headless broccoli

My broccoli plants are tall and have beautiful leaves, but no heads! They are from good quality seed (organic Belstar broccoli from High Mowing Organic Seeds) planted in a sunny location, in good soil in a raised bed, and with lots of watering. They were supposed to mature in 70 days, and it is now past that time. What did I do wrong?

Too much water and/or too much nitrogen fertilizer can stimulate lots of leafy growth at the expense of blooming, so that's one possibility. Also, how far past the 70 days are you? Plants don't read the label on the seed packet so they won't necessarily follow the exact schedule you expect--weather & cultural conditions can speed things up or slow them down.

You might also consider posting in the beginner vegetable forum, you'll probably find more people there with broccoli growing experience http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/b_veggies/all/

I should also ask if there's any sign of critters...is there a chance that rabbits or something else have been coming along and munching the beginnings of the heads?

Thanks, ecrane. It's well past the 70 days. The problem is probably over-watering. I took too literally the advice from people who said that veggies need lots of water and probably overdid it. I know that's why the first tomatoes are splitting. Thanks also for the advice about the beginner vegetable forum. I'm new to Dave's Garden and don't know all the forums yet.

Belstar is erratic in maturing for me. But I have to ask this question again. Did you direct seed? If so add 45 days to that DTM. Over watering will hurt the plant, but if it is green and lush that is not the problem. A drowned plant will look very sickly.

I should have probably clarified the too much water bit--I didn't mean too much to the point where it's overwatered and the plant becomes unhealthy, but I've found that if I water things on the high end of the acceptable range of watering, they will tend to grow more lushly but sometimes not bloom as well as if I'm a little stingier with the water and go on the low end to medium part of an acceptable range of watering. To be fair though I don't grow veggies so my experience with my perennials may not translate.

Sometimes broccoli (and cauliflower) for various reasons will form a button and never head. You have to look close to find the button, but it would be worth checking.

i think some kind of little animal is coming into your garden!

We have problems with pigeons and crows, even seagulls like the lush tender greenery so look for the birds as well as small bugs.
last year I had my best crop of cauliflowers, this year a disaster, most of the heads turned a pinkish colour and were rotting on the plant, the leaves were as normal, we have had a lot of wet days over long periods, so this and less heat is the problems I think.
Other stuff have not been too good either, bad season eh.
Good luck, WeeNel.