Broccoli needs a lot of nutrients throughout the growing season, especially during the stage of inflorescence formation, which occurs 25-35 days after planting. At this stage, the plant takes up three-quarters of the total nutrients from the soil.
Soil Preparation for Broccoli
For early spring planting, basic soil preparation along with starter fertilization with increased amounts of phosphorus and potassium is carried out in the fall.
It is also beneficial to prepare raised beds in the fall so that the soil dries and warms up quickly in the spring. Before planting, the soil is treated with herbicides intended for this purpose. A mulch of biodegradable transparent film can also be used to promote soil warming, while using black PE film avoids the need for herbicides.
When planting in late spring or summer, broccoli usually follows as a second crop. After removing the preceding crop, plant residues should be cleared, and the soil should be worked superficially to create a granular layer suitable for planting and successful rooting of seedlings. Before planting, it is important to moisten the soil to a depth of 30 cm to 70-80% of the field water capacity.
Fertilization of Broccoli
During the growth of stems and leaves, the plants require larger amounts of nitrogen (N), while in the stage of inflorescence formation, they need more phosphorus (P2O5) and potassium (K2O).
Broccoli responds very positively to fertilization with manure and compost. The best yields and quality are achieved with combined fertilization, i.e., using both organic and mineral fertilizers.
In basic soil preparation, 40-50 t/ha of manure is plowed in, along with NPK 7-20-30 or NPK 8-26-26 at a rate of 10-15 dkg/m² (1-1.5 t/ha).
Broccoli is top-dressed 1-3 times during the growing season with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) at a rate of 100 kg/ha.
