking care of broccoli plant, then this article will teach you how to grow broccoli.

Choosing Broccoli Types to Plant

When planting broccoli, you need to know first which variety you want to grow in your garden. There are four types of variety available to the grower. Large-headed, sprouting, romancesco, and broccoli raab are all grown for various reasons. Despite their individual purposes though, they are all grown to encourage healthy diet. Once you’ve chosen which variety to plant, the next thing you need to do is prepare the soil for planting.

Soil Preparation

The soil should be nutrients-rich and well-drained in order for the broccoli plant to grow healthy. Adding animal manure or compost to the soil is a good idea. For better results, prepare the soil at least one to two weeks before the scheduled planting. Doing so will help you make some adjustments to the soil.

The reason why you need to add animal manure or compost to your soil is because broccolis are heavy feeders. In short, they require a nutrient-rich soil in order to live and grow properly. Adding compost or any type of fertilizer to the soil should be done on a regular basis.

Planting Broccoli

Broccoli prefers full sunlight if you’re expecting good results. However, growing them on a partially shaded area or with a net on top of your garden bed to prevent bolting on the plants is also a good idea. Bolting is the process of going into flowers or seeds. You don’t want this to happen if you’re growing them for consumption purposes.

Timing is important when it comes to planting broccoli in your garden. If you want to harvest in the summer, you must start your seeding process indoors at least 6 weeks before the last frost. At four weeks, transplant the seedlings outside.

Before planting the seedlings, make sure that the soil has a pH level of 6.0 to 7.0. Dig a hole for the seedlings before you take them from the seedling box. Transplant and water them once done. Don’t forget to do the transplanting process in the afternoon or early in the morning to prevent withering the plant.

Maintenance

Just like with any plant, broccoli requires a lot of maintenance if you want it to grow healthy. Remove weeds and get rid of the pest you see on your garden bed. Water the plants regularly and make sure that they get enough sun light.