Any Brocolli growers? Sad looking Seedlings!

How do you spell that again? First time attempting brocolli from seed. They're long and leggy seedlings, curving over sides. I don't think this is a good thing. Should this be happening? They're only 1& 1/2 inches to 3 inches long, root to tip. Any ideas? Maybe some MG for seeds & transpants? I also heard it's one of the harder veggies to grow? Is this true? Should've listened to my mother.......went w/Eggplant!!!

Broccoli is one of the easiest plants to grow. They do not like to be started inside, too little light and two much heat. They need lots of light and temps in the 50s- 60s. Get them out side in a protected area for a couple of days to harden them off, then expose them to full sun for a couple of days, then transplant them, when they get a good set of true leaves. The spindley plants will still produce broccoli if they have not become root bound, but will never be the nice upright plants of those started in ideal conditions. I use a coldframe to start mine.

Transplant

Harvest.

Broccoli like reasonable fertile soil, but is not exceptionally demanding.

I have my broccoli seedlings under a grow light and in temps of around 60 degrees. They are also leggy and spindly. This is my first time growimg my own plants from seed. Tomatoes, peppers, and flowers look great. Only broccoli and cabbage look spindley but healthy otherwise.

Thanks for the advice Dill. I put them outside & I sprayed very lightly w/ MG tomato food (good for all vegs.) I'll see if this helps with the outside shade for now. Maybe I should start them from seed in the ground? I have extra seeds, so I could try if you think I'll get a better result! Michelle

I don't know how hot it gets in Kilgore. Here I have to start them ( early season cultivars) in late January, transplant in March. By the the end of June the heat finishes them off. They like cool weather, and quit completely when the temps reach triple digits.

It has barely reached the high 70s here for the past week and I have some crops already bolting. Some mesclun, cilantro, radishes are almost history. The potatoes were planted too late but by the looks of them, they'll have to come out within a week ready or not. Latelybloomin you have nothing to lose at this point but do try to start earlier next year. The good news is that you can have a beautiful fall crop this year.

Yeah, I think that's why someone told me it was hard, because it gets so hot....
Maybe it's not the best for really warm weather. Should have started earllier, but that's why I'm latelybloomin! Oh well, now I know for next time! hee hee









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According to this TAMU article ( http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/county/smith/homegardens/vegtext.html ), the average last frost date for nearby Tyler, TX is March 15th. You can tell us if this has been your experience in Kilgore.

To my limited knowledge, broccoli is not bothered by light frosts, so planting date would be selected for optimal soil temps for fastest growth before high temps cause the plants to "button up" (stop growing a larger 'head') and/or bolt.

For spring broccoli in Houston, Bob Randall recommends starting seeds January 1-31 and planting out plants February 1-21. So perhaps add a week or two to that for your area.

For fall broccoli in Houston, Bob recommends starting seeds October 1-14 and planting out plants October 24-31 (He provides a less ideal 2 week window afterwards for both those date ranges). So you could, perhaps, subtract 2 weeks and start seeds September 15 and plant out October 8th.

As mentioned above, vegetable seeds started indoors need to be provided with additional light. A sunny windowsill will do in a pinch for some seedlings like tomatoes, but ideally you want to suspend a dual fluorescent light fixture over your plants no more than 2 inches above the top of the seedlings. Regular 40 watt cool white bulbs ($4) are fine, or if you see the $6 daylight bulbs you can use one cool white and one daylight. Avoid daylight deluxe which are more 'pleasing to the eye' but have lower light output. Grow lights, terrarium and aquarium lights are expensive, especially when you consider that fluorescent lights used for growing plants should be replaced annually due to a reduction in light output which comes as the bulbs age.

I am seriously considering growing broccoli, cauliflower, etc. from seed this fall. ;)

This message was edited Apr 14, 2008 7:45 PM

Thank you to all of you. You've been so helpful! I've definitely heard that before"start earlier next year". Now that I know this is my thing...oh I so will. I was thinking the other day, "oh what do you do when it's not spring or summer?". Well that's answered, "Prepare for Spring!!! So Twiggy, I can expect a crop then for early fall- September-October? That's great because I eat salad all year long! he he he I'm glad I tried Broccoli & got to chat w/all of you... Feldon, thanks for the detailed info & taking the time to explain. I'll get that green thumb, eventually!.....

If you are wanting to grow things all year, it might make sense to pick up Dr. Bob Randall's book with a suitably long name -- Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers For Metro Houston - a Natural Organic Approach Using Ecology. I am not purely organic, but it's a great book. It covers all the major topics from soil building to harvest.

Right now is a great time to poke some bean, cucumber, or okra seeds in the ground. If you see pepper transplants at the nurseries that don't look too beat up or root-bound, you could probably find a spot for them too. ;) Bell peppers don't produce much here, but tapered varieties like Golden Marconi, Carmen hybrid, Jimmy Nardello (a not yet well known heirloom that does amazing here) are sweet and have all the same uses as bell peppers (except stuffing). Ancho/Poblano and Jalapeno do great in pots or in loose soil.

This message was edited Apr 15, 2008 2:22 PM

Thanks feldon for suggesting that book. I will look into it. I can definitely use a book on this! So much to learn & know! Ya think I shouldn't go with the bell peppers? I have the colorful mix, green,red, yellow, orange, purple & white I think. Michelle

I have yet to talk to anyone who has had a lot of luck with bell peppers in S.E. Texas. Italian frying peppers such as Golden Marconi, Red Marconi, Carmen, Jimmy Nardello, etc. produce gangbusters and have the identical flavor, texture, and uses.

I really wish it were easier to post photos here at DG, but...
http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/morgan/spring2007/?g2_page=30
http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/memberphotos/suze/Spring+2007/other/chervena+chushka.jpg.html

Carmen and the Marconis sometimes get big enough for stuffing. Jimmy Nardello is only 1" across and 8-10" long. I love to throw them on the grill and munch on them instead of chips to go with my burgers. If you like spicier peppers, Ancho/Poblano seem to do well here and are suitable for stuffing ala Chiles Rellenos.

Hi everyone. The broccoli seedlings seem to be pulling through. But I stopped bringing them outside. The wind was just knocking them over. I'll wait a few more days and try to harden them again.

Push come to shove, eat the young leaves in salads, or cook the older leaves. I pinch one leaf at a time off my broccoli plants. I read someplace the leaves of broccoli are extremely nutritous.

Just to show the difference in seed starting times............Up here it is seed starting time indoors on March 20th and transplant time on April 15th for spring broccoli. For fall it is June 20th - 30th for seed starting time and July 15th for transplanting time!!