Sow The Seeds Of This Veggie As Winter Winds Down For A Delicious Spring Harvest

Are you inspired to garden year-round? There's no need to avoid gardening just because it's winter. Winter sowing is a great way to get a head start on your garden this year. There are also many benefits of having a winter garden. You won't need to water it as much. There are fewer bugs, pests, and even less weeds. To have a thriving winter garden, you'll need to know which vegetables to grow. One veggie you should start sowing in the late winter is broccoli.

Broccoli is a great winter vegetable. This hardy winter vegetable even tastes better when exposed to cold temperatures during growing. Broccoli can survive in the winter without any protection and tolerate temperatures of up to 26 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also quite resistant to frost. So, if the weather does turn cold, you won't have to worry about the freezing temperatures killing off your broccoli plants.

For a spring harvest, you will want to sow broccoli seed approximately six to eight weeks before your area's last frost date. This is from late February through late March in most regions. You'll want to sow the seeds indoors initially. Plant four broccoli seeds ¼ of an inch deep in damp seed starting potting mix. Keep soil damp until the seeds germinate, which should take anywhere from seven to 14 days.

You'll want to transplant the broccoli seedlings into your garden when they have six to eight leaves. Broccoli plants need to acclimate to the cold weather, so place them outside in their pots about a week before you plan to plant them in the ground. Make sure you choose the right location for your broccoli seedlings. Don't plant them in the same areas where you grew broccoli last year. Before planting, fertilize the soil. Broccoli plants thrive in the sun, so plant the seedlings about 24 inches apart in full sun.

Broccoli is a hardy vegetable — which makes it pretty easy to care for. But there are some things that you'll want to keep in mind for a plentiful harvest. Broccoli plants should be watered every week if there is a lack of rainfall in your area. Aim for 1½ inches of water per week. Place a layer of organic mulch around your broccoli plants. This will help maintain moisture, provide nutrients, and keep the soil warm. Finally, if your outside temperatures fall below 26 degrees Fahrenheit, cover your broccoli plants with burlap.

Broccoli should mature within 60 to 90 days after planting it outside. You should aim to harvest this vegetable when temperatures are 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the daytime. Broccoli is ready to harvest when it has a nice deep green color. The florets should be tightly packed. For the best flavor, harvest broccoli in the morning when the soil is still cool. Grab a pair of sharp scissors and cut the plant, leaving 2 to 3 inches on the stem. Side shoots will continue growing on the stem. You can harvest these when they are ready.