Grow Broccoli! Container Growing Guide for Broccoli | Gardening in Trinidad and Tobago

Broccoli is probably the most expensive crop on anybody's market list. Besides being expensive, it is super healthy for you; amazing for your brain, blood, and your entire body.

To grow your own organic broccoli at home in a container, you will need a container, such as concrete buckets which are a perfect size, durable, and cheap. Ensure that you have proper drainage in your container by drilling a minimum of five half-inch drainage holes, or you can make them with a hot knife or piece of iron.

You should water your broccoli plants thoroughly every day, particularly in the morning, so the leaves and soil moisture can dry out during the day. This prevents creating a moist environment which is attractive to pests like slugs and caterpillars. A deep watering ensures the roots are well hydrated, which helps in avoiding stress and bolting in plants.

In temperate countries, broccoli can be given full sunlight. However, in hotter climates like Trinidad, limit their sunlight exposure to no more than six to seven hours to prevent stress from excessive heat, which can cause the leaves to droop and the soil to dry out quickly.

Keep your broccoli plant comfortable by providing it with the right amount of water and sunlight and avoiding excessive heat, which can stress the plant and trigger bolting. Bolting is a process where the plant feels like it can't survive in its environment anymore, so it goes to seed. This is generally irreversible, so it's crucial to create conditions that prevent bolting.

You don't need to overthink fertilization for organic gardens. You can apply a top dressing of well-cured animal manure, like cow manure, on the soil surface and water it in. This provides overall nutrition and encourages beneficial soil microorganisms, which in turn support the plant's growth.

The maturation process for a broccoli head can take between 90 to 110 days. It requires patience as you wait to see the head form. However, once you notice the broccoli head starting to develop, the remaining growth period will reward you with fresh produce.