Fresh Broccoli in January!

[so lucky]

Since the sun is shining today I was mosying around the muddy garden, dreaming of warmer days, when I realized the old broccoli plants from last spring are not only still alive, but producing! I broke off enough small florets for a smallish serving for DH and me for supper. I tasted one beforehand, and found it totally edible. So now I am wondering if I should be doing something for these plants. Will they continue to produce, providing the weather doesn't get much colder? (It's been down around 20) I know broccoli likes cooler weather, but does it have a finite life span? Should I fertilize it or something?

 

[RidgebackRanch]

Wow that's awesome! It is always such a joy to see something come back from the previous season. As far as caring for it now maybe give it some protection from the coldest nights to lessen the stress and maybe use a little bit of a water soluble fertilizer. If it were me I would be careful on the fertilizer until it gets a little warmer, but a light dose now should be ok. Can you post a picture?

Happy eating your first fresh veggies of the season!

 

[catjac1975]

I wouldn't fertilize it-stimulated growth will not be as hardy. Let nature take it's course. Perhaps mulch the roots then if the top freezes cut it back when it warms up and see what you get. I would think you could get florets.

 

[wsmoak]

Mine is also still going! I had no idea it would produce that many side shoots.

I'm not fertilizing mine. I think that would encourage it to grow more leaves, which would just get frozen in a cold snap.

-Wendy

 

[AllyRodrigues]

I planted broccoli seedlings last fall in raised beds with really good dirt and they produced beautiful small plants. The plants are still alive and healthy, but just don't seem to be getting bigger or producing..I was thinking of pulling them up...Should I give them more time?

I have cabbage the same way in a bed right beside it.

I'll try to snap some pictures today..

 

[lesa]

Ally, I am always up for an experiment. If you don't have plans for that bed right now- I would leave the plants in. What harm could it do? And with any luck you might get a few dinners out of them!

 

[desertcat]

Isn't it fun to find surprizes in the garden this time of year! I finally gave up on my drought-stricken garden in October...didn't even have any green weeds. Then last week I went out to start getting ready for this year, and found 1 little broccoli. It's about 3" high and really bushy. As warm as our winter has been, I'm hoping for an early harvest. Heck, after last year, I'll take ANY harvest!

 

[catjac1975]

I planted broccoli seedlings last fall in raised beds with really good dirt and they produced beautiful small plants. The plants are still alive and healthy, but just don't seem to be getting bigger or producing..I was thinking of pulling them up...Should I give them more time?

I have cabbage the same way in a bed right beside it.

I'll try to snap some pictures today..

I wouldn't pull them up. One the ground is the right temp they should grow. If you're in need of the space then just leave a few and see what happens.

 

[Kassaundra]

I am still harvesting fresh broccoli too, I love it!!!!!! It has been a mild winter and my first year to plant fall broccoli, so I'm not sure if this is what I can expect every year or not, but it was a cool suprise this year.

 

[wsmoak]

Ally, if you can spare the room, just leave them there and protect them from hard freezes. That's probably as much as they could grow before the days got too short. Now that the days are lengthening, once we get past the cold (if you're having any this year -- we aren't!) they will most likely take off and give you a great early spring harvest. -Wendy