How to Grow Broccoli in Pots. Even if your soil is subpar or nonexistent, planting veggies in containers is a fantastic method to get fresh produce. Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that grows well in containers and can be planted in the late summer or fall and is still edible. Learn how to produce broccoli in containers by reading on.
How to Grow Broccoli in Pots
Even if your soil is subpar or nonexistent, planting veggies in containers is a fantastic method to get fresh produce. Broccoli is a cool-weather crop that grows well in containers and can be planted in the late summer or fall and is still edible. Learn how to produce broccoli in containers by reading on.
Can You Grow Broccoli in Pots?
Growing broccoli in pots is a totally acceptable option. However, it does grow widely, so plant just one in each 5-gallon (19 L) container. In a 15-gallon (57 L) container, two to three plants can be accommodated. Start your seeds about one month before the first typical frost if you’re planting in the fall.
Broccoli seeds grow at a temperature of 75–80 F (23–27 C), so you can either plant them straight in your pot or start them indoors if the weather is still too high. If you began your seedlings indoors, harden them off by putting them outside for a few hours each day for two weeks before placing them permanently outside.
Even after germination, temperature control is important for growing broccoli in containers. You don’t want the temperature of your broccoli container to rise above 80 F since containers, especially black ones, can heat up significantly in the sun (27 C.). If at all possible, steer clear of using black containers and try to arrange your plants so that the broccoli is in partial shade and the container is in full shade.
How to Grow Broccoli in Containers:
Broccoli requires a little more maintenance than other veggies. Regularly water your plants and feed them with fertilizer rich in nitrogen.
When to Plant Broccoli:
Broccoli’s growing season alternates between spring planting and mid-summer harvest and late summer planting and mid to late-fall harvest. A cool-season crop, such as broccoli, can be planted as soon as the frost is no longer expected in early spring.
However, these crops often fade and may die completely during the summer heat. A second planting window for cool-season crops opens up in late summer and early fall; once mature, these species can withstand a light fall frost (in mild climates, they may even continue producing into the winter months).
How to Grow Broccoli:
- Choose a site. Broccoli requires at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and nitrogen-rich soil with a pH of 6 or 7. Good soil moisture with no sogginess is essential, so choose a location with good drainage—this could mean raised garden beds.
- Prepare the site. Work compost or organic matter into the top layers of soil a week before transplanting seedlings or sowing seeds.
- Plant. Broccoli seeds should be planted 12 inches deep and 3 inches apart, while seedlings should be planted 12 inches apart. Plant in rows with 3 feet between them to encourage larger crowns; closer rows will result in smaller main heads but more side shoots.
Broccoli Plant Care:
- Mulch. Weeds can be controlled by mulching around the base of the plants.
- Fertilize. To compensate for depleted nitrogen levels, which may be the cause of yellowing leaves, side-dress with blood meal or fertilizer.
- Companion plant. Aphids will extract the juices from broccoli shoots. Aphids can be deterred by companion planting and a quick leaf rinse with soapy water. Small green caterpillars known as cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, maggots, and flea beetles also cause havoc on the leaves. They can be picked off by hand if possible, or treated in mass with Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural insecticide.
- Use row covers. To help protect broccoli seedlings, use floating row covers immediately after planting.
- Prevent infection. Clubroot, a fungal infection, causes wilting plants and misshapen roots. To avoid spreading, the entire plant and root system must be dug up as soon as possible.
