What to do if broccoli is blooming and how to properly grow cabbage to prevent it
Broccoli appeared on the tables of the inhabitants of Russia at the end of the 20th century. The population was divided into two categories: those who like this cabbage and those who do not introduce it into their diet. The first group grows very quickly, understanding the usefulness and nutritional value of the product. Farmers have started cultivating broccoli, but not everyone is good at it. The plant is difficult to grow, since with the slightest errors in care, it shoots or blooms, which is why it loses its presentation. And it's good if there are farms with domestic animals nearby, ready to buy cabbage for livestock feed.
What to do if broccoli has bloomed, and whether it can be eaten in this form, we will tell in the article.
The content of the article
Why broccoli blooms are bad
Broccoli is picked and sold or eaten until it blooms. At this time, green heads of cabbage have not yet been opened and the largest number of vitamins, trace elements and other useful substances is concentrated in them.
When flowering, the plant begins to spend all its energy on seed production. Stems lose moisture, become tough and fibrous, inflorescences and leaves become bitter. Such a product is not marketable.
Why does broccoli turn into color?
Broccoli feels comfortable at temperatures from +16 to + 24 ° C. The optimum air humidity is at least 60%. Weather conditions have a strong influence on head tying. Neither cold and humid weather, nor intense heat and dry summers are suitable.
Why is a tasty and healthy product losing its presentation already in the garden:
- lack of moisture;
- insufficient nutrition;
- excess nitrogen and other fertilizers;
- hot weather - arrows and flowers appear at temperatures above + 25 ° C;
- cold weather;
- late harvest - if the broccoli is ready to cut, do it immediately.
Signs
You can determine the state of the heads of cabbage by the color of the bud. Once it turns bright green, it's time to harvest. It is better to remove a medium and ripe head than wait for it to bloom and lose a high-quality crop.
Why does not form a head
The broccoli head does not have time to form granular large heads of cabbage, begins to separate into separate inflorescences, becomes loose if overgrown seedlings were planted. In the best case, a shallow head will form.
The reception of planting seeds for seedlings 3-4 times in 1-2 weeks will help. This will be a good safety net and will give you the opportunity to have a broccoli harvest until the fall.
If you plant different varieties, you can get a crop, distributed by date and with different tastes.
What to do if the cabbage has bloomed
Broccoli, by its natural properties, must bloom. Therefore, it is harvested without waiting for flowering.
Do I need to fight this
If the flowers have already formed, first cut off only the central head, and leave the stem and wait for the appearance of lateral shoots with buds. However, there are varieties that do not give lateral heads of cabbage. In this case, the plant is chopped at the root.
How to grow broccoli to keep it from blooming
Plant the culture in such a way that at the moment of head formation the air temperature does not rise above + 18 ° C. Late-ripening varieties are sown so that the ovaries appear after September 20. For early maturing varieties, this period in central Russia is no later than the end of May.
In dry and hot weather, the plant is watered so that the water gets to the full depth of the roots.To ensure the necessary air humidity, containers with water are placed between the beds or evening sprinkling is carried out.
Shading can be applied from the bright sun. However, ovaries are not formed in the shade. To retain moisture, the aisles are mulched. The plant is protected from temporary low temperatures with a film or non-woven covering material.
During the season, plants are fed 2-4 times:
- Poor growth, leaves turn yellow and dry - there is not enough nitrogen.
- Leaves at the edges dry and change color to bronze or purple - potassium deficiency.
Mineral dressings alternate with organic ones.
Is it possible to eat such cabbage
Blooming broccoli loses its presentation and is not suitable for sale. Nevertheless, even in this form, cabbage does not accumulate poisons and harmful substances.
Formed broccoli heads can be eaten. The palatability decreases, but the nutritional value remains almost unchanged.
It is difficult to cook fully blooming heads and flowering bouquet, as the stems become rough, the flowers are bitter, there is no pulp. It is better to use such green mass for livestock feed.
Benefit and harm
Broccoli itself is rich in potassium, magnesium and sodium. In terms of vitamin C content, the plant has overtaken lemon. Cabbage is classified as a low-calorie food and is included in many diets.
It has been noticed that eating broccoli:
- Normalizes the condition of the kidneys, liver and gallbladder.
- Strengthens the blood vessels and the nervous system.
- Normalizes metabolism.
- Prevents atherosclerosis and slows down the aging of the body.
- Reduces the risk of cancer.
With individual intolerance, people with increased stomach acidity, ulcers, gastritis, acute pancreatitis, broccoli should be excluded from the diet.
It is interesting:
Planting and caring for broccoli outdoors
How to cook
First courses are prepared from broccoli, most often - gourmet mashed soups. Steamed or boiled cabbage is good. Add it to salads, omelets, casseroles. They are used as an addition to the fillings of pies, dumplings, dumplings, lasanias, pizzas and ravioli.
For your information. Small lateral flowering heads are best frozen for future use. In winter, they can be used to make sauces, casseroles and thick pureed soups.
In European countries, broccoli flower soups are prepared in restaurants and at home. But this dish cannot be called ubiquitous.
How to store
Broccoli is cut, leaving a petiole up to 10 cm in length. Immediately after harvesting, fresh cabbage in the air is stored for up to 6 hours.
In the refrigerator, broccoli without flowering kept within 2 weeks. The head of cabbage is not washed, but placed in a paper bag, wrapped in a damp towel and placed on the bottom of the vegetable tray.
A vegetable placed by a cut of the stem in a vessel with water is stored for 2-3 days. However, once flowering has begun, it will tend to increase flowers.
One of the safest ways to store broccoli is by freezing it. At the same time, the vegetable does not go into bloom and retains all the beneficial properties.
Important! When storing broccoli, bananas or apples should not be placed next to it.
Conclusion
Broccoli is not as delicate in agricultural technology as, for example, cauliflower. By choosing the right time for planting, providing it with good watering, feeding, protecting it from the sun, you can get a big harvest. The main thing is not to delay harvesting and ensure the cabbage is stored correctly.