Why did broccoli have flowers and what to do to avoid them?

Broccoli is a tasty and healthy vegetable that is rightfully considered a real treasure of vitamins. However, summer residents are in no hurry to plant this culture on their plots, and the reason for this is its capriciousness. Often, this cabbage goes into bloom, thereby nullifying all efforts to care for it. What to do to avoid this - this will be discussed in the article.

Broccoli is one of the oldest varieties of cabbage... Its name is translated from Italian as "flowering sprout of cabbage". According to some reports, it was obtained as a result of hybridization at the turn of the 6th-5th centuries BC. NS. on the Mediterranean coast. For many centuries, no one knew about this culture outside the borders of Italy.

The stem of broccoli grows up to 60-80 cm tall. At the top, a large number of peduncles are formed, which end in groups of dark green dense buds of small size. These buds are collected in one head 10-15 cm in size - it is it that is used for eating.

The rules of agricultural technology prescribe to cut the crop before the yellow small flowers bloom.... At this stage, the heads of cabbage are still closed, and the maximum number of vitamins and useful microelements is concentrated in them.

Of course, overripe broccoli will not harm the human body, but at this moment it no longer represents any nutritional value. A similar product is used to feed livestock. In this case, only leaves and petioles from inflorescences can be used for food.

To prevent early flowering, conditions that are comfortable for this culture must be observed. She feels best at a temperature of 15-24 degrees and humidity over 60%... The growth and development of heads is significantly influenced by the weather factor. For the cultivation of this culture, neither heat with drought nor an overly rainy summer is suitable. In unfavorable conditions, broccoli begins to bloom prematurely.

This cabbage variety is highly sensitive to irrigation and fertilization. If she does not have enough water or fertilizing, then the formation of the head is suspended, and the plant goes into bloom. At the same time, an excess of fertilizers, especially those containing nitrogen, can also cause premature flowering at the stage of head formation.

Broccoli blooms vigorously at high ambient temperatures... As soon as the thermometer rises above +25 degrees, the growth of the heads slows down. The plant instantly produces flower stalks and is abundantly covered with small yellow flowers. That is why the culture is not suitable for the central zone of Russia, where in summer there is arid, sultry weather.

Premature flowering can be affected by a lack of sunlight, as well as the structure of the soil. On heavy and acidified substrates, the heads of cabbage will turn out to be underdeveloped, with low taste characteristics. And while summer residents are waiting for a large and beautiful head, it will simply bloom.

The most common cause of flowering is late harvest. When the head is fully formed, you need to cut it off without waiting for the flowers to appear.

The main sign that allows you to establish that broccoli is unfit for consumption is its gradual change. In a healthy state, this cabbage produces strong, compressed buds with a rich dark green hue. There are no dried fragments, signs of decay and any stains on them. That is why it is very important to monitor the condition of the head of cabbage, by its appearance you can determine the optimal period for picking cabbage.

Shortly before flowering, broccoli sprouts turn yellow. At first, they are covered with yellowish brown irregular spots. If at this moment the heads are not cut off, then in a few days the entire head of cabbage will be covered with yellow flowers.

When cultivating broccoli, it is very important to accurately observe the norms of planting, irrigation, fertilization and compliance with the timing of harvesting.... Even the slightest deviation from the rules of agricultural technology will lead to the leaving of the plant in color and the complete disappointment of the gardener. However, this plant is undemanding and it is not at all difficult to care for it.

You can plant broccoli using seedlings or seeds. At the same time, it is important to determine the planting period - based on the varietal characteristics, it is necessary to calculate the time for sowing seeds in such a way that at the stage of formation of heads of cabbage the average daily temperature is kept at around +18 degrees. Late-ripening varieties are planted so that the formation of heads falls on the last decade of September. It is advisable to harvest early ripening crops by the end of May, since it is possible to get a rich harvest of this crop in the hot summer months only in Siberian regions.

Particular attention must be paid to the nutrition of growing broccoli - it must be balanced and strictly dosed. In the early stages of the growing season, the plant needs organic or nitrogen-containing compounds, they are laid at the planting stage. As development progresses, the need for nitrogen decreases, with potassium, phosphorus, as well as magnesium, boron and molybdenum coming to the fore. The use of humate with microelements gives a good effect.

Usually, a three-stage feeding is carried out:

• the first - 2 weeks after planting seedlings on an open bed;
• the second - after another 14-20 days;
• the third - at the stage of formation of heads of cabbage.

At the same time, it is not worth turning a bed of cabbage into a swamp - this will cause rotting of the roots. As a result, the above-ground parts will receive less nutrients and water and die. The most effective system will be drip irrigation, which will provide an optimal level of humidity.

To retain moisture in the ground, you can use and mulching... The best effect is given by compost and rotted humus. They not only prevent moisture evaporation, but also act as a top dressing. Keep in mind that if broccoli grows in the shade, then it will not form heads. Nevertheless, in hot weather, when the sun shines with scorching rays, it is advisable to shade it a little. This technique will avoid early flowering of the plant.

Formed inflorescences are cut together with cuttings 7-10 cm long... After such pruning, new inflorescences will appear on the side shoots, they will not turn into color so quickly, but will give compact heads of cabbage - they can be used for freezing for the winter.

And in conclusion, there is one more important point. Even if you have been able to grow nutritious and tasty vegetables without premature flowering, it is important to store them properly. Until recently, a healthy head may become covered with yellow flowers in a few days, and the product will lose its taste.

To prevent this from happening, you need to store the head of cabbage in the same way as fresh herbs. For short-term storage, the stem in the cut zone is immersed in a container with water so that the plant is saturated with moisture. However, be careful - if the broccoli is "drunk", then it will begin to bloom. After that, the head of cabbage is transferred to the vegetable compartment in the refrigerator. It is advisable to cover the bottom of the container with a wrung out moistened napkin, always clean, a little larger than a cabbage head. The head of cabbage is placed in a plastic bag, but not tied and left on a moistened napkin. In this form, cabbage will retain its taste and nutritional properties for 10-14 days.

Broccoli is delicious and nutritious. In a normal state, flowers should not open on it. If the culture turns into bloom, it means that the crop will be completely ruined, it is impossible to save such a product. We hope that our recommendations will help you prevent premature flowering and help you grow a good harvest of this exotic cabbage.