My mother loves broccoli, almost to an absurd degree, and she made sure to instill that love in all of her children.
Whether it was roasted with garlic, steamed in butter, or sauteed in a stir fry, I could almost always count on broccoli making an appearance at the dinner table.
So when I started growing my own food, including this cruciferous veggie in my garden was a no-brainer.
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What I didn’t realize in those early days is that growing and harvesting it can be a bit tricky, if you don’t know what to watch out for.
If you are just getting started, check out our complete guide to growing broccoli.
I learned early on that obtaining a harvest of large, tender, perfectly ripe heads can take a bit of patience and practice.
It took me a few seasons to get it right, but I’m finally confident that my broccoli patch will produce an abundant crop each year.
So, what are the signs that it is time to harvest? We’ll cover the basics, and offer some storage tips and cooking ideas as well. Here’s what’s ahead:
When to Harvest Broccoli
The key to harvesting your crop is knowing the right time to pick the heads.
Let’s say you have carefully monitored your plants through the season, watching for pests and disease, weeding, and taking measures to avoid bolting.
Miraculously, your plants have withstood the elements, and beautiful, full heads have begun to form.
This is the time to pay extra attention to your plants! Once you notice that the flowering heads have started developing, it is a good idea to check on them each day when you do a pass through the
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