broccoli advice needed

[daugen]

we are growing broccoli, or trying to, but have no idea when to pick the head. I've watched a ton of videos on this showing huge broccoli plants with multiple heads coming out, and all we have is this tiny plant with one weenie head.
The question is....do we let it keep growing, or is it going to bolt on us? My thoughts are this plant needs a long way to grow, but maybe not. If I'm going to get one bite out of a plant, well, maybe grow something else...

I know one cuts the center head and then smaller heads allegedly pop up, but unless I bought dwarf broccoli,
this doesn't look promising.

suggestions please, newbie broccoli grower. thanks

 

[DFB]

Most growers harvest them @ 4"-6"

Think of it as softball size or a little larger
Its one of the earliest
There usually ready to pick around here in June

Broccoli is pretty much a cool weather crop excessive tempeture makes them bolt
You have to pick before flowers form.

 

[daugen]

Most growers harvest them @ 4"-6"

Think of it as softball size or a little larger
Its one of the earliest
There usually ready to pick around here in June

Broccoli is pretty much a cool weather crop excessive tempeture makes them bolt
You have to pick before flowers form.

four to six inches wide at the crown or height of the stalk? I'm assuming the first, my concern is the
stalk on my first four to arrive is already six inches tall. Yes, they are getting bigger, but they also look like they are about to bolt. And they are only a couple inches wide....
Hmmm, several videos said small broccoli was due to stress. Well, perhaps planting in clay
and rocks is a little too stressful for them. It's funny, we have about six pea pods ready and four miniature
broccoli florets. Not much of a meal so far.

My wife, who wants to drench everything in MiracleGrow, looks at these florets and wonders if non organic fertilizer would have done better, though we used a lot of GardenTone.

 

[MoKelly]

Well, I have to say, why does anyone want to grow much less actually eat broccoli? I have to say I am with teh former President on this one!:laughing:

MoKelly

 

[daugen]

Yo Mo. 'cuz it's good for you...

 

[eddie48]

The pic you show is really past its prime. Best to pick when the little green flower parts are all still touching so it looks almost solid. Plant should be a lot bigger -- need fertilizer? Too warm? If you pick the head, small ones will continue to grow on the plant. You can pick those most of the summer. What you have there is still edible. Pick and eat and enjoy.

 

[farmgirl19]

Well, I have to say, why does anyone want to grow much less actually eat broccoli? I have to say I am with teh former President on this one!:laughing:

MoKelly

I grow it because my dogs love it! Since I cook for them, instead of feeding the processed foods they get fresh steamed broccoli in March and April, here! The one loves it raw too, and will eat plants and all!

 

[daugen]

The pic you show is really past its prime. Best to pick when the little green flower parts are all still touching so it looks almost solid. Plant should be a lot bigger -- need fertilizer? Too warm? If you pick the head, small ones will continue to grow on the plant. You can pick those most of the summer. What you have there is still edible. Pick and eat and enjoy.

thanks, this is what I thought, it wasn't firmly bunched together like "store bought" but expanding out, looking like it wanted to flower.
Ok little florets, you're on for dinner tomorrow night.

 

[daugen]

my wife is headed to the garden today with glee to chop off the heads of the first four plants, which we only planted two weeks ago, so they must have been stressed before we got them. And then there's our clay...
Yes to fertilizer, no to warm, just an unhappy plant. I felt better when I watched a video of an ag extension "pro" with his broccoli, also small, which he blamed on where he bought the plants.

In my case, I assume it's operator error first...
we shall see how the rest of them do.
That is unless some stray beagles get them first...

 

[farmgirl19]

my wife is headed to the garden today with glee to chop off the heads of the first four plants, which we only planted two weeks ago, so they must have been stressed before we got them. And then there's our clay...
Yes to fertilizer, no to warm, just an unhappy plant. I felt better when I watched a video of an ag extension "pro" with his broccoli, also small, which he blamed on where he bought the plants.

In my case, I assume it's operator error first...
we shall see how the rest of them do.
That is unless some stray beagles get them first...

Part of the issue might even be the variety bought. I think down here, most of it available is "Pacman". You might, when you get time, look at different varieties and see which do best in your area. An online seed catalog can be fun to peruse! ALthough, it can be dangerous, as you want to try so many things the next planting!

Garden Seed | Vegetable Garden Seed | Garden Seed Catalog | Garden Seed Company | R.H. Shumway's

D. Landreth Company Heirloom Seeds and Open Pollinated Seeds

And my Beagles better not be wandering that far from home! :laughing: