First Veggie Garden and Broccoli - Advice for next year?

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TuttiFrutti Spokane Valley, WA(Zone 5b) Aug 08, 2004

We purchased 6 broccoli plants (4-6" tall, and from a reputable nursery) in mid-May and planted them 12" apart in our first-time veggie garden.

Now, we had a very soggy couple of weeks early on after planting them, yet all plants grew strong and large. In fact, they crowded one another a bit, but they remained healthy and were a gorgeous part of our garden! :)

Yield, on the other hand, was minimal. Total: About a pound and a half of floweret bunches from the six plants. We were advised to cut the initial bunch off each plant while small (a few ounces each), which we did, and while side bunches came quickly, they were significantly smaller and tougher.

Question: What do we need to do to correct this situation next year, as we dearly love broccoli!

Donna/TuttiFrutti

Note: A rapitest Soil Tester kit we used at the time showed a 6.5 pH, low nitrogen, and medium potash (didn't get a good read on the phosphorous) for the garden soil.

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Aug 08, 2004

Donna
1. Choose a good heading variety. You should be able to grow long season cultivars in your climate, but start with a short season cultivar so that you will get feedback quicker.
2. Unless you are planting a miniature broccoli, increase the distance to at least 18 inches.
3. Cut the main head just before the buds start to open. Although most cultivars will produce small side shoots, this will be your main crop.
4. Broccoli is a relatively heavy feeder, so provide nutrients. The plant has a relatively high nitrogen demand.

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TuttiFrutti Spokane Valley, WA(Zone 5b) Aug 08, 2004

Thank you, Farmerdill, that's exactly the kind of information I was hoping for! I'm going to pull the broccoli plants out this afternoon and mulch them since we're finished harvesting.

Say, do you have any suggestions for what to plant in the broccoli row for the remainder of the season to help enrich the soil in general for next year? Or should we just let the soil 'rest'?

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eweed Everson, WA(Zone 8a) Aug 09, 2004

Donna I use winter wheat then till it in for green manure. Since you are going the straw mulch method why not apply some lime and mulch the bare spots and let it rest an inch of cow flour roting away all winter is good. Cow flour Dry is composted manure.

Try to avoid planting any of the same family cole crop in the same place in your garden to avoid club root. Ernie

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