How to grow broccoli by cutting
Find out when and how to cut broccoli from the plant so you can enjoy this super green for months. Let me tell you about the first time I grew broccoli. I planted three in a row. They were one of the first to grow in my garden that year, and I was proud. When they started going from little heads to the kind you see in the grocery store, I realized I didn't know how to cut broccoli off the plant. Honestly, I was confused as to why they would grow such a large plant for a single head of broccoli. So I let them grow... until they bloomed. It was too late to know that the flowering stage meant my time was up, and if I had cut them earlier, they would have produced extra heads of broccoli. I was low on broccoli that year, which is especially sad because they take up a good amount of space.
Fortunately, a very experienced friend explained to me when I told her about my broccoli woes how to pre-cut broccoli from the plant so I could enjoy this nutritional powerhouse for months. Since then, I've had the luxury of going out into my garden to gather fresh, delicious broccoli for all kinds of dishes.
How to Cut Broccoli from the Plant: Your Guide to Seasonal Delight
There are a few tricks to learning how to cut broccoli at the right time, but it's not difficult. It's really just a matter of keeping an eye on your plants. Look for broccoli heads to form the tight, dense clusters of sprouts you're used to seeing in the supermarket.
One of the most obvious signs to look out for is blooming. A head of broccoli is actually a cluster of flower buds. Once you see the first sign of a yellow flower, you know it's time to cut your broccoli.
Broccoli is a cool-weather plant, so check your plant every day for signs of flowering as temperatures climb. Once the flowers begin to appear, the flavor declines rapidly.
As for how to cut broccoli once it's ready, grab your pruning shears and cut the stems at an angle five or six inches below the center head.
This is your first harvest.
Over the next few weeks or months (depending on variety and climate) you will notice small side shoots of broccoli heads. These aren't as tightly packed as the center head, but they're every bit as tasty. You can clip them too.
How to Cut Broccoli from the Plant: Extra Special Bonus Section
Just because you know how to cut broccoli off the plant and enjoy two, three or more harvests doesn't mean you're done. The leaves of the broccoli plant are an often overlooked source of culinary joy. If you haven't tried them, you're really missing out. Broccoli leaves are a perfect substitute for kale, Swiss chard, collard greens and mustard greens. They taste a bit like broccoli rabe - slightly sweet and slightly tangy. They are also very healthy.
After you've harvested the heads of broccoli and consumed the leaves, the remaining plants can go straight into the compost bin to help grow your garden. That's what I call a successful addition to your planting.
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