How I grew broccoli in the fall of 2015.

How I grew Broccoli in the fall on 2015

It all starts with a seed!  I planted a lot of broccoli this year.  I wanted to insure I had a great bunch to choose from to plant.  I knew I was going to be using a whole 8x4 raised garden bed.  I took the above picture July 20th, 2015

I start my seeds indoors under T5 lights, I have 2 set ups, 1 is a 6 bulb that runs super hot and the other is a 4 bulb which is just perfect for starting most seeds.  For soil this time I went outside and filled up the containers with soil from the boxes, nothing fancy. 

I had some good results but not every pod grew a plant.

After a while I transplanted them into bigger containers so they could grow a good hearty root system that would be strong through a transplant to the garden.

I left them to grow

I grew 18 plants total as you can see on the right.  On the left are the brussel sprouts that I also grew from seed.

While I wait for the weather to cool off and the plants to grow a bit more I had to get the garden prepped for the new crop.  Which meant I had to pull the remaining plants from the summer crop and amended the soil again before I could plant in it.  My son helps with all aspects of the gardening that happens here.  And YES he's doesn't have pants on, it was September in North Texas, it's HOT!  

Here is a picture of the plants getting a lot bigger!

It's time to bring them outside to "Harden Off" this is the process where they go from a 75 degree temp all day all night to getting used to being outside and having fluctuating temperatures.  Broccoli are a cool season plants and North Texas is often hot until late September, so it's touch and go with when to plant them in the ground.  

And on September 24th they went into the ground

Here they are just a few days later, getting used to the new home.

9/28/15

10/2/15

So I picked a plant to watch and see a small leaf coming from the center.

10/4/15

The leaf is getting bigger

10/6/15

Wow, it's been 2 days?  WHAT? 

10/8/15

and in 2 MORE days! OK WAIT A SECOND!

10/10/15

Im having to back up now to take the picture

10/14

Insanity that the plant grew this much so quickly!  I blame it all on the minerals I used, Bloomin Minerals from Youngevity.

10/20/15

Here is a wideshot, you can see the 11 plants that were just small a few weeks prior are now really getting quiet large.

10/25/15

First flower!  I got so excited to see the first broccoli, after 3 long months!

10/27/15

More florets and they are getting larger by the day!

10/27

Here is Levi my son playing in the brussels sprouts and broccoli

10/27

Look how big they are now!

10/29/15

More flowers!

11/2

11/4

Grow broccoli grow! 

11/6

11/10

11/12

11/16/15

AND HARVEST!

11/16

Steamed it up with lots of seasoning!

11/20

Got my 2nd head of broccoli harvested

11/20

Isn't it beautiful!

11/20

I prefer to steam it!  I seasoned it again and served it with steak and a Japanese Sweet Potato

So now it's time to put up the greenhouse to protect it from the first freeze which is 11/22/15

11/22

11/22

Everything outside the tent died, everything inside stayed alive.  

I did run a heater to it and had it running all night long.  It got down to 26 outside and stayed at 32 in the greenhouse.

11/24

11/28

11/28

12/7

12/8

 We've enjoyed the broccoli this season so very much, but all good things must come to an end, and on December 21st, 2012, I cut the last broccoli off the plant and took it inside. 

We will be eating it for dinner this evening!