Trimming, cutting, and freezing broccoli
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Cut them in floretes but what do I do with all the stems?
Yes, you can see Celeste includes the stems. And if you happen to eat all the florets, you could also ONLY freeze the stems. Boil in water in a pot. (Just enough water to cover stems.) Strain and rinse with cold water. Dry on a towel. Once dry, pack in ziplock bags to freeze.
My broccoli is taking up more room than I thought and the leaves are getting so big that they are starting to go over into the other vegetables I have planted. Will it hurt the broccoli if I cut some of the bigger leaves off on the bottom?
My plants are going to seed before they get a good head. Others are developing a bunch of small but not solid heads on the same stalk. What am I doing wrong? Live in Pacific Northwest in the coastal foothills. Weather has not been hot and I have been watering.
I'm having the same problem with my broccoli and this is the 2nd year in a row it has happened! After the first year, I thought perhaps it was too hot (last summer here in the PNW) so this year I planted in an area that is slow to sun but still gets 6-8 hrs or fairly sunny exposure.
Can someone please tell us whats going wrong? I adore broccoli and really don't care for the store bought veggies anymore...thanks!
Broccoli normally bolts due to sudden changes in temperature, but nutrient deficiencies can also cause the plant to bolt. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office, which should be able to do a soil test for you to see if your soil is missing any key nutrients.
Additionally, adding mulch around the plants will help to keep weeds at bay and keep the plants cooler. Check out our Broccoli Growing Guide for more advice!
Hello, I grew brocolli for the first time this year. I am in Southern California. Out of 5 plants, one died quickly and 4 have done well. I have been harvesting Spears for 3 weeks. Right now I have large green leafy plants with empty stalks.
If I am reading this correctly it's time for a nitrogen boost, say blood meal. What can I expect next and when do I remove the plants for either composting or disposal? One has gone to seed so I will harvest them for next year. I can get a second crop in this spring g hopefully. The taste was amazing.
Hi Beth,
We’re glad to hear about your success with growing broccoli! You are correct, and you can remove the plants anytime now (except the one that has gone to seed). There’s no reason to keep them in the ground if you want to remove them. They would be great additions to the compost pile. Thanks for writing!
How does one trim broccoli to encourage it to flourish in the first place? I had a few go to seed because I didn't catch them in time (made lovely "broccoli bonsai", and an abundance of seeds to try next year...). Now I have another few that are just showing the smallest floret at the very top, surrounded by broad green leaves. How much further do I let it go before trimming, to encourage more growth? For what it's worth, I'm up in the Pacific Northwest just outside of Seattle and we've had a record dry spell here.