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How to Grow Baby Broccoli
How to Grow Baby Broccoli. Baby broccoli, often referred to as broccolini, is similar in appearance to a young broccoli plant that has long shoots. Featuring an asparagus-like flavor, this vegetable was developed by crossing Chinese kale and broccoli. It contains high levels of bitamins A and C, iron, fiber and potassium. By growing baby broccoli...
Baby broccoli, often referred to as broccolini, is similar in appearance to a young broccoli plant that has long shoots. Featuring an asparagus-like flavor, this vegetable was developed by crossing Chinese kale and broccoli. It contains high levels of bitamins A and C, iron, fiber and potassium. By growing baby broccoli at home, gardeners can maintain a regular supply of this uncommon vegetable. Although growing baby broccoli in the garden is similar to growing regular broccoli, it requires more personal attention in order for the plant to produce sweet, long and tender shoots.
Things You'll Need
4-inch peat containers
Starter mix
Baby broccoli seeds
Plastic wrap
Grow lights
Begin sowing the baby broccoli seeds two or four weeks before the last frost. Baby broccoli is a member of the crucifer family. Members of this family thrive in cooler weather conditions and may perform slow or die altogether if subjected to the hot weather of midsummer.
Fill 4-inch peat containers with seed starter mix. Pour water into the peat containers until the starter mix is damp. Create a hole 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep in each peat container with your little finger.
Drop one baby broccoli seed into each hole and cover with surrounding starter mix. Drape plastic wrap over all the peat containers to create a makeshift greenhouse.
Move the baby broccoli to a flat surface and place a grow light above the peat containers. Keep the grow light turned on for 12 to 14 hours every day.
Lift the plastic wrap and moisten the starter mix until damp two or three times weekly. Remove the covering when the baby broccoli seeds begin to grow through the starter mix.
Transplant the baby broccoli to the garden immediately following the last frost. Keep the baby broccoli in their peat containers to avoid distressing the roots. Plant the baby broccoli 12 inches apart.
Pinch the center bloom of the baby broccoli plants as it begins to grow. If allowed to grow, the center bloom will inhibit the edible side shoots from properly growing. Continue to pinch off the center bloom throughout the growing season since it will keep trying to grow back.
Tips & Warnings
Growers without grow lights can utilize the filtered light coming through light window drapes to germinate the baby broccoli seeds.
Sow an extra three or five broccoli seeds to make up for any seeds that don't germinate.
