![]() It will all depend on the weather of course but on a hot day you will need to water twice a day, if it's it's dull every 2 days will be fine. You do need to be careful, however, not to let the compost plug completely dry out or it will form a crust on top and won't absorb the moisture the next time you water. This may sound odd but making the roots search for water helps to develop a better root system. You are actually far better to under rather than overwater your plants. It's important to keep yoru seedlings properly watered before you plant them out in the gartden. Nip the unlucky one with your finger nail or cut with a scissors. Don't pull the seedling out as you'll damage the roots of the one you want to keep. If 2 brocolli seedlings have germinated in any of your modules you need to remove the weaker one. If the plants are on a heat bench or in a propogator and they are looking spindly, turn the heat down and try to give them as much light as possible. This will reflect daylight onto the darker side of the plant. You can make a makeshift light box by placing a sheet of reflective tinfoil on the room side of the seedlng tray. ![]() If you are starting them off on a windowsill make sure they get as much daylight as possible. Seedlings become 'leggy' when they get too much heat and not enough light. ![]() When growing seedlings indoors be careful that they don't get leggy, i.e. They should be ready to plant out in about 4 weeks. Place your trays in your greenhouse, polytunnel, cold frame or windowsill to germinate. This is less likely to wash the seed around than the heavy spray from a watering can. A good tip is to use a plastic bottle with small holes punched in the cap. Cover the seeds with another layer of compost then scrape across the top of the tray with a stick to remove excess. If 2 seeds germinate you will have to remove the weaker seedling. With your fingers make small depressions in each cell about a fingernail or 1.5cm deep. Give the tray a sharp bang on your table to settle compost. When filling the tray rub the compost through your hands to break up any lumps. Fill the seed tray with compost and brush off any excess. Like most brassicas Calabrese is best sown in a modular seedling tray as the plants don't like root disturbance. For a continual crop of tasty heads sow a few plants in late March, early May and again in early June. ![]() Nitrogen requirements are high so an addition of farmyard manure the previous Autumn is ideal. The flavour of calabrese is milder and much preferred by many to sprouting broccoli and it is an easier crop to grow.Ī video companion piece to this How To Grow Calabrese article is available at the bottom of this page.Ĭalabrese require an open unshaded site with free draining but moisture retentive soil with plenty of organic matter. The large green heads you see in the photo (and generally referred to as broccoli) is Calabrese whereas the much smaller heads which can be green, purple or white are broccoli. The supermarkets have helped to confuse the issue of what is broccoli and what a calabrese by calling both by either name. ![]()
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