WANTED: Growing broccoli in Calgary

16 years ago

My husband planted some broccoli this year. He started them from seeds, outdoor, in the middle of June. When they first came out they looked lovely. But now they are between 12" and 18" tall, very spindly. Among the 20 plants that my husband put down, only one of them has signs of a little production, about 1/2" wide, right in the center of a very tall plant. I have a feeling if that floret grows any bigger the plant will fall over.

My husband has also grown some carrots about a foot away from the broccoli plants. They don't look so good neither. I am afraid the broccoli is shading the carrot plants. To make matter worse, the butterflies are eating the broccoli leafs.

Calgary weather is notoriously unpredictable. A hot summer day can go up to the 30's, then things can change in a matter of hours. We have had rain, hails, frost, even a bit of snow this summer. We normally have luck with carrots and potatoes. Other than that, we haven't have any success growing anything else.

I have my doubts if we will get anything from the broccoli plants since summer will soon be over. If I pull them at least the carrots will have a chance to grow. On the other hand, I hate to disappoint my husband... he did put forward his time and efforts. :-(

Should we leave the broccoli alone? Or should we get rid of them to give the carrots a chance to grow?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

patsyann
15 years ago
Broccoli is a cool weather plant as are carrots. You can start broccoli and carrots from seed as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. No problem growing them side-by-side if you plant so the sun gets to the plants. In other words, plant your rows east to west. It is not butterflies that are eating your broccoli, but the little green worms that come from the eggs they lay on the plants. Check with one of your garden-centers as to what to dust them with. Of course, this info. applies to next year. As to now, you can still use your whole broccoli plants even though they are small in stir-fry and soups. Ditto with your little carrots.
wendylee_gw
15 years ago
hi there. I grow brocoli every year and I squish everything in and around them.
I take old plastic pots, cut the bottoms off and put around seedings I grew from seed in each one. I do not even water all season. The secret is wood ash. They love it, so do all cole crops, beets cabbage etc.
take a gallon pail and sprinkle in and about your garden. Wood ash will raise the ph of your garden. I live in the northern part of Alberta 85 north of grande prairie and My broccoli is always great...good luck
Related Professionals
Kansas City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Portsmouth Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Longview Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Fayetteville Landscape Contractors · Lake City Landscape Contractors · Columbus Landscape Contractors · Willmar Landscape Contractors · Bowling Green Accessory Dwelling Units · Jackson Accessory Dwelling Units · Greensboro Accessory Dwelling Units · Corpus Christi Accessory Dwelling Units · Rochester Accessory Dwelling Units · Youngstown Accessory Dwelling Units · Lake Havasu City Accessory Dwelling Units · Chico Accessory Dwelling Units
wendylee_gw
15 years ago
To add re worms...surrounding your plants with cans or pots (no bottoms will halp keep woms away and keeping potash from wood ash in your garden gets rid of them too...