Transplant Broccoli Seedlings:
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 8:54 am
Whether you planted the broccoli seedlings yourself or purchased ready-made ones from a nursery, transplant the broccoli seedlings into the garden when they are about 4-6 weeks old and have 4-5 healthy leaves.
First, harden off the seedlings, that is, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over the course of a week (expose them to a little sun and outside air every day).
Plant the seedlings 12–20 cm apart in the row, slightly deeper than where they were in the pots (up to the first true leaves).
Space rows about 2-3 feet apart. Closer spacing (about 1 foot) will produce smaller central heads but more lateral shoots, while wider spacing (closer to 1.5 feet) will produce larger heads.
After firming the soil around each plant, water well at planting time to settle the soil around the roots.
4. Direct sowing broccoli outdoors:
If you prefer to sow broccoli seeds directly into the garden phone number library (often done for fall plantings), plant the seeds about 1 cm deep in well-prepared soil in mid-summer.
Space the seeds 2-3 cm apart, then thin the seedlings to 12-18 cm apart when they are a few centimetres tall.
Keep the soil consistently moist during germination: This can be tricky in hot summers, so shade the area slightly or water often. Using a light mulch can help keep the soil cool and moist for the seeds in summer.
Young broccoli seedlings growing in plug trays, ready for transplanting. Starting your seeds indoors allows you to grow strong seedlings before moving them outdoors.
5. Protection for young broccoli plants:
Broccoli seedlings appreciate a little protection in the first few weeks. In spring, if the nights are still cold, you can use a row cover or cloche to protect the plants from frost or cold winds.
In summer, a light cover or insect netting can protect seedlings from pests such as cabbage loopers and cabbage loopers without trapping too much heat.
Always secure row covers well so that the wind does not move them and damage the plants underneath. Once the plants are larger and the weather stabilizes, the covers can be removed to allow pollinators access to any companion plants, etc.
First, harden off the seedlings, that is, gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over the course of a week (expose them to a little sun and outside air every day).
Plant the seedlings 12–20 cm apart in the row, slightly deeper than where they were in the pots (up to the first true leaves).
Space rows about 2-3 feet apart. Closer spacing (about 1 foot) will produce smaller central heads but more lateral shoots, while wider spacing (closer to 1.5 feet) will produce larger heads.
After firming the soil around each plant, water well at planting time to settle the soil around the roots.
4. Direct sowing broccoli outdoors:
If you prefer to sow broccoli seeds directly into the garden phone number library (often done for fall plantings), plant the seeds about 1 cm deep in well-prepared soil in mid-summer.
Space the seeds 2-3 cm apart, then thin the seedlings to 12-18 cm apart when they are a few centimetres tall.
Keep the soil consistently moist during germination: This can be tricky in hot summers, so shade the area slightly or water often. Using a light mulch can help keep the soil cool and moist for the seeds in summer.
Young broccoli seedlings growing in plug trays, ready for transplanting. Starting your seeds indoors allows you to grow strong seedlings before moving them outdoors.
5. Protection for young broccoli plants:
Broccoli seedlings appreciate a little protection in the first few weeks. In spring, if the nights are still cold, you can use a row cover or cloche to protect the plants from frost or cold winds.
In summer, a light cover or insect netting can protect seedlings from pests such as cabbage loopers and cabbage loopers without trapping too much heat.
Always secure row covers well so that the wind does not move them and damage the plants underneath. Once the plants are larger and the weather stabilizes, the covers can be removed to allow pollinators access to any companion plants, etc.