Is broccoli blooming? Why does broccoli fade? Sad personal experience. Planting seedlings on the site

Both young and old adores broccoli in our family. It is universal: broccoli can be added to soup, salad, vegetable stew, simply boiled and served as a side dish. Even my six-year-old son enjoys eating the green elastic inflorescences. Last year, broccoli was a great success, although only 7 plants were planted (variety “Linda”). We froze the dense, large heads and enjoyed eating them in the winter.

This year we planted even more seedlings (5 different varieties), but something didn’t work out: the central heads began to bloom in early July, although they had grown quite small. I had to cut it. What saved me was that I planted seedlings in 2 terms, and there is still hope that the second batch will please me. And since broccoli is a favorite crop in garden beds, there was a desire to understand the reasons why it bloomed ahead of time. What can you do - you have to learn from your own mistakes.

Photo: Our broccoli is ready to bloom

On June 29, cabbage was sprayed against caterpillars with the biological product “Lepidocid”, and some of the buds that day seemed loose to us. The next day, my grandmother called and said that she cut off several heads because the buds began to open and the cabbage began to fade.

And in the early days of growing broccoli, it also happened like this: they didn’t know when to cut off the heads, and they broke up into many inflorescences on long stems, which then quickly bloomed:

Broccoli blooms: why?

1. Cause: Cold, dry and hot

Broccoli is considered less demanding of environmental conditions than cauliflower. She matures quickly and practically does not get sick. But still, the weather can play a cruel joke on the gardener and completely deprive the harvest:

Dry, hot weather in the summer causes the broccoli head to begin to crumble: individual flowers in the inflorescence open, although the head is still very small. You have to cut off the head of cabbage prematurely before it fully blooms.

Drought is especially dangerous during the period when the heads begin to set. If the plants at this time suffer from lack of moisture for 3-4 days in a row, there will not be a good harvest.

With a lack of moisture, the heads turn out small and loose. But overmoistening the soil is also harmful - the roots can rot.

Vegetable growers know that cauliflower should be shaded. And broccoli is shaded only at the initial stage of ripening of the heads. The literature emphasizes that in direct sunlight the heads will turn out small and “disheveled.”

Prolonged cold snap and air temperature within +2 - +8 degrees causes premature shooting and reduces the quality of the heads. The moment of planting seedlings in the ground is very important: if it was very cold, the heads will also form small.

For good growth and development of broccoli, you need an air temperature within +16 - +25 degrees.

What to do?

Broccoli loves moist air and moist soil. In dry weather, it is necessary to water it abundantly to the depth of the roots. Additionally, you can provide cabbage with moisture by placing low, wide containers of water around the perimeter of the beds.

It is important not to miss the moment of cutting the main head of cabbage. In hot weather, flowers open especially quickly, even on large heads.

If it is not possible to water the cabbage abundantly, you can mulch the soil under the plants - this will preserve valuable moisture.

You can also spray the leaves with a spray bottle.

Temporary covering with film or covering material will save cabbage from cold weather.

2. Reason: Overgrown seedlings

Planting overgrown seedlings also leads to the formation of small heads. Sooner or later, broccoli blooms - these are its natural characteristics. A small head has formed, which means a small one will bloom.

Perhaps the seedlings were really planted too early, then the advice here is to stick to the planting dates. But it happens that spring weather does not allow broccoli seedlings to be planted in open ground on time. As a result, the seedlings on the windowsill outgrow.

It is possible to insure yourself and protect yourself from natural disasters by planting seeds for seedlings in 2-3 periods with an interval of 10-15 days. This technique will also allow you to regularly harvest until September.

Another way out is to plant different varieties. So, in our case, the Ironman variety behaved well. When 'Gnome' and 'Linda' were getting ready to bloom, he continued to develop the head until it grew to standard size. “Ironman” turned out to be much more resistant to environmental conditions, although the varieties were planted at the same time.

What to do?

Do not rush to cut down the plant completely. In most varieties of broccoli, after cutting the central head, additional ones grow from the lateral axils. Very often the lateral heads are formed quite large and make up the bulk of the harvest.

If it becomes clear that the side shoots will not be of much use, then it is better to remove the plants from the garden bed, making room for replanting (of other crops).

3. Reason: Broccoli also wants to eat

Deficiency of macro- and microelements also promises shredding of the head and premature flowering. For this reason, feeding broccoli should not be neglected. Ideally, you should give 4 feedings per season, in extreme cases - two.

By appearance you can understand What's missing from broccoli?

• With a lack of nitrogen, cabbage grows poorly, the lower leaves turn yellow and die.
• A lack of potassium can cause the leaves to change color from green to bronze or even purple. The leaves around the edges begin to dry out. The heads break up into inflorescences and do not increase in size.

There are many ways to feed broccoli, as well as other crops. In the dacha literature we came across the following:

In this scheme, mineral fertilizers alternate with organic ones, which is certainly very good.

If it is not possible to feed frequently, you can feed broccoli with potassium and ammonium nitrate twice a season (40 and 15 g per 1 square meter of land).

You can also take complete mineral fertilizer at the rate of 20-30 g per 1 square meter.

If the broccoli has bloomed...

Is it possible to eat it?

Yes, you can cut off the flowering heads of broccoli and eat it. Blooming broccoli does not accumulate harmful substances or poisons. The set of nutrients remains normal. But the taste suffers. The opened heads become coarser and acquire a bitter taste.

By the way, you need to cut off the head of broccoli along with part of the stem, not short. The petioles and stems also have a good taste and contain many vitamins.

It’s time to cut off the heads when their diameter reaches 10-25 cm, but the buds in the inflorescence do not open.

Heads cut early in the morning or late in the evening stay fresh longer.

PS: Before writing the article, we leafed through many books, magazines and newspapers for gardeners and gardeners, and watched several videos. We hope that we managed to really get as close to the truth as possible, and this information was as useful for you as it was for us 😉 Write your reviews in the comments, we will be glad!

The green variety of cauliflower, known as broccoli, is a tasty and healthy food. Many people want to grow it on their plot, but most gardeners quickly abandon this idea: the capricious crop does not want to form a head and goes into color. But this trouble can be avoided if you strictly follow the growing recommendations.

Reasons why broccoli does not form a head

Cauliflower is no more demanding to grow and care for than the white cabbage we are used to. But it is premature flowering that becomes the main problem. Before the heads have even begun to set, the cabbage has already gone into color, and there is no way to fix this. There are several reasons for this:

1. Proper watering and nutrition are very important for broccoli. The lack of any of these factors leads to a stop in the development of cabbage heads and flowering.

   Proper and timely watering is the key to good broccoli growth.

2. More than necessary amounts of fertilizer or too frequent fertilizing also lead to the plant failing to bloom.
3. Sharp warming and a significant increase in ambient temperature causes the end of head formation. To do this, it is enough for the air to warm up by more than 25° C.

   Broccoli begins to bloom when the air temperature exceeds 25° C

4. The harvest was harvested later than necessary. The head may have formed in time, but if you missed the harvesting time, the flowers will most likely bloom.

   Harvest on time so as not to miss the moment when the heads begin to bloom

Essentially, broccoli heads are flower buds. Keeping them from blooming is the task of those who grow cauliflower.

I would like to add some good news on my own behalf. From my own experience, I was convinced that flowering broccoli only loses its presentation, but retains all the benefits of the vitamins, microelements and nutrients it contains. The taste also does not suffer at all. You can even cook the petioles that hold the leaves and inflorescences. They just need to be simmered or boiled longer before frying. It’s even better to cut it smaller if you are confused by the unassuming appearance of the product.

How to avoid broccoli blooming: feeding rules

Since cabbage that is already in flower cannot be “fixed,” preventative measures must be taken. First of all, correct and timely feeding is important for a capricious crop.

One of the most common feeding schemes is as follows.

Alternating fertilizing is also useful: one time you can apply organic fertilizers, another - mineral fertilizers. You can easily determine the lack of certain substances by the appearance of cabbage. For example, if broccoli hardly grows, and its leaves turn yellow and begin to die, then the reason is a lack of nitrogen in the soil. The leaves take on a bronze color or a purple tint, their edges dry out, and the heads of cabbage, without having time to gain weight, break up into separate inflorescences - the plant lacks potassium.

Thoroughly loosen the soil during each fertilizing.

You can also fertilize in two stages instead of four. To do this, add 40 g of potassium nitrate and 15 g of ammonium nitrate per 1 m² of soil.

Video: why broccoli fades and how to avoid it

Growing broccoli will require your attention and patience, but the results will be simply excellent! We hope that our recommendations will help you with this. Maybe you have experience growing cauliflower? Share it in the comments with our readers. Good luck and a rich harvest!

Broccoli, a competitor to cauliflower, is becoming more popular every year. The secret is in the nutritional composition of the vegetable, rich in phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, E, PP, group B. The green and purple heads contain vegetable protein and amino acids, essential for children and those on a diet. In order for the vegetable to last as long as possible, you need to know how to store broccoli at home. Anyone can cope with the task, just know the simple rules and listen to the recommendations.

Let's first decide on the varietal assortment. Of the 37 varieties in the register of breeding achievements, there is not a single one that breeders would recommend for fresh winter storage - only for home cooking.

According to the growing season, all varieties are divided into:

• early ripening varieties ripen in 75-90 days;
• mid-ripening and late species mature at 105 days or more.

To extend the consumption period, it is better to sow cabbage of different ripening periods, and also select those varieties that produce lateral heads. For example, the hybrid "Linda" after cutting the main head produces 7 side heads of 50-70 g each, but "Monterello" produces only one main head weighing 700 g.

The head of broccoli consists of green buds. Yellow flowers bloom from them. Yellowing of the head is a sign of overripeness of the vegetable.

So, it's time to harvest. The following tips will help keep broccoli fresh for a while:

• choose dense heads with a diameter of 13-18 cm;
• we select dark green ones, and those with yellow spots, overripe ones - to the side;
• cut the heads of cabbage 10-12 cm below the base of the head;
• we leave the stems in the garden to collect a second harvest of young inflorescences (for certain varieties).

Tip of the day

Harvest on a cool day, when the air temperature is not lower than -2 °C. Frozen cabbage will not last long, and the taste will deteriorate. High temperatures also harm the vegetable, causing it to wither and dry out.

Do you need to wash cabbage?

Housewives often ask: do they need to wash cabbage? Definitely yes. But not after harvesting the garden or shopping at the store, but before preparing dishes.

1. Prepare a large bowl, fill with water, add 3-4 tsp. .
2. Dip the inflorescences into the solution for 12-15 minutes to remove debris and insects.
3. Remove the vegetables, rinse, and blot to remove moisture.
4. Use immediately for cooking.

Do you know that…

Broccoli heads should go into the refrigerator half an hour after they were brought from the store or picked from the garden. Do not waste time, otherwise the vegetables will lose their nutritional value and freshness.

Short-term storage in the refrigerator

How to store broccoli in the refrigerator:

• Spray each head with clean water from a spray bottle.
• Then wrap in a clean cotton napkin or towel.
• Place in the refrigerator and enjoy the fresh taste and aroma for 3-4 days.

Proximity to vegetables and fruits that emit ethylene harms broccoli

You can familiarize yourself with the list of ethylene-emitting vegetables and fruits, the proximity of which is undesirable for broccoli, in the article about.

How to keep cabbage fresh for the next week? Make a green bouquet, place it in a jar of water, and cover with a bag on top. Change the water every day, and make holes in the plastic for air circulation. Keep broccoli in the refrigerator and enjoy freshness for 6-7 days.

Do you know that…

It is unacceptable to keep cabbage in a tight plastic bag or an airtight container. In order for it to retain its nutritional value and not become moldy, it needs constant access to fresh air.

Storage in the basement, cellar

Some of the best conditions for storing broccoli are created in cool basements and cellars. If the room is ventilated, the temperature is maintained at 0 °C and the humidity is 90-95%, fresh cabbage will be on your table for 1-2 weeks.

Here's how to properly store broccoli in the basement and cellar:

• wrap each of the cut heads in newspaper or paper;
• store in baskets, drawers, placing them at some distance from each other;
• If the paper becomes damp, change it.

Vegetables should never be washed before storing.

We answer the question: Why did the broccoli turn yellow, and is it safe to eat?

Cabbage turns yellow in two cases:

• at elevated temperatures its flowering begins;
• at low humidity it simply dries out.

Observe the humidity and temperature conditions, and everything will be fine with your supplies. There is no point in eating a yellowed vegetable - it no longer contains any taste or nutrients.

Frozen gifts of the fields

Let's start with preparation

To freeze broccoli for the winter, you need to prepare it properly. Select strong, healthy green heads with a diameter of 8-15 cm. Cut off the stalk, remove the leaves, and disassemble the cabbage itself into single inflorescences.

Before freezing, do not forget to get rid of any insects that may remain between the flowers. For this:

1. Fill a basin or bowl with water, add 40-45 g per 1 liter of water.
2. Lower the inflorescences, leave for 20-25 minutes, then remove and rinse thoroughly.
3. Drain in a colander to drain excess moisture.

The stem of the plant contains the lion's share of nutrients. It can be successfully eaten by first cleaning the top layer

Freezing without blanching

You can freeze broccoli for the winter without blanching:

• First, rinse and place on a napkin to dry.
• Then pack into bags and freeze.

Some housewives complain that after defrosting, cabbage changes color and becomes soft. Yes, it will not be as elastic as before, but the color will remain. To prevent the inflorescences from becoming soft, it is recommended to freeze them using a different recipe.

First we blanch

1. Prepare 2 pans. Place one on the fire, adding 1 tsp. citric acid per 1 liter of water, fill the second with cold water and ice.
2. Place broccoli in boiling water in portions and blanch for 1-2 minutes. Then immediately cool them in ice water to stop the heating processes.
3. Place the inflorescences on a napkin or towel and allow excess liquid to drain. To ensure that the frozen product retains its nutritional value, it must be completely cooled.
4. Pack the semi-finished product in plastic bags and place in the freezer. Freezing will keep it fresh for the next 8-10 months.

Tip of the day

There are varieties that, either with or without blanching after defrosting, are only suitable for... If you don’t know how your particular cabbage will behave, put a small piece in the freezer for 24 hours. During this time, nothing will happen to the entire batch, and after defrosting the “sample”, you will know what it is good for.

And finally, a video from which you will learn how to cook broccoli to preserve all the vitamins:

Now you know everything about proper freezing and other storage options for broccoli. And with the onset of winter cold, you can easily prepare a lot of delicious dishes, giving your body the vitamins that cabbage contains.

Store correctly and be healthy!

Broccoli has a reputation for being a finicky vegetable. And if you decide to grow this type of cabbage yourself, then you need to know how to correctly determine the time to cut the ripened heads of this healthy vegetable. They should be neither under-ripe nor over-ripe.

When to cut a head of broccoli

To get a tasty and healthy product, it is important to cut it on time.

It is important to cut off broccoli heads on time.

Deadlines

Each region has its own time frame for broccoli to be ready for cutting. Ripeness occurs, depending on the variety, on the 75–110th day from the moment of emergence. Most often, broccoli begins to ripen in mid-August. But since this process occurs gradually (after cutting the central inflorescence, lateral shoots begin to grow, which are located in the axils of the leaves), the entire harvesting process can last until October.

It is important not to miss the moment of readiness for cutting

Determining the ripeness of inflorescences

Readiness for cutting can be considered the moment when the green buds that make up the broccoli inflorescence have already been collected into a dense elastic head, but have not yet begun to bloom. If yellow flowers appear instead of buds, the time for cutting is lost.

In order not to miss the moment of readiness for cutting, it is better to view the plantings every 2-3 days. Of course, it’s easier to do this if you don’t live in the city when your broccoli grows in your summer cottage.

• the weight of the inflorescence is not less than 250 g, the diameter of the head is not less than 10 cm (about the size of the palm);
• the buds in the center of the head are larger than the lateral ones;
• the inflorescence has a dark green color, the buds are not open;
• the inflorescences are dense and elastic, but not too hard, which is determined by lightly squeezing them.

If the inflorescence has yellow flowers, the broccoli is overripe

Video: when to cut broccoli

Cutting rules

1. Cut broccoli early in the morning or closer to night, at the time of evening dew. This will make it possible to get more juicy inflorescences.
2. Using a sharp knife, make an oblique cut, being careful not to damage the leaves located on the stem below, since new inflorescences will later grow from their axils.
3. The top central inflorescence is cut off first.
4. The lateral inflorescences are cut off as they grow; they are smaller in size, but do not differ in taste and nutritional value.

It's best to cut broccoli early in the morning.

Broccoli, or cabbage, is a unique product with high nutritional value. But farmers complain that it often fades and becomes unsuitable for consumption. That is why it is necessary to familiarize yourself in detail with the peculiarities of growing a plant, the main reasons for the vegetable to fade into color, as well as the rules of selection that will help to avoid such troubles in the future.

Why does broccoli fade?

Broccoli florets used for cooking may bloom prematurely.

Let's look at the main reasons why broccoli began to bloom without gaining its mass:

Signs of flowering

When growing cabbage, it is necessary to constantly monitor the appearance of the head of cabbage, by the condition of which you can determine the time of harvest. When ripe, the head of cabbage has a dense shape with green buds.

As soon as the heads of cabbage change their color, the plant must be picked immediately. The cabbage heads should not be allowed to loosen, as they will subsequently begin to bloom. It is recommended to do this before the inflorescences open, when it contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins.

To avoid flowering of broccoli, special attention should be paid to the weight of the head. You should not wait for the fruit to become large, but cut the plant when its weight is slightly less than the recommended weight on the package. Then the vegetable will not have time to outgrow and certainly will not bloom. On a personal plot it is necessary to plant varieties that are resistant to flowering, for example, Marathon F1, Calabrese.

Important! If a vegetable in your garden begins to turn yellow, this is a signal that your plant does not have enough nitrogen nutrition.

Before flowering begins, slight yellowish spots first appear on the head of the cabbage. If your plant blooms with yellow flowers, then this is the first sign that the cabbage is overripe and it is too late to cut it. Farmers use the overripe harvest only for technical purposes, for example, as feed for livestock.

What to do if it blooms

Let's take a closer look at what to do with cabbage that has bloomed and find out whether it can be eaten.

Is it necessary to fight color?

Broccoli loses color in any case - this is its natural property. If the plant has already bloomed, you should not cut it down. In many varieties, after cutting off the central head, new young large shoots are formed. But if it is clear that there will be no result, it is better to remove the vegetable from the garden and make room for other crops.

Proper care of cabbage

Broccoli is very demanding when it comes to fertilizing with organic and inorganic fertilizers. Particular attention should be paid to potassium and phosphorus fertilizing, since they directly affect the growth of cabbage. It is also influenced by minerals such as molybdenum, magnesium, boron.

The first fertilizing must be done after the seedlings take root. This is done with a solution of chicken manure (1:20) or mullein infusion (1:10). After 14 days, this procedure should be repeated. It is recommended to carry out the third feeding after the formation of the first young inflorescences.

To do this, you need to mix the following ingredients in 10 liters of clean water:

• superphosphate - 40 g;
• ammonium nitrate - 20 g;
• Potassium sulfate - 10 g.

When growing this vegetable, special attention should be paid to the watering regime. The soil under the plant should be constantly moist. If the soil is too dry when tying the head, the cabbage will definitely go into color.

Important! The main secret of growing is that heads of cabbage are formed only at a temperature of +16...+18°C. To do this, it is advisable to sow late varieties in such a way that the setting of a head of cabbage occurs during a period with low temperature conditions.

In hot summers, cabbage should be irrigated at the root, to a depth of 12–15 cm, 2 times a day. To increase yield in dry weather, plants are sprayed leaf by leaf.

Is it possible to eat broccoli if it blooms?

During the flowering stage, it is recommended to use it for cooking, since all nutritional and vitamin complexes are preserved in it, only the presentation of the plant deteriorates and the taste deteriorates slightly. Flowering cabbage does not accumulate any poisons or substances harmful to humans.

During flowering, cabbage leaves will become bitter and the stems will become fibrous and tough. During this period, the vegetable directs all its energy to the formation of seeds. In some countries of the world, flowering broccoli is used to prepare first dishes.

Benefit

Broccoli is an extremely healthy vegetable. The calorie content of 100 g of fresh asparagus cabbage is 28 kcal, boiled - 34 kcal, fried - 46 kcal. The vegetable is considered to be a low-calorie product, so nutritionists recommend using it to normalize body weight.

The energy value of vegetables per 100 g is:

• proteins - 2.8 g (3.41%);
• fats - 0.4 g (0.62%);
• carbohydrates - 6.6 g (5.16%);
• dietary fiber - 2.6 g (13.0%);
• water - 89.3 g (3.49%).

• The beneficial qualities of broccoli depend on its chemical composition and are as follows:
• normalizes the functioning of the kidneys, liver and gall bladder;
• promotes the removal of toxins, carcinogens and heavy metals from the body;
• protects the body from the formation of malignant (cancerous) tumors;
• reduces the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke by strengthening blood vessels;
• normalizes intestinal motility, relieves chronic obstruction;
• restores the functioning of the nervous system;
• due to the content of vitamin B9, it has a positive effect on the body of pregnant women;
• normalizes metabolism and also helps reduce excess weight;
• Regular consumption prevents the development of atherosclerosis and the onset of premature aging of the body.

Broccoli is also called petiole cabbage because the side leaves (petioles) are suitable for consumption.

Harm

Despite all the benefits, broccoli can also cause harm to the human body.

• Cabbage, raw or fried, should not be eaten by people who:
• suffer from increased stomach acidity;
• have stomach ulcers, as well as acute gastritis and pancreatitis;
• have individual intolerance to the product.

Storage Features

There are several ways to ensure that a vegetable lasts as long as possible. First, you need to pay more attention to the nuances of harvesting techniques. It is advisable to cut the head of cabbage for storage with a petiole 8–10 cm long, and not under the inflorescence itself.

Did you know? According to statistics, 79% of US residents eat broccoli. Every year Americans eat 76 thousand tons of this vegetable.

It is also necessary to remember that early-ripening varieties are not suitable for long-term storage, unlike late-ripening varieties.

The shelf life of broccoli is affected by temperature, air humidity and the quality of the cabbage itself. Before storing cabbage, you should not wash it under running water, as this will significantly reduce its shelf life.

Short term

Fresh cut heads of cabbage are stored for a short time. To do this, you need to place them in the refrigerator in a plastic bag with small holes for ventilation or in a special container. Cut heads of broccoli can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 weeks at a temperature of +4...+7°C. Optimal humidity is 95%.

Freshly cut broccoli can be stored at room temperature, but no more than 2-3 hours, otherwise the healthy vegetable may wither and spoil.

Long-term in the refrigerator

For longer storage, the vegetable is frozen; in this form it can be stored in the freezer for 6 to 10 months.

Did you know? American John Evans managed to grow the largest broccoli in the world. The weight of the vegetable was 15.8 kg.

Shock, which involves freezing in a very short period of time, preserves all the beneficial properties of the vegetable and helps preserve its presentation. This method will allow the broccoli to last as long as possible.

Method for cooking broccoli that has bloomed

This vegetable can be consumed both raw and after heat treatment. Broccoli can be boiled and baked in the oven. It is added to omelettes, pizzas, puree soups, salads, pies, etc. But it should be remembered that frying the vegetable is not recommended, since harmful carcinogens are released under the influence of high temperature. The ideal cooking option is steamed.

Every summer resident dreams of getting a good harvest of broccoli. By studying the basic rules of selection, as well as growing conditions, you can achieve the desired result.