Broccoli growing outdoors: technology

Broccoli is quite common in Europe and, unfortunately, not very famous in our country cabbage. Undisputed advantages of this culture include high yields even in arid climates of the central Russia, unpretentious care, useful dietary properties and much more.

A characteristic feature of broccoli is the ability to form a crop on stepsons after cutting the main head. At the same time, new cabbages manage to ripen to cold weather and gain enough weight. Thus, the yield of this plant, if desired, can be increased to the maximum. Growing broccoli in the open field - a way in the Russian truck farmers is quite popular. In this article we will look at exactly how this procedure is performed.

Choosing a place for broccoli

And start with where it is best to place a culture such as broccoli cabbage. Cultivation from seeds in the open soil will be most successful in areas with fertile, fairly heavy soil. Just like for any other variety, only a well-lit place is suitable for this cabbage. The sun's rays must fall on the plants for at least 6 hours a day. In addition, the area with broccoli should be well ventilated. The most suitable pH of the soil on the bed is 6-7. Alkaline soils this plant does not tolerate. On acidic soils, this cabbage can yield a good harvest. However, in this case, the heads will not be of particular ecological purity. On such soils cabbage is saturated with toxic heavy metals. To neutralize acidic soil, it is worthwhile to add compost to the beds (9 kg per 1 m ² ).

When choosing a place, among other things, it should be taken into account that it is impossible to allow the cabbage to be sprayed with other varieties. From the beds of white and colored should be placed as far as possible. It is best to plant broccoli after potatoes or legumes. Every year, this cabbage should definitely be transferred to a new place. Otherwise, it will begin to ache, which, of course, will greatly affect the yield.

Seed preparation

Begin the cultivation of broccoli outdoors with careful preparation of planting material. Use immediately you can only purchase seeds from bags. Self-assembled planting material is preferably pre-soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After this, the seeds should be thoroughly rinsed. Then they are placed in the growth stimulator solution for several hours and dried. Seeds treated in this way will quickly ascend, and young plants will develop better.

For planting in the open ground, seeds of early varieties of this crop should be selected. Such cabbage will have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather.

Soil preparation

The timing of planting broccoli in the open ground in different climatic conditions may be different. In the central part of Russia this is usually the middle - the end of April. In this case, the first harvest will be available in early July.

The irrigated way of growing this crop is good especially because in this case the summer resident is spared from the necessity of performing laborious work on the care of plants on the windowsill. In addition, this technology allows you to get very strong stocky heads of broccoli. Growing out of seeds in the open ground has the feature that plants are not at all subjected to transplant stress, and therefore, they develop much faster.

It is desirable to prepare beds for planting from the autumn. In October, the soil on the site is dug and fertilized with manure or compost. In the spring, a small amount of mineral fertilizers (about 40 g of superphosphate and 10-12 g of ammonium nitrate per meter) will suffice in the bed.

Seed sowing

About how the cultivation of broccoli cabbage in the open field, we'll talk just below. First, let's look at how to plant it correctly. Sowing cabbage of this variety is performed as follows:

• The distance between the plants should be about 25-40 cm in a row and 50-60 cm in the aisle. It is very important not to thicken the planting, because in this case a good harvest will not be obtained.
• Too much soil penetration into the soil should not be.
• After planting, the bed is carefully and carefully spilled.
• Each seed should be covered with a plastic 5-liter bottle with a cut-off neck.
• Clean these mini-greenhouses after the plants will appear at least 3-4 leaves.

Broccoli cultivation: watering technology

Like any other cabbage, broccoli is very fond of moist soil. Water it should be about a day later. In any case, this should be done at least once a week. The most plentiful harvest this cabbage gives in a cool overcast summer. Sprinkle broccoli in the daytime heat can not, otherwise you can damage the leaves. Drops of water will act like small lenses. Passing through them, the sun's rays will burn holes in the leaves. Green tissue will turn yellow, which, of course, will affect the yield. Watering of this culture is spent in the evening. It is better to use the method of sprinkling.

How to make top dressing

Fertilize broccoli 2-3 times during the vegetation period. Proper feeding is a prerequisite for the success of such an operation as growing broccoli in the open ground. The first time it is done a couple of weeks after planting. In this case, use an infusion of cow manure or nettles (1x10). The following two additional fertilizers are produced using phosphorus-potassium fertilizers in the amount specified by the manufacturer. Use these fertilizers is mandatory. The lack of phosphorus and potassium will definitely affect the size of the heads. With good care, this cabbage will grow very high (up to 1 m) and yield an excellent harvest.

Loosening and weeding

Growing broccoli in the open ground will be successful only if these two operations are performed in a timely manner. Loosen the ground on a bed of plants followed by each watering. At the same time, weeding is usually done. Carrying out this procedure, you should pay as much attention to the removal of weeds from the genus Cruciferae. As already mentioned, you can not allow broccoli to be crossed with other varieties of cabbage. These include, for example, a shepherd's bag and turtledove.

Harvesting, use and storage of crops

This is the way the operation is carried out, like the cultivation of broccoli. Councils to the summer residents, given above, will allow to receive a good crop of this culture. Broccoli is usually removed from the bushes rather young. To tighten with a cut it is not necessary, differently inflorescence will become rough. In addition, in this case, the bush will later give heads on the lateral shoots. Cut the broccoli usually in the evening or in the morning. In this case, it is stored longer. The first cabbage usually ripens by the beginning of July. Store broccoli in winter usually in the freezer.

Like a simple cabbage, broccoli can be preserved: salt or marinate. Use the head and fresh. To do this, they are boiled in salted water, pour over crushed breadcrumbs and lightly fry in vegetable oil. With this method of processing, the maximum amount of useful substances remains in the cabbage.

How to collect seeds

To buy every year the planting material of this cabbage is optional. If you want, you can collect the seeds yourself. Of course, they do it in compliance with certain rules. Tend the testes before the onset of frost. They must be brought into a dry room and dried for two weeks. Then the testes are threshed and the planting material is calibrated. Store seeds in a dark, dry cool place.

As you can see, the culture is quite unpretentious and also very productive - broccoli cabbage. It is possible that in the near future it will take its proper place in the suburban areas of domestic truck farmers and will become quite popular. The more so that growing broccoli in the open - the procedure is not as complex as it might seem at first glance.