Broccoli. Growing healthy cabbage in the garden

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Beneficial features

Broccoli is very nutritious. In terms of vitamins C, E and A, it surpasses even cauliflower. It is also a source of fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and is high in minerals. When fully ripe, broccoli contains sulforaphane, which inhibits cancer growth. The calcium contained in broccoli has an anti-sclerotic effect and has a positive effect on duodenal ulcers. And the high fiber content helps improve digestion.
Most of you are probably familiar with this unique vegetable. However, ten years ago, a good harvest of broccoli was considered almost unique. Now it is available on the market all year round, domestic or foreign. Broccoli is a very juicy and tasty vegetable that can be consumed not only for its unfinished flower roses, but also for its fleshy flower stems. The leaves of this cabbage are very dull, from green to dark green in color and grow to a height of 40-80cm.
The use of broccoli in the kitchen has a myriad of options. It can be cooked (boiled or fried, mashed or smoothie), eaten raw, blanched, and frozen or dried. Such cabbage can easily be presented as a festive dish, as well as a regular side dish. If you want to keep it fresh in home storage, then keep it as low as possible, about 0 C. When stored for a long time, broccoli dries out and turns yellow.

Broccoli smoothies are a great find for those looking to lose weight.

Growing broccoli

She is not demanding and not picky about growing. Early crops are harvested at the end of May. Crop from April sowing can be harvested in summer. For the fall harvest, do not sow before mid-June. Broccoli likes watering regularly. If it dries up, then the usual inflorescences are not formed, and this vegetable becomes unsuitable for further cultivation.
If you choose to grow broccoli in the garden, then it will give you a continuous harvest from June to November. It should be collected at a time when compact inflorescences are formed on it without bud development. It is recommended to harvest with shorter inflorescences - 10-12 cm. The harvested fresh vegetables are very juicy. They should be stored in rooms with a lower temperature and without sunlight. Cabbage quickly withers at room temperature, turns yellow and deteriorates. In the case of a larger harvest, especially in the autumn season, it is advisable to separate the large inflorescences, blanch and then freeze them.

Grown broccoli should not be cut too close to the ground, much less plucked up by the roots. — Grown fruits should not be cut too close to the ground, much less plucked up by the roots.

Environmental requirements for cabbage

The environmental requirements are not specific. They get heavier with enough water. Almost any soil is suitable for growing. A sandy one with a good supply of humus is perfect. It can withstand colder temperatures both during planting and harvest. Since the root penetrates deep into the soil, it can be watered at short intervals. At lower temperatures and higher humidity, broccoli produces superior quality inflorescences. In our conditions, the best harvest is obtained in autumn - sowing in June, while summer varieties are the least favorable. There is a risk of flowering in summer and pests are more aggressive during this period. Broccoli is a very healthy vegetable in your garden with many uses in your kitchen.