Packman Broccoli

I live in mid-Missouri and have 4 Packman Broccoli plants in my garden. I planted them in early May and they seem to be growing very well. I've read where most broccoli plants are cool-weather plant. My question is whether these plants, now coming into the heat of the summer, will do well and produce broccoli heads? Any suggestions?

Reply to
brsher
Loading thread data ...

They should do alright. Watch for the green worms that like to get into them. I spray mine with a garden spray from Wal-Mart that is safe to use up to 24 hours before harvesting to get rid of the worms. When you cut the heads, soak them in salt water for 15 to 30 minutes and then shake them out. Go back every few days and keep cutting the smaller heads that they will keep forming. They taste so much better when you grow them yourself.

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
Dwayne

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

Sorry, but I dont have any of it left. I got it a couple of years ago and must have used it all. I think it is called vegetable or garden spray for insects. I used two kinds in the past 5 years. One that was ready to use and an aerosol. In the instructions ittells you that it is safe to use up to within 24 or 48 hours of harvesting.

Dwayne

Reply to
Dwayne

Since 99.9% of garden chemicals have not been, and never will be proven safe, it's best not to suggest their use, especially without having specific information on hand about what you're recommending.

Sorry, but I dont have any of it left. I got it a couple of years ago and must have used it all. I think it is called vegetable or garden spray for insects. I used two kinds in the past 5 years. One that was ready to use and an aerosol. In the instructions ittells you that it is safe to use up to within 24 or 48 hours of harvesting.

Dwayne

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
brsher

You should contact your cooperative extension service. The life cycle of many pests is specific to the region. Those worms could be gone tomorrow, the same day you run out and buy more chemicals. And, get yourself some bacillus thuringensis, a biological control that works well on many pests that attack the cabbage family. The Garden Safe product is not quite as safe as they want you to believe. Better than many chemicals, but still not "safe".

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

This year I noticed something going on in my garden that I have not seen before. Last year we started feeding birds through the winter. We had a large collection of robins, sparrow, black birds, etc. We continued to feed them until about a week ago. This year I see about 6 sparrows all over my cabbage every day, hunting for something to eat. I assume they are eating the worms and bugs I have had to spray before. I haven't sprayed anything this year.

Dwayne

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
Dwayne

I have grackles picking grubs out of my lawn. The grass looks perfect. My dimwit neighbor keeps asking what I do to it, because her lawn shexpert has dumped several bags of chemicals on hers and it looks lousy. I do nothing but mow it.

Dwayne

I try to find plants and plant them now through the first of July. Those will be ready in the fall. I usually have to start the seeds myself and plant them at the right time. I like to put in about 24 and blanch the heads after the salt soak, and freeze them. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, plant them in 2 week intervals and you can harvest until the first hard freeze.

Dwayne

Reply to
JoeSpareBedroom

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.