A simple step by step guide on how to cultivate Broccoli

One of the most cool season vegetable crop is Broccoli. Broccoli is regard as one of the most important vegetable. The following are the simple step by step on how to cultivate Broccoli.

The site preparation

One thing about Broccoli plant is that they grows well in compost-rich, well-drained soil that has a soil pH of between 6.0 and 6.8. This particular plant really grows best where air temperatures ranges between 45° and 75°F. One thing about Broccoli plant is that they are  frost hardy and they can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F. Compost can be added to the soil to supplement soil nitrogen most especially if you are in a region where there is heavy rain or sandy soil. 

The planting time

This particular plant is really a cool-weather crop that must come to harvest before temperatures rise consistently above 75°F. Try as much as possible to start the broccoli seed indoors five to six weeks before the last frost in spring. Make sure you transplant the broccoli seedlings to the garden two to three weeks before the last frost in spring after hardening seedlings off for four days.

The spacing and planting

Make sure you plant the transplants that are four to six weeks old with 4 or 5 true leaves. Also make sure you plant the seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart in rows 24 to 36 inches apart. Also make sure you sow the seed ½ inch deep and 3 inches apart.
The watering and feeding of the Broccoli plant
Try as much as possible to keep the soil moist during the growing season. Make sure you decrease the watering when the Broccoli plants approach maturity. Make you water the broccoli at the base of the plant. 

Caring for the Broccoli plant

Try as much as possible to keep the broccoli planting beds weed free.

Pest and disease control in Broccoli

This plant is like any other plant that also face pest challenges. The following are some of the pest that attack Broccoli; cabbage loopers, cabbage worms and cutworms. These pest can be control by hand picking and also by spraying with bacillus thuringiensis.
Broccoli plant also face some disease challenges. The following are some of the disease that attack Broccoli plant; downy mildew and clubroot. The following are ways to control this disease;
-By planting resistance varieties.
-Make sure you rotate crops each year.
-Try to keep the garden free of debris,this will reduce the incidence of disease.
-Try as much as possible to remove and destroy infected plants immediately.

Harvesting the Broccoli

If this plant is actually grown from seed it will be ready for harvest between 100 to 150 days. But if the plant is grown from transplant it will be ready for harvest in 55 to 80 days.
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