Even before US President Obama named broccoli as his favorite vegetable, the green asparagus cabbage was already attracting more and more home gardeners. In order to be able to harvest the vegetables fresh and healthy, you have to cut them in time and correctly.

The most important types of broccoli at a glance

Decide on annual or perennial, early or late varieties depending on how and when you want to cut and harvest your broccoli. You can also choose the color between the classic green, purple or yellow broccoli. A selection of the most important broccoli varieties:

  • Atlantic
  • Corvet
  • Green Sprouting
  • Purple Sprouting
  • Primo
  • Sparco
  • Southern Comet
  • heritage
  • corona
  • samurai

Cut broccoli properly and harvest on time

In contrast to cauliflower, broccoli can be harvested several times during a gardening year. To do this, cut off large, harvest-ready florets just below the base. New, smaller florets grow in 3 to 4 weeks from the leaf axils underneath along the thick stalks. The flower buds of the broccoli must not open, otherwise they are inedible. Cut out the thick bud from the middle, then you can get a second harvest from the side shoots. Depending on the variety, broccoli matures for 2 to 3 months. A few minus degrees for the autumn harvest don't bother him. It is then best to cover it with fleece in good time.

The ideal time of day to cut broccoli is early morning when it's still damp from the dew. Then it has the best aroma and lasts longer. When peeled, the thick stalks taste like asparagus. Hence the name asparagus cabbage. If you are a lunar recreational gardener, broccoli is a flowering plant and you should therefore grow, tend, prune and harvest it on flowering days.

Broccoli harvested and then what?

Broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked with the stems and leaves. Freshly harvested, you can store it in the fridge for 3 days. You want to store your broccoli longer? Pull the whole plant out of the ground and place it upside down in a cool place. This way you can preserve the broccoli for 3 to 4 weeks. Broccoli also freezes well. Simply blanch for three minutes. Stored in a freezer bag, it will keep for up to nine months.

tips and tricks

Avoid storing broccoli with ethylene-producing apples, bananas, or tomatoes. This will spoil it faster.

Category:

Vegetable garden