Broccoli is a nutritious winter vegetable and very well suited to grow in hydroponics. It can be started from seeds or plants.
Media bed method is recommended because Broccoli grows into a large and heavy plant by harvest. Growing broccoli is moderately difficult because it is high nutrient demanding plant and also susceptible to warm temperature.
Growing Conditions: -
Broccoli grows best when the daytime temperature is at 14-17 °C. For head formation, winter varieties require a temperature of 10-15 °C. Hot temperatures cause premature bolting.
Growing Instructions: -
Transplant the seedlings into media beds once it has 4-5 true leaves. And seedlings should be positioned 450 cm apart as closer spacing will produce smaller central heads. Broccoli, like cabbage, is susceptible to cabbage worms and other persistent pests.
Pests/Diseases: -
- Aphids: Curling leaves may mean that the plant's sap is being sucked by insects. Apply soapy water to all sides of leaves whenever you see aphids.
- Downy mildew: Yellow patches on leaves are usually caused by moist weather. Keep leaves as dry as possible with good air circulation. Buy resistant varieties.
- Cabbage loopers: Small holes on the leaves between the veins might be because of green caterpillars. Look at the undersides of the leaves. Hand pick if the problem is small or control with Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural, bacterial pesticide.
- Cabbageworms and other worm pests: Treat same as loopers.
- Cabbage Root Maggots
- Whiteflies
- Nitrogen deficiency: If the bottom leaves turn yellow and the problem continues toward the top of the plant, the plants need a high nitrogen (but low phosphorus) fertilizer or blood meal. Blood meal is a quick nitrogen fix for yellowing leaves.
- Clubroot: Quickly wilting plants may be due to this fungus. The entire plant, including all roots and root tendrils, must be gently dug up and removed. If the roots are gnarled and misshapen, then clubroot is the problem. Act quickly to remove the plants so that the fungus doesn't continue to live.
Harvesting: -
- In terms of timing: Harvest broccoli when the buds of the head are firm and tight before the heads flower. If you do see yellow petals, harvest immediately.
- For best taste, harvest in the morning.
- Cut heads from the plant, taking at least 6 inches of stem.
- Cut the stalk of the main head at a slant, about 5 to 8 inches below the head.
- Most varieties have side-shoots that will continue to develop after the main head is harvested. You can harvest from one plant for many weeks, in some cases, from winter to beginning of summer, if your summer isn’t too hot.
- Store broccoli in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you wash before storing, make sure to dry it thoroughly.
- Broccoli can be blanched and frozen for up to one year.
Parameters for good yields: -
PH: 6-7
PPM: 1960-2450
EC: 2.8-3.5
Plant Spacing: 40-70 cm (3-5 plants/sqm)
Germination time and temperature: 4-6 days with a temperature of 25°C
Growth time: 60-100 days from transplant
Average daily temperature: 13-18°C
Light exposure: full sun; can tolerate partial shade but will mature slowly.
Recommended method: Media bed
Great information. I've found out that my kids will eat our hydroponic broccoli with less trouble than broccoli we've bought from the grocery store. Needless to say, I'm growing more hydroponic broccoli lol.