Very Good Gardening at Smallfields

Post 6: Cool (not Freezing) Weather Crops

Broccoli has been by far the hardest crop to grow for me. I have tried it from seed 5 times. Each time, I failed but I learned something new.

I have also bought transplants from a local nursery several times. I have yet to get a decent harvest. I have gotten a very small head and a few side shoots but definitely not the big, beautiful head of broccoli that I’ve yearned for.

Then, this winter, I was so excited. A couple of my plants had produced a reasonable sized head. I considered harvesting at the time but I thought I’d wait it out and see if it could get a little bigger.

Isn’t it pretty?

But as this is a “Friday Fail,” I’m sure you all know where this is going.

Apparently when a fruit or vegetable is labeled a “cool weather crop” that doesn’t necessarily mean that they can tolerate freezing weather.

Or snow.

That’s the same plant.

Although it is very disappointing, it is one more thing that I’ve learned.

If you plant a cool weather crop in the fall, harvest before it freezes. Or cover it in some way.

Once again, I’ll look forward to the spring and try again.