Broccoli Seeds 6g

Broccoli (calabrese), Brassica oleracea var. italica, is a member of the cabbage family grown for its crown of tightly packed, deep-green buds and its crisp, edible stalk. Cut while the buds are still closed, it carries a fresh, gently nutty flavour that suits steaming, roasting, and quick stir-fries. After the central head is taken, the plant pushes out tender side shoots for a second harvest. As a cool-season crop, it thrives in Egypt's mild winter and rewards a little patience with a generous, kitchen-ready head.

Planting

Sow seed about 2 cm deep in full sun (it tolerates very light shade). Germination takes roughly 10-21 days, with around 25 C being ideal and a workable range of about 10-29 C. Raise transplants and set them out once they show four to five true leaves, at about four to six weeks old, spacing plants roughly 60-80 cm apart with similar gaps between rows. Closer spacing gives smaller main heads. Thin to one strong seedling per station.

Fertilizing

At transplanting, give a starter or half-strength feed to settle the young plants. Once they are established, around 10-20 cm tall, side-dress with nitrogen to drive leafy growth. A second feed at midseason supports steady head development.

Care

Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, supplying about 2.5-5 cm of water per week and more on sandy ground. Water stress during heading lowers quality. Watch for cabbage caterpillars, flea beetles, cabbage root fly, aphids, whitefly, and slugs, and rotate away from brassicas to limit clubroot and black rot. Harvest when the central head is full but still tight and firm, around 7-10 cm across, before any yellow flowers open. In Egypt's warmth, time it so heads form below about 24 C to avoid bolting.