Monday, January 26, 2009

Broccoli

I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that I was trying to squeeze some broccoli in before my summer garden. My family loved the broccoli I grew during the fall, it was sooo tender and tasty that they ate about 18 plants and side shoots in about 2-3 weeks! Alright maybe it was 3-4 weeks.

Anyway, I started some a couple weeks ago and transplanted them into peat pots today. Here's some pics:


aaIMG_8819
I love these styrofaom seed starters. I believe I got them from Parks Seeds. They're reusable & I usually get a pretty high germination rate. If a seed doesn't germinate, I just re-use the plug.


aaIMG_8821
Then just take the plug & put it in a peat pot. (sold at lowes)


aaIMG_8828
I use a basic potting mix.


aaIMG_8831
You know those aren't my hands, manly plumber men are too stubborn to wear gloves.


aaIMG_8838
I got the trays from Parks seeds. They're very versatile, they're big enough for the styrofaom seed starter and then hold about 18 medium peat pots.

aaIMG_8839
Add water with a weak fertilizer and the peat pots with soak the water up from the bottom. That helps the roots grow down & deep.


aaIMG_8843
And then back under the lights for a week or two. The ones up top are about 8 little broccoli that I had to re-seed because I burned them last week when I was trying to keep them warm. I put a heater a little too close!

27 comments:

  1. I have had so-so luck with starting brassicas indoors, but they are great outdoors (one of the benefits of our cool springs, short MN summers, and cool falls, I guess!)Anyhow, I had some discussion with a local organic market gardener about starting brassicas. He suggested using a fan blowing on low across the tops of the seedlings so that the stalk will grow stronger. He also put a box full of rocks/water in front of the fan so that it wouldn't dry out the seedlings so fast. I haven't had a chance to try this out (will be as soon as we don't have 2 feet of snow sitting on the ground!), but this guy swears by it.

    Your little broccoli plants look great. I'm definitely envious of your winter/early spring plantings. I will start peppers and tomatoes indoors next month, but won't be able to set them out in the garden until May!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looking CG.
    A tip for planting out brassicas.
    You can remove the seed leaves(the first two to appear)and bury the plant right up to the first two true leaves. This helps with the stability of the plant and also develops a larger root system which in turn develops a healthier plant.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That was meant to be looking 'good' CG
    Oh, nice gloves btw.

    ReplyDelete
  4. You can tell I'm just a rookie.....I'm the only one using the word broccoli! Maybe next year I'll mature up to "brassicas". lol.

    ReplyDelete
  5. BTW, thanks for the tip Stew, when I plant them in the garden I'll bury them up a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. April- Actually I do use a fan as well. Not just for the strength but to keep mold off the plants. It can get moldy here in FL.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those broccoli look great and I like that foam seed tray you use. I'll be starting my broccoli during the second half of Feb. Nice light set up too!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like them. With pasta. And cheese! Delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Conservative Gradner,

    Nice blog, this is my first visit.

    You remind me of my dad when he was in his fourties he used to plant different types such as: Tomatoo, green and red hot pepper, eggplant,cucombers, parsely, yellow corn, sunflower, and more.
    When I was 10 years old I tried to plant cucomber and it did work but it died before it ripens...

    Marsho

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello Conservative Gardener

    My little one loves brocoli. I've convinced her that they are little trees, or perhaps she convinced me. I want to plant tomatoes,(not the manly ones...lol.), jalapenos, onions, bell peppers, and cilantro to make homemade salsa. How would I know when to plant all that stuff in UT? I'm useless. I am lucky my house plants survive. NAW

    ReplyDelete
  11. Dan- The foam trays & plugs cost a little....but I love 'em.

    xoxo- no,no,no....xtra butter & salt. That's it!

    Marshmaoll....you know, I'm not sure how I feel about being compared to someone's dad! Like I'm some old farmer or something. lolol. just kidding.

    Trish- are you the same NAW from NIW's site? I learned alot from google-ing any question I had. Like: when do i plant tomatoes in florida.... or utah or wherever you live.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello Conservative Gardener. Healthy looking Brocs.

    Well done. As my wife and I are starting Brocs from seeds, I was wondering what your light set up is. It looks very much like ours - simple workshop housing, two T8 florescents maybe? Our plants are 3 1/2 weeks old and barely have their second leaves coming out.

    What kind of lights do you use? How warm do you keep them?

    Yay for gardening!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey Jason, You're right I just use $8 shop lights with Full Spectrum bulbs. I use a timer that turns them on about 6AM and then off about 9PM. That's it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I am used to seeing liberal folks on gardening blogs. This is my first time here, and it is such a refreshing gardening blog. Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bracocli garden has design the very well and know how to maintain in this garden. Often people are very like it in this garden because it is different types varieties crop in the garden so that can be able to understand and know that.

      Delete
    2. Mostly people are very like it and enjoy it in this garden because in this garden different types variates and enjoyable so that can be know that in this post. Often people are very like it and enjoy it in this place.

      Delete
    3. He also put a box full of rocks/water in front of the fan so that it wouldn't dry out the seedlings so fast. haven't had a chance to try this out will be as soon as we don't have 2 feet of snow sitting on the ground, but this guy swears by it.

      Delete
    4. So lovely and more enjoyable garden shared on the site because in this garden so very lovely and good flower in the garden so that can be enjoy it in this garden. There are different types flower in the garden and enjoyable.

      Delete
    5. Good cultivation in this garden so very good and more informative garden shared we can be know that how to crop and cultivation in this garden so very nice and more informative garden shared on the site.

      Delete
  15. The fountain can be put anywhere in the garden, so long as the panels are located in the sunny place. When the solar panels are connected to the fountain then the whole item has to be located in place wherein the sun shines the most throughout the day.

    ReplyDelete
  16. superior gardening in this garden consequently very good and more informative garden shared we can be know that how to crop and cultivation in this garden so extremely pleasant and more informative garden shared on the site.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Different kinds of flowers or plants need different amounts of fertilizer, water, and pruning. Maintenance will vary from plant to plant.

    ReplyDelete
  18. There is organic pest control material available at your garden store, but you need to read the directions carefully, since there could be certain specific application directions.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Different kinds of flowers or plants need different amounts of fertilizer, water, and pruning. Maintenance will vary from plant to plant.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fastidious and further creative photo shared in the garden for the reason that in the garden so nice and further enjoyable we can be more get pleasure from and learn regarding post. each people are go to in that place.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Mostly are very like it and enjoy it and more fantastic garden shared on the site. Due to garden that can be know that and able to understand regarding post.There are very interesting and enjoyable garden.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fastidious and further creative photo shared in the garden for the reason that in the garden so nice and further enjoyable we can be more get pleasure from and learn regarding post. each people are go to in that place.

    ReplyDelete