Broccoli

Broccoli is a heavy feeder so it is best planted in rich soils which have had manure or compost added to them.

When planting your seedlings mix a handful of compost or organic fertilizer into the planting hole first. These veggies do best in cool weather so this is one that you can plant a little earlier than your less hardy crops .

Feel free to push the season a little even if the nights are still cool or even if there are light frosts forecast. The head start is nice because broccoli often doesn’t do as well once the summers get very hot.

Broccoli enjoys being planted near herbs but doesn’t grow well beside tomatoes, peppers, eggplants or potatoes.

When your broccoli plants grow to around 8-10” high you can push some extra soil up around the stems to cover them up to the first large leaf. This will encourage side shoots to grow. When the broccoli crowns are ready to harvest cutting the centre main crown will encourage regrowth of side shoots for later harvest.