When to harvest and how to store broccoli
If broccoli flowers bloomThis means that it will soon turn yellow and lose its commercial quality. On hot days this happens especially quickly.
All the work on growing cabbage will go down the drain if it is not collected on time. You should not remove unripe or overripe heads of cabbage. Find out when to cut a head of broccoli from this article.
When to harvest broccoli outdoors
In order not to spoil the cabbage harvest, the gardener needs to know not only its ripening period, but also what a mature head looks like.
Ripening time
The ripening time of broccoli depends on its variety.. Typically, 75-110 days pass from sowing to harvest.
Maturing period of some popular hybrids:
- Apolena F1 - up to 85 days;
- Parthenon F1 — about 85 days;
- Marathon F1 — 80 days;
- Naxos F1 - 75 days;
- Triton F1 - 80 days.
How to tell if broccoli is ripe
A ripe head of cabbage weighs approximately 400 g and its diameter is 20 cm. Its flowers are closed and tightly closed.
What the time has come to harvest, an experienced gardener will recognize by these signs:
- the diameter of the head reached 10 cm - the width of the palm;
- The cabbage color is dark green and the buds are tightly closed;
- 2 months have already passed since the first shoots: the head of cabbage matures completely in about this time and weighs at least 250 g.
In all regions of the country, broccoli ripens at different times.. It is often harvested in late autumn. It is permissible to leave the heads in the garden as long as the temperature is above zero.
Attention! If cabbage buds bloom and turn yellow, harvesting cannot be delayed.Even slight yellowing detracts from the exquisite taste broccoli. Blooming cabbage loses its taste and is not used in cooking.
Harvesting broccoli
It is best to harvest cabbage heads as soon as you notice signs of ripeness.. Overripe broccoli quickly loses its taste.
Flowers bloom within a few days, especially in hot weather.. Therefore, it is recommended not to wait until the heads become larger. Moreover, growing large main heads of cabbage further reduces the yield of lateral ones.
When is the best time to cut
Cabbage loses its properties if harvested in inappropriate weather.. We are talking mainly about high temperatures and scorching sun.
If you cut the heads in the heat, they quickly wither and do not last long. To keep the heads of cabbage fresh longer, they are collected early in the morning or late in the evening.
How to properly harvest broccoli
The heads are cut off at an angle to prevent rot from developing.. They capture approximately 10-20 cm of the stem, which is also used for culinary purposes.
Important! Do not pull out the plant, remove it by the roots, or cut off the entire stem.
When the main head of cabbage has been cut off, the cabbage is cared for further. This will provide an additional harvest, because broccoli produces lateral heads.
In summer they are collected weekly, and in autumn - every 3-5 days.
How to store broccoli
Before putting the cabbage on long-term storage, her wash and dry thoroughly.
Attention! You need to wash cabbage very carefully: it will have less shelf life if it is damaged.
Broccoli is more tender and sensitive than cabbage. So don't expect it to last that long. In the refrigerator at a temperature of +4...+7°C, the heads are stored for no more than 3 weeks at high humidity - from 90%.
To preserve the commercial qualities of cabbage for a long time, it is stored in the basement or freezer.
In the basement
Cabbage is stored in plastic containers with holes.. To do this, lay a damp cloth in a container and place the broccoli heads on it, legs down. Be sure to place the heads of cabbage at a short distance.
To maintain the desired level of humidity, the top of the box is covered with film.. Store broccoli in the basement at 0…+3°C for a maximum of 2 months.
Important! In the basement, the broccoli is placed on a damp cloth, but the heads themselves should not be wetted.
In the freezer
Broccoli retains its flavor the longest when frozen.. The forks are first washed, dried and cut into small pieces. For storage in the freezer, they are placed in portioned bags.
Very important freeze the heads Right:
- Wash in cold water, remove leaves and woody parts of the stem, divide into inflorescences.
- Prepare a salt solution - 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water.
- Soak the inflorescences in saline solution for 30 minutes. If there are caterpillars or insects in the cabbage, they will come out. Rinse the cabbage again.
- Boil water in a large saucepan (more than half the capacity). Place the washed inflorescences in boiling water for 3 minutes.
- Remove the cabbage using a colander and place in ice water for 5 minutes (add ice to cool). Remove the colander with the cabbage from the water and leave to drain.
- Place the inflorescences in special bags, releasing the air from them, and tie them tightly.
- Broccoli is ready to freeze.
In this form, cabbage will last up to a year.
Important! Only late varieties of broccoli (they are harvested in the fall) are allowed to be stored fresh or frozen. The early ones are not stored, but are immediately used in cooking.
Conclusion
To get a good broccoli harvest, you need to try. It is important not only to plant and grow it, but also to harvest it correctly. The weather and time of day matter. But the main thing is to determine when to remove broccoli from the garden in order to prevent it from becoming overripe.
To keep cabbage fresh, it is harvested early in the morning or late in the evening. It is important that there is no heat or frost: broccoli withers and loses its taste. After harvest, late varieties are stored in the refrigerator, basement or freezer. Early varieties are eaten immediately.