So, you want to grow a large head of Broccoli in your house.
Answer: Yes
Good, you have landed on a perfect post.
In this post, I have written a step-by-step how to grow Broccoli in a pot.
If you follow the steps mentioned in the article, then I guarantee you’ll grow healthy broccoli in a pot.
So, let’s dive into it.
What is the Broccoli plant?
Broccoli is a nutrient-rich vegetable plant that has many health benefits.
This plant is eaten freshly, and used in stir fry, soup, pasta, and more dishes. No doubt growing a Broccoli plant is worth the time.
Growing broccoli from seeds in your garden is challenging but not difficult.
Types Of Broccoli Seeds To Grow
Surprisingly, Broccoli is not a single vegetable, it has various types. Each type of plant has different characteristics.
Some types have large heads while other types have small heads but are more prolific.
A few of its varieties take less time to grow while other varieties take a long time. So, it’s very essential to be clear about which type of broccoli you want to grow.
Some of its variety is:
- Di Cicco (classic heirloom)
- Early Heading (early to mature),
- Long Harvest (a blend of early and late)
- Summer Purple (larger heads)
- Santee F1 Purple (small, but abundant)
Whatever you choose, let me make clear that all this can be grown by following the instructions mentioned below.
What Do The Seeds Look Like?
Honestly, the first time I saw the seeds of broccoli I was surprised. Despite being a large green plant they produce very small seeds.
The seeds of broccoli are small with a black or brown-black shade.
They are circular or even in elliptical shape with a small white dot on the top. As you can guess, from this white dot the germination of the plant starts.
Do you need to soak the seeds?
Many people ask, is it important to soak seeds before sowing them?
Answer In one sentence:
It is not required to soak seeds before planting them in soil but soaking may boost their germination.
Soaking the seeds of Broccoli in warm water for 12-24 hours gives a good head start. Even speeds up their germination process.
Where to sow
If you live in a region where it’s mostly frost, then it’s better to plant them indoors. You will be able to provide proper care.
In the warmer climate, you can directly plant them in your garden or you can try winter sowing them.
When to plant seeds
Those who live in frost they can sow seeds indoors, 4-6 weeks before the last frost.
For warmer regions, you can sow the seeds in early spring. You may start from the pot or directly sow them in your garden.
Although, it’s recommended before sowing you should check the planting date on the plant packet.
How to plant Broccoli the Seeds.
When you start planting the seeds you’ll need some fancy equipment.
Especially growing them indoors. If you grew seeds previously then you can reuse them.
This equipment makes your work easier and provides proper care for germinating seeds.
The list of the tools are:
- Seedling flat with a lid
- Pre-moistened seed starting soil or peat pellets
- Seeds
- Water
- Heat mat (optional)
The uses of the following tools will be discussed below in the step-by-step guide to planting seeds.
- #step 1. Fill the seeds tray– Take a seedling tray and fill it with a high-quality seed-starting mixture or pre-moistened pest pellet.
- #step 2. No. of seed to put – If you have brand new seeds then you can put one seed in each hole. but, for old seeds, you should go with 2-3 seeds in every hole.
- #step 3. Put seeds in the hole – Either you can make a small hole and put seeds in them or you can gently press the seeds in the soil. I prefer to make holes. It makes things easier.
- #step 4. Cover the seeds– Put bit soil on the seed and gently press them in the soil. Do not press them too deeply, as they are too small. Something between 1/8 to 1/4 inch is good.
- #step 5. Add water – It’s better to water them from the bottom, so that soil soaks from down to up. After 20 minutes you should dump out soil, not get soaked.
- #step 6. Cover the tray– To maintain the moisture of the soil, you should cover the tray with a plastic lid.
After that put the tray in a warmer place if not put it on the heat mat.
Germination Time
The germination of seeds by the above steps is fairly quick. You have to hardly wait for 5-10 days for the germination of the seeds.
Basically, the process depends on how warm the tray is.
You plant them indoors and want germination to speed up. Then you can put the seedling tray on the heat mat.
What Do The Seedlings Look Like?
The sprouts of broccoli are baby small with two big heart shapes left on either side of the stem.
Fun Fact: These firstly grown leaves are called “seed leaves” after these other growing leaves called true leaves.
The true leaves start growing a few days after the seed leaves.
Broccoli Seedling Care Tips
Light
For the proper growth of the plant, light is very essential. Especially if you are growing indoors.
- Without the required light, the plant may get stretched or leggy in a few days.
- Indoor, the plant should be exposed 14- 16 hours per day.
- For this, you have to set up a nice lighting system which is quite expensive.
- To save money, I use fluorescent light fixtures and planted grow light bulbs.
- Whatever you choose I recommend you use an outlet timer for your convenience.
- It’s better to control light automatically than rely on your memory.
You can even read a beginner’s guide to growing lights from seedlings.
Water
- Adding water from the bottom is always a good idea.
- As you might damage delicate seedlings while pouring from the top.
- The day you start growing broccoli plants you have to keep a check on the soil.
- For healthy growth of the plant, you have to keep the soil moist.
Keep in mind that too dry or too wet soil might grow improper plants that nobody wants.
To maintain the perfect balance you can check the moisture level of the soil with a soil moisture gauge.
Air Circulation
- Once seedlings grow bigger, it’s a good idea to expose them to fresh air. This prevents them from molding and strengthens the seedlings.
- For good air circulation, you can pop lids open for a few days and eventually open them all.
- Opening the lid can dry soil, so you have to provide the required water to keep the soil moist.
- Once the seedlings have their true leaves you can use an oscillating fan on low. For proper flow of air around the plant.
- Remember, the soil dries more quickly off the lid, especially with the fan.
- So, you have to check a few times a day to make sure the soil isn’t drying out.
Fertilizer
Broccoli plants are very good feeders and it’s essential to fertilize them.
When the plant starts giving true plants, then you can apply fertilizers to maximize their growth.
I recommend you fertilize them with organic fertilizer.
Yes! Sometimes you may buy fertilizer from the market but that is not much needed.
- You can use an organic fertilizer such as tea bags on indoor plants, as they are available.
- I personally use liquid fertilizers like fish emulsion or liquid kelp for outdoor plants.
- Fertilizer in liquid form is better to boost the growth of the plant.
- The plant will stink when liquid fertilizers are used in indoor plants as they are in a closed room.
Thinning
If you plant more than one seed in each cell or pellet or sown them too close outside. Then you’ll need to thin the seedlings.
Planting seedlings too close causes stunts in their roots which eventually hamper their growth.
You can solve this problem easily.
- After the seedlings grow a few inches tall, choose the healthiest seedling and thin rest.
- Do not puck the seedlings as it may damage the tender roots of the sprout you want to keep.
- Instead of plucking, you should use micro-tip snips or bonsai shears to cut them off from the soil.
Repotting
Potted broccoli plants need to transplant into another wide container when they grow tall enough.
You can easily identify when the plant needs to transplant.
Just look at whether the seedling height has grown bigger than the cell or the roots are coming out from the bottom.
I use plantable pots so that I can transplant the Broccoli plant without disturbing their roots.
Peat pot works great.
But, if you want a more sustainable option then you can use coco coir or cow pots which also works great.
small plastic nursery pots are also good for planting Broccoli plants as they can be reused.
Of course, you can buy small plastic nursery pots instead of potable pots, as they are reusable.
Transplanting your Seedlings into the Garden
You can skip this part if you planted your broccoli plant in the garden. But, if not then you have to go through this part in detail.
Looking to transplant a plant is a very delicate process, with one mistake you can waste all your efforts.
To grow a big head broccoli plant in your house which of course you don’t want.
So, read the section properly.
When To Transplant
- Broccoli is frost-hardy. You should transplant the plant 2-4 weeks before the average last frost in the spring.
- If this makes you nervous then do not worry, you can wait until the last frost and then transplant.
- It’s better to transplant the seedlings in your garden after they grow a set of true leaves.
Learn more about when to transplant seedlings here.
Hardening Off
Wait before transplanting the broccoli plant outside, it should be hardening off.
The plant needs to be hardened first, as the seedling grows in a cushy indoor environment.
If you directly transplant them in your garden then your pampered broccoli plant might die.
First, for a few days, you should keep the plant in the shaded spot for a couple of hours.
Every day expose the potted plant a little longer outside.
Once they get adapted to full sun, you can transplant the seedling outdoors, without any worry.
Where To Plant
You should transplant the Broccoli in high-quality soil to grow a large beautiful head.
Simple mix your garden soil with rich compost, well-composted manure, or worm castings.
When you’re transplanting, add high nitrogen fertilizer to the Broccoli plant to boost the growth.
Or you can either use slow-release granules or root-zone feeder packs.
Spacing between plants
While planting you should take care of spacing between the plants.
Planting the seedling too close can stunt their growth which means small heads.
You should always sow the seedlings 12-24 inches apart so that they cannot get overcrowded.
In the beginning, it looks funny when you leave lots of space around each seedling.
But believe me, after a few weeks the broccoli plant fills all the spacing.
Planting Depth
Do not transplant the seedlings of the broccoli too deep, just cover its roots.
You should plant the seedlings at the same soil level as they were in the seeds tray or pot.
How Long From Seed To Harvest
The harvesting time depends on the variety you are growing.
There are many varieties of broccoli plants present.
So, before planting them you should check the full growth time on the packet.
Generally, the broccoli plant takes nearly 50-90 days from seeds to harvest.
You can regularly fertilize the plant to keep things fast and result in a much more prolific harvest.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
The most frustrating thing about gardening, is when your plant has a problem and you don’t know how to solve it.
So, below I have answered a few most common problems people face while growing broccoli.
You can even read more about seedlings’ problems.
Broccoli seeds never germinate
The seeds never germinate due to some reasons.
Either seed are too old or not viable, or the soil was too wet or too dry.
The seeds grow better in soil that is 40-80F degrees, you can use a soil thermometer if you’re unsure.
Leggy seedlings
As I previously mentioned, a lack of light can cause Leggy plants. So, it’s very important to provide them with the required light.
Be sure to use a grow light as soon as seedlings start emerging.
Seedlings falling over
If your broccoli seedlings fall over its caused due to something called seedling blight.
Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to revive them. Just clean the disinfecting tray before reusing it.
Seedlings aren’t growing
This might happen when seedlings are planted too close. To solve the problem you can thin the seedling as we discussed above.
Also, fertilize seedlings and maintain soil moisture for continuous growth.
Did I Miss Anything?
Now I’d like to hear from you:
Which tip from today’s post are you going to try first?
or maybe, I didn’t mention your favorite plant-growing tip.
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
P.S. I myself reply to every comment
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Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.