If you started your broccoli seeds indoors this year or bought seedlings from your local garden center, use these tips on how to transplant broccoli seedlings in your garden.
If you would like to grow a plant that will provide your family with lots of nutrients broccoli is definitely a good choice. It grows well in areas that have Sun but also some shade part of the day as well as cooler temperatures. Starting your seedlings indoors will help you get ahead when it is time to plant your broccoli. Broccoli isn’t necessarily a good vegetable for super beginning gardeners but it’s not super hard to grow either. Transplanting can just require some extra care. Here are some tips on how to transplant your broccoli seedlings outdoors.
How to Transplant Broccoli Seedlings
Just because broccoli grows well in cooler temperatures does not mean it doesn’t require any extra care when transplanting. If you started your seedlings indoors, you will need to do a hardening off before transplanting completely outside. Here are the steps for hardening off your broccoli seedling starts.
How to Harden Off Broccoli Seedlings
Hardening off is a process that allows your broccoli seedlings to get used to the temperatures outside. It is a very simple process and just requires a couple of weeks’ time so make sure you plan for it. To harden your plants off, simply place them outdoors during the day and bring them in at night for about 2 weeks. To time this, you will want to do this about two weeks or so before the last frost.
Once your broccoli seedling starts are hardened off and ready for the temperatures outside, they are ready to be transplanted into the ground.
How to Transplant Broccoli into the Ground
Before picking a spot to transplant your broccoli seedlings, keep in mind what was planted there before. If something from a similar family grew there you might want to consider a different area. This includes plants like cauliflower. The reason being, your soil needs to recover its nutrients. You will want to give it about three growing Seasons before you replant in the area.
Broccoli needs a lot of area to spread out. Plants can grow up to three feet tall! So, make sure that you give them about 18 to 24 inches in space. Dig a hole that is as deep as the roots. Gently remove each seedling from its tray and plant right up to those very first few leaves. Don’t pat the soil around it too hard. Water until very moist, but not overly saturated. Broccoli will take approximately 55 to 60 days to grow to maturation from seedlings.
[…] your roots and about 18 to 24 inches apart. Water until the soil is moist. Here are more detailed instructions on how to transplant broccoli seedlings […]