How to Grow Broccoli at Home in India

Learn everything about How to Grow Broccoli at Home in India and enjoy this nutritious vegetable in the most organic way, right in your garden!

Growing vegetables in your own garden is always rewarding. Here’s a complete guide on How to Grow Broccoli at Home in India!

Learn all about growing Tinda in India here

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When to Grow Broccoli in India?

Broccoli is a cool-season vegetable so it will be a great idea to plant it right before the winter season. You can start growing it in the months of October and November.

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How to Propagate Broccoli?

You can easily propagate broccoli from seeds.

• Buy good quality seeds from the local nursery or vendor.
• Before planting, amend the 2-4 inches of the topsoil of the garden bed by mixing aged cow-dung manure or compost.
• Sow seeds around ¼ to ½ inches deep in the garden bed.
• Place the seeds 12-20 inches apart from each other, as the plants can grow up to 3 feet tall.
• Ensure that you maintain a distance of 2-3 feet between the rows.
• You can also plant seeds in a seedling tray and transplant them to the garden bed once 4-5 true leaves appear in 25-30 days.
• The plant will be ready to harvest in 90-100 days.

Broccoli will be ready for harvest within 55 to 80 days if you grow from nursery-purchased transplants.

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Choosing a Container

While growing broccoli in pots, go for a 10-12 inches container. Grow one plant per pot. Do make sure that it has a drainage hole at the bottom.

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Growing Requirements of Broccoli

Sunlight

Choose a location where the plants receive 5-6 hours of full sunlight on a daily basis. Do make sure that they are not exposed to the harsh Indian afternoon sun for a long period of time.

Water

The key to maintaining a healthy plant is to ensure the soil never dries out completely. Also, make sure you are not overwatering the plant. The best way to follow is to let the topsoil go dry a bit before you water the plant again.

Soil

This plant does best in well-draining and fertile soil. Use sandy and loamy soil mixture with acidic to neutral pH. Add some compost or manure in the soil, prior to planting, to make it fertile for the best results.

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Taking Care of Broccoli

Fertilizer

Use a slow-release, all-purpose fertilizer during planting. Side dress the plant with aged manure once in 5-7 weeks. You can also use a liquid fertilizer, every two weeks.

Mulching

Apply a layer of organic mulch like compost, shredded leaves, or bark around the plant base to keep the soil temperature cool, prevent water loss, and keep weeds at bay.

Pests and Diseases

Be careful of cutworms, cabbage loopers, and cabbage worms. Use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution to take care of them. Also, make sure that there is enough air circulation around plants.

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Harvesting Broccoli

Broccoli gets ready in around 70-100 days to harvest. The head should be firm, sturdy, and must have grown at least 4-8 inches wide with a deep green color.

If it starts turning yellow, then harvest it immediately, as it is the sign of bolting. Make sure to snip off the head along with five to six inches of stem.

To learn more about harvesting broccoli, check out our article here