I never get those big, beautiful heads that I dream of. My soil warms up too quickly in the spring, and the broccoli doesn't like it. It thinks it's time to flower, go to seed, and reproduce. Tiny little heads of broccoli are all I've ever been able to grow.
Of course, I will harvest the heads. They won't be too bitter. And I will keep a closer eye out on future heads so I can harvest them before they begin to flower.
No matter how small they are.
I guess I could pour ice on the soil to keep it cooler. Or shade the broccoli from the warmth of the sun. Instead, I think I'll just give up on growing broccoli. Sad, since I love it so.
These broccoli were grown from a packet of seed included in a giveaway Donna at Garden's Eye View had last year. I was the lucky winner! Now, I'm not the best vegetable gardener, but I did get a lot of tomatoes, some peppers, a few cucumbers, and am patiently waiting to harvest asparagus, just to name a few of the vegetables I grew from seed from the giveaway.
And, of course, broccoli. Maybe not a lot of broccoli, but enough for a few meals. She's giving away more seed this year - jump over there and sign up! It's better odds than winning the Publisher's Clearinghouse Sweepstakes. (I know, because I have tried to win that every year, but haven't yet.)
It's amazing how much can come from a few packets of seed. Fun, anticipation, wonder, experience. Sometimes confidence. Sometimes joy. And sometimes even a few meals!
I would be so excited if I could do this!
ReplyDeleteYou can! :)
DeletePoor broccoli!! I gave up growing broccoli years ago. I harvested some beautiful crowns, washed them really good, cooked them....oh I couldn't wait for dinner time. However, before I could take a bite (thankfully), I realized that worms were still in the broccoli. Turned me off for good on home grown broccoli.
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! I don't think I'd ever be able to eat broccoli ever again, either!
DeleteI've never grown broccoli, so I am completely impressed with your accomplishment :)
ReplyDeleteIt's not much of an accomplishment - I just threw the seeds down there. They did all the work! :)
DeleteIt's one of the veggies I like also. Maybe you just need a different brand to grow for you down there.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I wonder. Perhaps I should look into that.
DeleteI've had a similar experience. The good thing about the broccoli blooming is that the bees love the flowers.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers really are pretty! If I were a bee, I'd love them, too! :)
DeleteGood for you trying out all those seeds. What a fun experiment. I've never tried growing broccoli myself and one of the reasons is I remember my mother having this exact same problem.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a fairly common problem, and our soil gets warm so fast, it would be hard to avoid, I think.
DeleteI haven't had much luck with broccoli either - mine have thousands of aphids inside the heads so I couldn't even wash them out (the heads are too dense) - they ended up right there on our plates, nicely cooked :). I gave up too.
ReplyDeleteOh, Masha! I didn't realize aphids liked broccoli! How sad to have gone through all that trouble, only to have cooked aphids! Thankfully, I have a bumper crop of ladybugs this year!
DeleteIt is tough to keep broccoli from flowering, but there are some more heat tolerant varieties. I usually order from Johnnys seed co. so I know them best, but if you order elsewhere, they'll be able to point you in the right direction. You may want to try Imperial or Green Magic. I don't the get hot weather you do so I don't have to worry, but hopefully that helps. It is always so sad to see the hard work start flowering when you know there could have been so much more... The saddest words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, It might have been... (or something like that ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestions. I do love broccoli, and would love to find one that didn't flower so soon. I was hoping this head would get bigger, but I'm afraid I'm just going to reap tiny little heads on this broccoli crop!
DeleteI can't even imagine harvesting Broccoli in February! Wow, I'm certainly missing out in this northern climate. At least the flowers are pretty! Enjoy your veggies!
ReplyDeleteI also have brussels sprouts that are almost ready to eat! My break comes in July and August when it's too hot for veggies here - even the tomatoes quit making for a while!
DeleteWas just reading your other post about Valentine's Day and it made my evening...to think all those lovelies will be blooming is just exciting,..
ReplyDeleteOh, I can't wait! But every year is different, so I'm hoping this year will be the loveliest! :)
DeleteHey now...you grow so many AMAZING plants...it's not your fault the weather is wacky! I give you high fives for trying! And you got some which is more than most can say!
ReplyDeleteYes, the weather is wacky! Mid February and already temps in the 70's! I dread what this summer will bring!
DeleteOne of the joys of gardening, reaping nice things from a few packets of seeds :)
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing to me that so much life can be held in such a tiny little seed.
DeleteI rarely get to see the broccoli flowers, they look very pretty :)
ReplyDeleteThey are pretty. I love yellow! :)
DeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI think you can eat the flowers, maybe add them to a salad?
I think you're right that the flowers are edible. Supposedly, the broccoli is past it's "prime" but still edible. I think it tastes just fine.
DeleteI can't get broccoli to grow either...aren't you just the sweetest friend...thank you for the shout out and link to my blog. I would say you are a darn good veggie gardner as you grew a lot more veggies than I did...
ReplyDeleteI have really worked hard to get some success from the vegetable garden. We now see it as a way to decrease our weekly grocery bill. That's a big motivator!
DeleteBroccoli from the garden this time of year......., we shall have to wait until august I think. Can only start sowing in March. In my garden they don't grow very good, also get to flower too early. Nevertheless the half deformed broccolis from own soil taste always better, it is the satisfaction we growed it ourselves.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - even flowering, the broccoli tastes better than the store bought. And it is satisfying to see those broccoli heads forming, even if they are small.
DeleteI feel your pain. I bombed when I tried brussels sprout - also, I think, because the /heat balance right. But the broccoli is pretty, so it's not a total loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm growing brussels sprouts for the first time this year. So far, so good. I'm so excited!
DeleteJe découvre que dans ton jardin, tu cultives aussi des légumes. Et en plus des brocolis, il parait que c'est assez difficile à obtenir. Bravo pour les quelques plants obtenus.
ReplyDeleteBelle journée jocelyne
Yes, I grow a mix of plants - I love roses most of all, but also have a lot of different ornamental plants. I grow vegetables just to eat them! I don't especially like growing vegetables, but I do love having food straight from the garden!
DeleteI also had trouble picking broccoli before it flowered. In the end I let them flower and they were lovely, long-lasting flowering plants.
ReplyDeleteThey can be very pretty! I bet they were stunning! :)
DeleteHere in the piney woods of east Texas, I start seeds late summer or buy transplants in the fall when I can find them (HELLO GARDEN CENTERS WE NEED COOL WEATHER TRANSPLANTS IN THE FALL). I have to have the plants up about 3-4 inches before winter sets in. If we do not have an extended cold period of time, my broccoli is ready to harvest about now. We get too many warm days in March and it begins to bolt. Try planting in the fall.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I am harvesting my first asparagus today. I bought three year old crowns last year at my hometown feed store. Woo, hoo!
Ann, these broccoli were started last fall. They are just now forming heads, but it's been so warm lately, they immediately went to flowering! Congrats on the asparagus! I have some in a separate bed, but they have not emerged yet this year. It's hard to wait three years - how exciting to have found three year old crowns!
DeleteI don't even try with broccoli. That's what farmers' markets are for.
ReplyDeletehahahaha - You're right! The problem is our farmer's market doesn't open until early summer, and broccoli is out of season here by then. But I do like your attitude! :)
DeleteHolley, I tried with broccoli here, in North, where the soil couldn't be hot. But unfortunately I had not good harvest as you. The heads did not grow, have been small ones until fall.You have a nice collection of seeds and veges!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, broccoli must be harder to grow than I realized. It's too hot here to grow it properly, and it must be too cold for you. I wonder where broccoli is grown successfully!
DeleteDo baby broccolis taste better? ... like baby carrots do.
ReplyDelete:) No. They taste like broccoli, it's just harder to get a plate full of them!
DeleteThat happens to me too! Some years are better than others...so I still grow it. But it is a little frustrating...for sure!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a warm February this year. If it had been a "normal" one, my broccoli might have been more successful. I guess it doesn't hurt to keep trying!
DeleteYou really took your winnings to heart with all that seed growing. Could you start the brocolli even earlier to stop it from getting too hot?
ReplyDeleteI started it in the fall, so I'm not sure I could start it even earlier. It's just been an unusually warm February!
DeleteI'm not a broccoli grower but I think it's fairly normal to get small heads rather than the big ones we see at the market. I think yours looks sweet. Congrats for giving it a go despite the warm temps. The odds were definitely in your favor! Cheers.
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right. There is no telling what they do to produce those giant heads! I wonder!
DeleteI don't grow vegetables, but I have heard of this problem. Good luck with your next crop, I hope you give it a go again with a different type, you're most likely to succeed if you try again :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I will. They were something fun to plant in fall, and I only have a few things that will last through the winter.
DeleteThat variety of broccoli never grows big heads and does flower quickly, so don't worry, it's not you!! I'd go for a organic green sprouting next time and you'll have better crops on smaller plants :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info! I do think I'll try again - and I'll look for this variety. :)
DeleteAny home grown broccoli is better than none!
ReplyDelete