Broccoli goes to flower

by Donna
(Wisconsin)

Donna from Wisconsin writes: I'm new to gardening. I planted broccoli seedlings and let them accidently flower. Now what?!

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Broccoli goes to flower

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Jun 04, 2010

Broccoli bolting to seed -Why does broccoli go to flower
by: Megan

Yes unfortunately your broccoli is going to seed if it has yellow flowers on it.
The reason plants flower and go to seed too early is usually because they've been starved. Poor little things!
Either they have not had enough water or not enough food, so they decide that it's no use trying to form nice big broccoli heads and instead they rapidly going into breeding mode and produce flowers, then seeds.

Another possibility, especially with broccoli which is cold loving, is that it's just too darn hot for your plants. Check your seed packet and see if it's a suitable variety for where you live. Most broccoli in hot areas like to be sown or planted in autumn so they can get established and produce during winter or early spring.

Even if gardeners get SOME broccoli growing OK and SOME bolting to flower, remember this. Plants WANT to grow, that's their purpose, like we want to live. Some of us succumb to a cold, some don't – but more likely don't if we look after ourselves!
Often some broccoli seedlings are a tiny bit stronger that the others; maybe get more water, sun or nutrients. Maybe some get their roots damaged, a blast of wind or too high temperatures, just enough for them to be stressed and go to seed, whereas some are a fraction stronger and managed to not get depressed.

It can also be the quality of the seeds or the differences in exactly what's in the soil below each plant.
For a big overview, read the main page on growing broccoli

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Jun 04, 2010
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Submitted by: Megan

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Yes unfortunately your broccoli is going to seed if it has yellow flowers on it. The reason plants flower and go to seed too early is usually because they've been starved. Poor little things! Either they have not had enough water or not enough food, so they decide that it's no use trying to form nice big broccoli heads and instead they rapidly going into breeding mode and produce flowers, then seeds. Another possibility, especially with broccoli which is cold loving, is that it's just too darn hot for your plants. Check your seed packet and see if it's a suitable variety for where you live. Most broccoli in hot areas like to be sown or planted in autumn so they can get established and produce during winter or early spring. Even if gardeners get SOME broccoli growing OK and SOME bolting to flower, remember this. Plants WANT to grow, that's their purpose, like we want to live. Some of us succumb to a cold, some don't – but more likely don't if we look after ourselves! Often some broccoli seedlings are a tiny bit stronger that the others; maybe get more water, sun or nutrients. Maybe some get their roots damaged, a blast of wind or too high temperatures, just enough for them to be stressed and go to seed, whereas some are a fraction stronger and managed to not get depressed. It can also be the quality of the seeds or the differences in exactly what's in the soil below each plant. For a big overview, read the main page on <a href="http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/growing-broccoli.html">growing broccoli</a>

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