Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[yarrow@sfo.com]

Title: Re: [Livingontheland] What temp will broccolli grow best.

At 12:02 AM -0700 5/12/07, john calhoun wrote:

To many times I start a vegatable that has a harsh growth, I recently bought some plants and have been erecting a greenhouse to be simi open air until fall. If you could send me some helpfull hints I will respond with results, Sincerly John Calhoun.

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Where are you? Broccoli likes cool temperatures -- around here we can start it in very early spring or (in a cool spot) in late summer. If it's too hot, it tends to bolt. If it's not big enough when it gets cold in the fall, it won't grow until spring. For a summer crop, since I have limited space, I plant it in the shadier spots in my garden (but it still gets at least 5 hours of sun). With weather going wacky the past few years, it works out best to hedge bets and do a few plantings. For instance, this year I planted tomatoes (with protection) on Feb. 19, and they are doing well. I also planted in March and April (and one more yesterday). Last year it rained all of March and April, and it was so cold that nothing much grew.

Most vegetables like a pH close to neutral.

Best advice on when to plant what is from a regional garden book or maybe ag extension website that is in your USDA zone.