Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Harvest Broccoli Heads
How to Harvest Broccoli Heads. Fresh broccoli from the grocery store can be expensive and doesn't taste as good as freshly harvested homegrown broccoli. This vegetable is healthy to eat and is used in many recipes. Planting the broccoli is only part of the battle. You need to know when and how to harvest the broccoli. If you wait too long, the...
Fresh broccoli from the grocery store can be expensive and doesn't taste as good as freshly harvested homegrown broccoli. This vegetable is healthy to eat and is used in many recipes. Planting the broccoli is only part of the battle. You need to know when and how to harvest the broccoli. If you wait too long, the broccoli will bolt, meaning the heads have gone to seed. Harvest time varies, depending on the variety of broccoli you are growing.
Things You'll Need
Sharp knife
Inspect the broccoli heads. One way to tell the broccoli is ready for picking is if the head is firm and tight. Broccoli heads are made up of little edible flowers, and they should be tight against each other. Examine the outside florets of the broccoli head. If the individual buds are the size of the head on a match, they are ready to harvest. Measure the head. Most broccoli heads measure between 4 and 7 inches wide.
Examine the color of the florets. If they are dark green in color they are ready. If any florets have a touch of yellow, it means the head is about to bolt. These heads need to be harvested immediately.
Cut the broccoli head off the plant with a sharp knife. Do not cut right below the florets, but measure down 5 inches or more below the head. When cutting the head off the plant, cut it cleanly in one swift cut. Do not saw it off because this damages the plant and could cause disease to set in. Broccoli stems are cut long to encourage the side shoots to grow into good size florets.
