Broccoli is
a very rewarding crop to grow. A cool season crop that is best planted in the
cooler spring or fall months. They produce bigger and tastier heads when
exposed to cooler temperatures. Can be sown directly or started in seed trays
to give you a head start for an earlier plant-out in spring. Broccoli are heavy
feeders, so be sure to prepare your soil well, with lots of compost and organic
matter.
Broccoli is
best harvested when the heads are firm and tight, before they begin to loosen
up. Once they begin to loosen up they tend to open and flower quite quickly,
rendering them inedible. Most varieties will produce a larger, central head
which is usually followed by smaller side florets, giving you an extended
harvest over a number of weeks.