Broccoli bloomed and changed color: why, what to do and can it be consumed

Reasons for the absence of ovaries on broccoli

Often, it seems that all gardeners are doing all the right agricultural techniques, they planted the seedlings on time, but there are no ovaries on the cabbage. Broccoli does not set in any way, but en masse goes into color. The reasons can be both individual and complex. The main thing is to know how to quickly fix this this season, and how to protect cabbage for next year. And beautiful and tasty heads of cabbage will not keep you waiting.

Reasons for the lack of ovary:

1. Insufficient and infrequent watering of plantings.
2. Unsuitable temperature conditions (air temperature too high or low).
3. Nutrient deficiency in the soil and untimely fertilizing.
4. Too much nitrogen applied to the soil and leaves.
5. Error in selecting cabbage varieties for cultivation.

And also problems when cultivating broccoli arise due to:

1. Too dark area, lack of direct sunlight.
2. The acidity of the soil also affects. On acidic soils, you should not expect beautiful and tasty heads of cabbage.
3. Heavy soils that impede oxygen access to the roots are also not suitable.

Lack of moisture in the soil

Broccoli is a moisture-loving crop. Especially a lot of moisture is required at the time of formation of the leaf rosette and, of course, when the heads are set. And also at the time of ovary and ripening of the heads, it is recommended to bring the air humidity to 80-85%. Otherwise, the foliage will become smaller and the inflorescences themselves will become loose. The frequency of watering during the hot season should be at least every other day.

Moreover, the earthen ball in the root zone should get wet to a depth of 40 centimeters. Loamy soil is optimal for growing, but it is also possible to grow on sandy loam. You should also not forget about alternating root watering with sprinkling watering. Especially if the air humidity is low. But with high humidity, you need to watch out for the appearance of caterpillars, snails and slugs on the leaves. For them, cabbage is one of their favorite delicacies.

Unsuitable temperature

The ability of broccoli to set heads is greatly influenced by weather conditions. If the weather in summer is cold and humid, or, conversely, there is high heat and widespread drought, then you can’t hope for a good harvest. To successfully grow cabbage and reap a rich harvest, it is necessary to take into account the influence of the temperature factor.

1. Broccoli really does not like sudden temperature changes.
2. Dry air and intense heat also contribute to cabbage blooming.
3. In extreme heat, it is necessary to grow plants under significant shade. It is also necessary to shade young plants from the scorching sun.
4. Optimal temperature for growing: +16C, +18C degrees, and humidity not less than 60%.
5. At air temperatures above +25 C degrees, cabbage is likely to begin to bloom.

Nutrient deficiency

Fertile soils with a neutral acidity level or slightly alkaline are suitable for growing broccoli. The danger is a deficiency or, conversely, an excess of nutrients in the soil. An excess of nitrogen provokes rapid growth of the vegetative mass. As a result, the cabbage heads do not set, the plant “fattens”, the trunk increases in length, and large leaves grow rapidly.

And, on the contrary, on poor soils and in the absence of additional fertilizing, the heads will not set.

This plant consumes a lot of nitrogen and potassium from the soil. If the soil is not over-fertilized, in the fall the beds are prepared for spring planting of cabbage. Apply up to 10 kilograms of organic matter (rotted manure) and 50 grams of granular phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

It is necessary to ensure compliance with crop rotation, and do not grow cabbage after related plants from the cruciferous family. When choosing green manure, you need to take into account that mustard is not suitable in this case. It and cabbage belong to the same family, so there may be similar diseases. The best predecessors are legumes, potatoes or carrots.

Mistakes when choosing a variety

The harvest for the season directly depends on the correct choice of variety. Broccoli, on average, takes a month or a month and a half (30-55 days) from planting seedlings to harvesting. It is important not to delay planting the crop. The gardener chooses the timing himself, depending on the region where the site is located and how early the heat sets in in the region. For example, in the southern regions it is advisable to grow early ripening varieties. Then the risk of the crop being exposed to the peak summer heat will be reduced.

Particular attention should be paid to the quality of planting material. Weak, low-quality seedlings or poor, small seeds can cause low yields. It is strictly forbidden to collect seeds from diseased plants. Before sowing self-harvested seeds, they must be sifted (calibrated) and the largest ones must be planted.

What to do if it blooms

Let's take a closer look at what to do with cabbage that has bloomed and find out whether it can be eaten.

Is it necessary to fight color?

Broccoli loses color in any case - this is its natural property. If the plant has already bloomed, you should not cut it down. In many varieties, after cutting off the central head, new young large shoots are formed. But if it is clear that there will be no result, it is better to remove the vegetable from the garden and make room for other crops.

Proper care of cabbage

Broccoli is very demanding when it comes to fertilizing with organic and inorganic fertilizers. Particular attention should be paid to potassium and phosphorus fertilizing, since they directly affect the growth of cabbage. It is also influenced by minerals such as molybdenum, magnesium, boron.

The first fertilizing must be done after the seedlings take root. This is done with a solution of chicken manure (1:20) or mullein infusion (1:10). After 14 days, this procedure should be repeated. It is recommended to carry out the third feeding after the formation of the first young inflorescences.

To do this, you need to mix the following ingredients in 10 liters of clean water:

• superphosphate - 40 g;
• ammonium nitrate - 20 g;
• Potassium sulfate - 10 g.

When growing this vegetable, special attention should be paid to the watering regime.
The soil under the plant should be constantly moist. If the soil is too dry when tying the head, the cabbage will definitely go into color. Important! The main secret of growing is that heads of cabbage are formed only at a temperature of +16...+18°C. To do this, it is advisable to sow late varieties in such a way that the setting of a head of cabbage occurs during a period with low temperature conditions.

In hot summers, cabbage should be irrigated at the root, to a depth of 12–15 cm, 2 times a day. To increase yield in dry weather, plants are sprayed leaf by leaf.

Early varieties

Emperor F1 - 75 - 80 days pass from the growth of the first shoots to harvest.

Comanche - the heads are cut off 3 months after planting the seeds. The bushes tolerate low and high temperatures well.

Laser F1 - broccoli heads, dense and emerald green, are removed after 75 days.

Samme King is a variety that can easily withstand heat. They reap a high yield, regardless of planting time.

Tone - from the appearance of sprouts to the growth of heads, 75 - 90 days pass. The harvest ripens together. The head of cabbage is dark green, medium density, weight 0.15 - 0.25 kg, has an excellent taste. If the weather is too cool or hot, it may have a brownish-brown color.

Prevention

To avoid a situation where broccoli blooms early and grows leaves excessively, but the heads do not set, it is recommended to follow simple preventive measures. They consist in following the rules of its cultivation.

Throughout the growing season, it is recommended to water broccoli regularly, but at the same time avoiding stagnation of moisture in the soil. The best option for the crop is loam. But it is also possible to successfully set vegetable heads when grown in sandy loam soil. However, at the site preparation stage, you need to add humus at the rate of 10 kg per 1 sq. m. m.

Fertilizers must be applied in a timely manner, but in doses. In the case of broccoli, it is better to have too little nutritional content than too much.

This crop cannot be grown for successful head setting next to onions and watercress. The best neighbors for broccoli are cucumbers, peas, dill, beets, and carrots.

It is recommended to plant seedlings in a permanent place at a temperature of +18-20 °C, which guarantees their full development in the future. You need to cut off the knotted heads when they are dark green and tightly compressed. At the same time, you should not wait for their maximum size, which is indicated in the characteristics of the variety on the seed package.

It is better to harvest smaller fruits than to wait for maximum yield

Cauliflower, growing

The stem of the cauliflower seedling has become thin, even dried out a little from the bottom. How to save?

Such seedlings should be thrown away, as this is a sign of an incipient blackleg disease (the lower part of the stem is thin and black). Blackleg disease is caused by too thick crops and excess moisture in the soil. Thickened crops become very elongated, and the lower part of the stem begins to dry out. To avoid this, it is enough to at least cover such seedlings with soil if there is no time to plant them.

Why doesn't cauliflower set its head?

The reason may be a lack of nutrition and moisture during growth, planting overgrown seedlings, dry soil, especially at an early age, too hot weather or, conversely, a prolonged cold spell during growth. Cabbage should not be grown in partial shade or in an area exposed to sun only half the day.

Why does cauliflower produce a very small head?

This occurs in the case of insufficient nutrition and insufficient soil and air moisture, on poor soils, on dense, clayey, acidic soils, with clubroot disease, and with a lack of microelements, especially boron and molybdenum.

Why does the cauliflower head crumble?

Either the head has overgrown, or you added excess nitrogen to the soil, especially if there is a lack of potassium, or the seedlings grew with a lack of moisture.

The reasons for the appearance of a fuzzy, loose head: very elongated, overgrown seedlings, lack of moisture, prolonged cold spell, extreme heat (above 25 ° C).

Our cabbage has not yet set its head by the end of September. Can I leave it in the garden for growing or will it be destroyed by frost?

In fact, in the fall, cauliflower is more resistant to light frosts than at an early age, and can tolerate freezing down to -3...-4 °C without damage, but just in case it is better to cover it with lutrasil. So don’t rush to pull out plants with large leaves that have not yet set heads by the end of September.

Or do this. If the cabbage has grown a good leaf apparatus, but has not set a head by the end of September, it can be grown until frost in a greenhouse and even in the basement, in the dark. To do this, they dig it up with a lump of earth, place it in boxes close to each other and leave it in a greenhouse or basement. The cabbage will set or grow newly set heads to normal size due to the nutrients it has accumulated in the covering leaves.

Why doesn't it tie?

Broccoli does not set for several reasons. One of them can affect any part of the garden.

It is important to understand where the reason came from: due to planting or due to improper care of the plant

• Broccoli will not set its head unless pruned in a timely manner. The process occurs closer to the cold season. Usually in the month of September. In this case, you need to avoid cabbage flowering during the overgrowth period.
• Correct landing saves you from problems. As soon as five leaves appear on the cabbage, it can already be planted. The growing period at the time of planting should reach thirty-five days.
• As soon as the soil warms up, cabbage can be planted. This is either the month of May or the end of April. The soil should be mulched. Requires a large amount of land.
• Broccoli does not set heads if the planting area is not distributed correctly. Cabbage should be planted next to tomatoes, carrots, beets, and spinach. In this case there should be no problems.

Humidity

All varieties of broccoli love water and humidity. Based on this fact, an irrigation regime is selected for the crop. You need to take weather conditions into account. Check soil moisture. Cabbage loves liquid.

What to do if broccoli doesn't set? It is necessary to check whether the plant was watered systematically and in the proper amount.

We recommend that you read the article: Cabbage pests and their control

Temperature

This indicator is quite important for setting broccoli fruits. The air temperature should not be higher than eighteen degrees. The landing is planned depending on this indicator.

Hot weather has an adverse effect on cabbage. Seeds for planting are selected based on geography. Each variety has its own maximum growing temperature. In the southern parts, broccoli is planted in the fall and the fruits are harvested in the spring.

Top dressing

Broccoli loves when the soil is filled with fertilizers. The ovaries of this crop directly depend on its care. The following problems may arise: fertilizing was carried out too late; fertilizer of inadequate quality was purchased; fertilizing was done too often.

The above problems can cause cabbage to lack ovaries. When fertilizing the soil, you need to follow the standard rules. Feed the crop no more than three times during the entire growing period.

The interval between care must be taken into account.

1. The first time - two weeks after disembarkation.
2. The second time - 2 weeks after the first fertilization.
3. The third time - fourteen days after the second feeding.

After these procedures, the result will appear.

How to feed broccoli to make it grow? Gardeners advise using herbal teas and vermicompost.

Ripening too quickly

Before purchasing or planting seeds, you need to study the packaging

Pay attention to the variety and its ripening period. Seed manufacturers always include important information on their products

It cannot be ignored. Otherwise, problems may arise during cultivation.

Sometimes the plant does not set due to the carelessness of summer residents. A variety of late-ripening broccoli is planted at a time when the air temperature is acceptable for planting this cabbage. If the temperature drops at night or frost occurs, the crop will set more slowly, or it will not happen at all.

Broccoli is not a finicky vegetable to grow. She does not require careful care

It is important to monitor the vegetable and be careful about planting

Signs of flowering

When growing cabbage, it is necessary to constantly monitor the appearance of the head of cabbage, by the condition of which you can determine the time of harvest. When ripe, the head of cabbage has a dense shape with green buds.

As soon as the heads of cabbage change their color, the plant must be picked immediately. The cabbage heads should not be allowed to loosen, as they will subsequently begin to bloom. It is recommended to harvest cabbage before the inflorescences open, when it contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins.

To avoid flowering of broccoli, special attention should be paid to the weight of the head. You should not wait for the fruit to become large, but cut the plant when its weight is slightly less than the recommended weight on the package. Then the vegetable will not have time to outgrow and certainly will not bloom. On a personal plot it is necessary to plant varieties that are resistant to flowering, for example, Marathon F1, Calabrese.

Important! If a vegetable in your garden begins to turn yellow, this is a signal that your plant does not have enough nitrogen nutrition.

Before flowering begins, slight spots of a yellowish tint appear on the head of the cabbage. If your plant blooms with yellow flowers, then this is the first sign that the cabbage is overripe and it is too late to cut it. Farmers use the overripe harvest only for technical purposes, for example, as feed for livestock.

Harvesting, storage

It is necessary to have time to remove the heads of cabbage before the buds open and yellow flowers appear. Only the green head is suitable for eating. Typically, ripeness occurs on the 80th day after sowing. The main head of cabbage can weigh up to 400 g and be up to twenty centimeters in diameter. In just a few days, an excellent vegetable can turn into inedible.

Harvesting begins with trimming the main stem. Its length should be about fifteen centimeters. You shouldn't get rid of the bush right away. With proper care, the remaining shoots produce an excellent harvest. After some time, you can begin to cut off the side branches. All inflorescences are removed along with the shoots. They are also very juicy and nutritious.

Harvesting is carried out early in the morning, before the dew has dried. Or you can reschedule the event until very late in the evening. The presence of moisture allows the heads of cabbage to remain fresh longer and not wither. The stems are cut obliquely with a sharp knife.

Know! Experienced gardeners grow broccoli in the basement. This requires watering the plant abundantly the day before digging. It is better to choose plants with a developed rosette of leaves.

The shelf life of the vegetable varies depending on the variety. Early ones, with a short ripening period, are not characterized by keeping quality. They can keep in the refrigerator for about a week. Mid-season and late - will last three months in the refrigerator or cellar. The most reliable way to preserve crops is freezing. In this form, all useful substances and vitamins are preserved.

The first signs of cabbage going into color

Broccoli has dark green, dense heads consisting of small, closed buds. It’s not difficult to understand when the cabbage has gone into color. During the formation period, you need to monitor the general condition of the head of cabbage itself. Immediately before flowering, its shoots acquire a yellowish color. Initially, the head is covered with uneven, yellow-brown spots. And then the head of cabbage acquires this color.

If the cabbage is already covered in color, its tasting characteristics become minimal. And cutting it off makes no sense. The heads become simply unsuitable for food. But blooming broccoli does not cause any harm to the human body or animals. It can only be used as livestock feed.

Incorrect harvest mode

Its color grows quickly and covers the entire head of cabbage in a few days. Flowering vegetables lose their tender juicy core and become tough and tasteless. Broccoli is grown for its vitamins and micronutrients: if you leave a head of cabbage in the open ground, it will spoil and cook poorly - such a dish will not bring any benefit.

First signs of flowering

An overcooked vegetable gradually changes - this is the first sign by which one can judge that cabbage is not suitable for consumption. In its normal state, cabbage is compressed into dense dark green buds. There should be no stains, signs of rot or dry heads on the head.

Be sure to monitor the condition of the head of cabbage: the harvest time is determined by its appearance. Immediately before the flowering of the head of cabbage, which extends from the main stem, its shoots begin to turn yellow. First, uneven yellow-brown spots appear. Within a few days, the head of cabbage becomes covered with a characteristic color, which is difficult to get rid of.

If the cabbage is covered in color, it is too late to harvest. The harvest is cut and used for household needs (feeding livestock). Prudent housewives subject the cabbage heads to heat treatment, but it is no longer possible to obtain all the beneficial substances from cabbage. A product that has bloomed rarely causes negative reactions, but it is not recommended to eat it.

How to prevent broccoli from blooming early?

A gardener can influence broccoli yields even when the weather is not favorable. It is important to properly organize watering of plants immediately after transplanting seedlings into open ground. The crop should not be allowed to lack moisture.

When the thermometer rapidly creeps up, breaking the +25 degree mark, broccoli is shaded in the midday hours. In extreme heat, the need for moisture increases, so watering is increased more often. The beds are irrigated in the evening, then the water has time to penetrate to the roots and does not evaporate from the heat.

Attention! As soon as the gardener discovers the beginnings of the heads on the plants, it is recommended to cover them with the lower leaves, collecting them in a bunch.

Recommendations for gardeners

Beginning vegetable growers should listen to the advice of those who have already achieved success in growing broccoli. They recommend:

1. Observe the sowing dates, taking into account the period during which the ovaries appear. It is important that at this time the air temperature does not exceed +25 and does not fall below +16 degrees.
2. In extreme heat, watering should be done daily and the plants should be shaded.
3. If the weather is unfavorable, it is better to cut the inflorescences a little earlier than indicated on the seed package.
4. If the central head has bloomed, it is cut off along with a petiole 8–10 cm long to stimulate the formation of lateral inflorescences.

Attention! Broccoli is edible, even if it has bloomed. Its petioles contain many useful substances, but their taste does not change.

If there is no ovary on the broccoli, but the weather is favorable and watering is done in a timely manner, do not panic. Perhaps an error occurred when choosing a variety, and the time has not yet come for the formation of inflorescences. It is recommended to apply fertilizer to stimulate the formation of heads.

Brussels sprouts care

The long, straight stem of Brussels sprouts has rounded leaves that point upward. This is fine?

Absolutely normal. This is not a sign of phosphorus starvation, like, say, tomatoes or eggplants, but a growth feature of this cabbage.

When and how to properly harvest Brussels sprouts?

Numerous (about 70 pieces) large buds are formed in the axils of the leaves of Brussels sprouts. At the beginning of September, as soon as the first, lowest ones reach the size of a pea, the top of the plant must be cut off to stop the plant from growing upward. This technique promotes the rapid growth of heads of cabbage.

Sometimes the growth of heads of cabbage is delayed due to unsuitable weather conditions, and in September they are not yet there. Don't rush to pull plants out of the garden. They will still have time to form a harvest in October, since Brussels sprouts tolerate frost quite well even down to -5...-10 ° C and continue to develop until late autumn.

The heads of cabbage are gradually picked off as soon as they become dense. They are cut off near the stem itself, otherwise the heads of cabbage will crumble into separate leaves.

How to preserve Brussels sprouts for the winter?

Heads of cabbage cannot be preserved fresh for a long time, but they do not lose their beneficial properties and taste when frozen. For long-term storage of fresh Brussels sprouts, they are dug up with roots and buried in the basement, in a box with sand or soil. You can cut off the stems along with the heads and store them in a cool place.

Harvest storage

Of course, every gardener would like to preserve his harvest for a long time. This is why it is necessary to leave the base of the bush in the garden bed. After the main head of cabbage is cut off, new side shoots will appear on it. Thanks to this property, cabbage can be harvested from the garden several more times.

This cabbage keeps well in the freezer for 6 months. The inflorescences should be separated and placed in vacuum or other freezer bags. Do the same with the main head of cabbage. In the video below you can see more clearly how to properly freeze cabbage for the winter.

But not everyone knows how to freeze broccoli correctly. This is done as follows:

• wash the cabbage in cold water;
• then the heads of cabbage are cleared of leaves and woody parts of the stem;
• the head is divided into small inflorescences;
• prepare a saline solution (2 tablespoons of salt per 2 liters of water);
• The inflorescences are soaked in the prepared solution for half an hour. This is done to ensure that caterpillars and other insects are removed from the cabbage;
• after 30 minutes, rinse the broccoli in water again;
• Place a large container on the stove and pour more than half of the water into it. Turn on the heat and bring the water to a boil;
• after the water boils, the prepared inflorescences are thrown in and kept in boiling water for at least 3 minutes;
• Remove the cabbage from the pan using a colander and immerse it in ice water for 5 minutes. If the water is not cold enough, you can throw ice in it;
• Now the broccoli is taken out of the water and left in a colander to drain;
• further, the cabbage is packaged in special bags or containers. Remove the air from the bags and tie them well;
• Broccoli is completely ready to freeze.

But many gardeners want to store broccoli fresh. This method of storage is also practiced, but vegetables will not last as long as in the freezer. Typically, ripe cabbage can last no more than 5 days. If all storage rules are followed, this period will last up to a maximum of 15 days. This does not apply to damaged or diseased heads of cabbage. In this case, the timing of harvest plays an important role. Heads cut on time will be stored a little longer than overripe ones. The video above shows what mature cabbage should look like.

It is best to store fresh cabbage in the refrigerator. For this there must be appropriate conditions:

• air humidity should be about 90%;
• temperature regime is not less than 0 and not more than +10°C;
• There should not be any other vegetables or fruits in the broccoli box. Some of them have the ability to release ethylene, which is bad for the quality of broccoli. Because of this substance, cabbage begins to rot and quickly deteriorates.

To keep broccoli fresh, you must follow the instructions exactly:

1. It is necessary to inspect the heads of cabbage for insects and damage. In addition, the cabbage may have mold and dark spots. Because of this, the fruits quickly begin to deteriorate and rot.
2. There is no need to wash vegetables before putting them in the refrigerator. This is done immediately before using the cabbage.
3. You can put the head in a plastic bag, but under no circumstances should you close it. The fumes will remain inside the bag, which may cause the vegetable to become moldy.
4. The humidity in the refrigerator must be at least 90%. If it is not enough, you can use the following technique. Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of the vegetable drawer. Then you should put a bag of broccoli there. This method allows you to extend the shelf life of cabbage. Now the vegetable will be stored in your refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.

It is better not to keep broccoli in the refrigerator for a long time. The longer the vegetable sits, the worse the taste will be. It is recommended to cook cabbage within 4 days after harvesting. If you don’t have time to cook the vegetable, it is better to freeze the cabbage using the method described above.

How to choose the right site and prepare seeds

How to plant broccoli so that the heads start to form?

Plant broccoli in the area where mustard, carrots, beans, potatoes, phacelia, oats, onions, lupines, beans, peas, wheat, and cucumbers previously grew. You should not plant in the same bed where cabbage, tomatoes, beets, radishes, turnips, and radishes grew.

Dry seeds are poured into water at a temperature of +50 ° C for a quarter of an hour, then washed in water. Place on a damp cotton cloth and refrigerate for 24 hours. Then the seeds are dried and sown.

If the broccoli has bloomed...

Is it possible to eat it?

Yes, you can cut off the flowering heads of broccoli and eat it. Blooming broccoli does not accumulate harmful substances or poisons. The set of nutrients remains normal. But the taste suffers. The opened heads become coarser and acquire a bitter taste.

By the way, you need to cut off the head of broccoli along with part of the stem, not short. The petioles and stems also have a good taste and contain many vitamins.

It’s time to cut off the heads when their diameter reaches 10-25 cm, but the buds in the inflorescence do not open.

Heads cut early in the morning or late in the evening stay fresh longer.

PS: Before writing the article, we leafed through many books, magazines and newspapers for gardeners and gardeners, and watched several videos. We hope that we managed to really get as close to the truth as possible, and this information was as useful for you as it was for us