broccoli way too early heading

[tjg911]

i hate packman and will never ever grow it again. worst performing broccoli i ever grew.

tom

[roadrunner]

Originally Posted by tjg911

i hate packman and will never ever grow it again. worst performing broccoli i ever grew.

tom

I agree it has always been hit or miss. One year great next horrible.

I have had more problems with heat growing brocolli or cauliflower and always do better growing it here for a fall crop. I have had some good results with a brocolli seed called "Green Magic" which is very heat tolerant and heads form well right into mid summer.

[tjg911]

I have had more problems with heat growing brocolli or cauliflower and always do better growing it here for a fall crop.

i really don't have any trouble growing broccoli in the heat of july and august. the trick is watering. i plant out in mid may so by july the plants are large. i mulch the base with shredded leaves and create a well to hold water. when it's consistently in the upper 80's to mid 90's i water the plants every other day maybe every third day at the longest. each plant gets 1 gallon of water. they produce side shoots and grow very large and seem to not be effected by the heat. i've had times where it was in the upper 90's and low 100's and the broccoli still performed fine. i've done this with a few different varieties (green comet, atlantic, de ciccio and my best performing with large side shoots calabrese green sprouting).

if you have just a few plants then this is easy to do. i highly recommend calabrese green sprouting. it's easy to find and op. it is noted for large side shoots often 2" even 3" in diameter.

tom