Post by Trade Coach on Oct 21, 2021 22:26:25 GMT 1
Broccoli Farming: How To Grow The Crop Commercially And Profit From It
The beauty of this crop, Broccoli is that after harvesting the main head, it will continue to produce smaller-side-shoots for several months after; can you beat that?
When you grow broccoli outdoors, and you do it properly, rationally and on a scalable basis; it can be a good source of income because the commodity is needed in large quantity but the producers are few.
Broccoli is a biennial plant, but farmers mistakenly grow it as annual plant, this is because of lack of the requisite knowledge in the farming of the crop.
Broccoli is grown majorly for its flower heads, which people all over the world consume when they are still immature.
Most commercial Broccoli farmers all over the world start the crop from hybrid seeds in an indoor protected environment; as they had to wait for the young seedlings to grow and be ready for transplanting, usually for 30 days while they prepare the field.
You have to till the land as usual; you must remove any previous cultivation and weeds and integrate into the soil the basal fertilization combined with well-digested manure. You also need to construct and design, and also build a drip irrigation system.
Immediately they are ready for transplanting, you will have to make small holes in the soil you have initially prepared, and then plant the seedlings. You must of-course apply fertilization, drip irrigation, and proper weed management.
It is interesting to note that most commercial broccoli varieties can be harvested within a period of 60 – 90 days after transplanting.
Time from planting and harvesting depends on the variety, climatic conditions and the age of the seedlings.
You can harvest using scissors or knives and is usually performed in multiple sessions. Unlike cauliflower, each broccoli can yield more than one head.
After harvesting, broccoli growers plow and destroy the remaining of the crop. You may also rotate the crop with plants that do not belong to the Brassicaceae family. This is to control diseases and prevent the soil from depleting.
Nigeria is not actually known for Broccoli farming, Broccoli actually is an exotic vegetable just like Cauliflower, Celery, and Beetroth. However the consumption rate in the country is increasing daily.
By excluding ourselves from Broccoli farming is making us lose a lot of money that we could have been making with this exotic vegetable as we have states that it can grow comfortably.
In Nigeria Broccoli is sold mainly in the main cities and super markets where foreign fruits are sold; but a lot of people come to Mile 12 market in Lagos to buy also.
The most important aspect of Broccoli farming like many other types of vegetable farming is to know the best variety to plant and the best time to do so.
Broccoli farming does not like too much sun, it can cause bolting. Bolting occurs when a crop prematurely grows flower stalks and produce seeds, preventing the plant from bearing a vigorous harvest. It redistributes a plant’s energy away from the leaves and roots to instead produce seeds and a flowering stem.
Broccoli grows well in places like Plateau state, Mambilla Plateau of Taraba state, the reason being that they grow well in cool weather. But it can also do well in green house conditions; however, hybrid seeds can be grown anywhere.
Broccoli requires about 6 hours of sunlight, arable and fertile land. The land pH should be between: 6.0 – 7.0 because it will not allow club root disease.
Club root disease is a disease that affects plants in the cabbage family. Plants infected by club root are stunted, and may have yellow leaves.
Some farming associations are springing up to introduce Broccoli farming to local farmers in Nigeria in order to take advantage of the lucrative business of Broccoli farming.
Stay with us as we continue to bring to you more articles on Broccoli farming in the near future.
We train agro exporters in our training institute; please get in touch with our admin to know more.
Broccoli is almost one of the best vegetables in the world; it loves sun and cool environments. It is rich in Vitamins, such as Vitamin A, and other minerals; folic acid, iron, fibre, and potassium.
The beauty of this crop, Broccoli is that after harvesting the main head, it will continue to produce smaller-side-shoots for several months after; can you beat that?
When you grow broccoli outdoors, and you do it properly, rationally and on a scalable basis; it can be a good source of income because the commodity is needed in large quantity but the producers are few.
Broccoli is a biennial plant, but farmers mistakenly grow it as annual plant, this is because of lack of the requisite knowledge in the farming of the crop.
Broccoli is grown majorly for its flower heads, which people all over the world consume when they are still immature.
Most commercial Broccoli farmers all over the world start the crop from hybrid seeds in an indoor protected environment; as they had to wait for the young seedlings to grow and be ready for transplanting, usually for 30 days while they prepare the field.
You have to till the land as usual; you must remove any previous cultivation and weeds and integrate into the soil the basal fertilization combined with well-digested manure. You also need to construct and design, and also build a drip irrigation system.
Immediately they are ready for transplanting, you will have to make small holes in the soil you have initially prepared, and then plant the seedlings. You must of-course apply fertilization, drip irrigation, and proper weed management.
It is interesting to note that most commercial broccoli varieties can be harvested within a period of 60 – 90 days after transplanting.
Time from planting and harvesting depends on the variety, climatic conditions and the age of the seedlings.
You can harvest using scissors or knives and is usually performed in multiple sessions. Unlike cauliflower, each broccoli can yield more than one head.
After harvesting, broccoli growers plow and destroy the remaining of the crop. You may also rotate the crop with plants that do not belong to the Brassicaceae family. This is to control diseases and prevent the soil from depleting.
Nigeria is not actually known for Broccoli farming, Broccoli actually is an exotic vegetable just like Cauliflower, Celery, and Beetroth. However the consumption rate in the country is increasing daily.
By excluding ourselves from Broccoli farming is making us lose a lot of money that we could have been making with this exotic vegetable as we have states that it can grow comfortably.
In Nigeria Broccoli is sold mainly in the main cities and super markets where foreign fruits are sold; but a lot of people come to Mile 12 market in Lagos to buy also.
The most important aspect of Broccoli farming like many other types of vegetable farming is to know the best variety to plant and the best time to do so.
Broccoli farming does not like too much sun, it can cause bolting. Bolting occurs when a crop prematurely grows flower stalks and produce seeds, preventing the plant from bearing a vigorous harvest. It redistributes a plant’s energy away from the leaves and roots to instead produce seeds and a flowering stem.
Broccoli grows well in places like Plateau state, Mambilla Plateau of Taraba state, the reason being that they grow well in cool weather. But it can also do well in green house conditions; however, hybrid seeds can be grown anywhere.
Broccoli requires about 6 hours of sunlight, arable and fertile land. The land pH should be between: 6.0 – 7.0 because it will not allow club root disease.
Club root disease is a disease that affects plants in the cabbage family. Plants infected by club root are stunted, and may have yellow leaves.
Some farming associations are springing up to introduce Broccoli farming to local farmers in Nigeria in order to take advantage of the lucrative business of Broccoli farming.
Stay with us as we continue to bring to you more articles on Broccoli farming in the near future.
We train agro exporters in our training institute; please get in touch with our admin to know more.