Let me guess: you have been taking good care of your broccoli plants, and then they start to grow tall and produce flowers. This might worry you, but there are ways to address the problem to prevent it from happening.
So, why is your broccoli growing tall and flowering (bolting broccoli)? Broccoli grows tall and starts to flower at maturity in order to form seeds and complete its reproductive cycle. It also happens in response to stress and extreme soil temperatures. Sometimes, broccoli will grow tall and bolt before the broccoli has a chance to form a large head.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to prevent broccoli from bolting so that you can increase your harvest. A broccoli flower on one plant does not mean the season is over!
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how to prevent bolting broccoli. We’ll also address some other common broccoli problems, such as broccoli plants forming small heads or falling over.
Let’s get going.
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Why Is My Broccoli Growing Tall and Flowering? (Broccoli Bolting)
According to the University of Maryland Extension, broccoli will start to grow tall and form flowers in response to:
- stress
- high soil temperatures (too far above 70 degrees Fahrenheit)
- low soil temperatures (too far below 50 degrees Fahrenheit)
Broccoli bolting (tall growth and flowers) can occur in response to any of these factors (or possibly more than one). Yellow flowers on broccoli can make the head bitter, to the point of being inedible.
This Youtube video I made gives a summary of the causes of tall and flowering broccoli, along with some prevention methods (you can also watch the video below).
Let’s address each of these issues in turn.
Broccoli Growing Tall and Flowering Due To Stress
When a broccoli plant gets stressed, it is more likely to grow tall, produce flowers, and bolt (or “go to seed”).
- cool temperatures in early stages of growth
- late transplant
- increasing day length
Broccoli flowers can appear as a response to any or all of these factors. Once broccoli has gone to seed, it often becomes very bitter (sometimes inedible).
Cool Temperatures In Early Stages Of Growth
Before transplant, broccoli seedlings should be kept in warm conditions. Ideally, the temperature should stay above 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
If broccoli seedlings are exposed to colder temperatures, there is a risk that the plant will not vernalize properly later on. This can lead to eventual stress and bolting broccoli.
Late Transplant
In addition, broccoli that is transplanted too late is subject to the stress of transplant shock. One of the most common causes of transplant shock is root damage.
A mature plant has a larger, more extensive root system. The longer you wait to transplant, the more chance of root damage and transplant shock.
This means you should start broccoli seeds 9 to 11 weeks before the last spring frost date. You can find the last spring frost date for your region with this tool from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Increasing Day Length
Finally, increasing day length can also cause bolting in broccoli plants. In a sense, the plants “know” how long the days are.
If planted too late in the season, broccoli will sense that the days are long. It will then rush through its growth stages in an attempt to produce seeds.
Instead of forming a full broccoli head, the plant will simply grow tall to produce flowers and seeds.
Note that disease, drought, and nutrient deficiencies can also cause stress to a broccoli plant. These factors can cause bolting broccoli as well.
Broccoli Growing Tall and Flowering Due High Soil Temperatures
Broccoli is a cool-weather crop, so soil that is too warm can also cause broccoli to grow tall and bolt. According to the Ohio State University Extension, the best temperature range for broccoli growth is 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18 to 21 degrees Celsius).
The more extreme the temperature, the more risk of a broccoli plant growing tall, flowering, and bolting. When the temperature rises, a broccoli plant will begin the next phase of its life cycle.
This means that the broccoli plant will grow tall, form flowers, and try to produce seeds in order to reproduce. This is known as bolting, and it can affect the flavor of the broccoli.
High temperatures can cause other problems besides bolting broccoli. According to the University of Massachusetts, there is a period of 10 days when broccoli is more sensitive to heat stress (this period is prior to crown formation).
Exposure to temperatures over 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) for more than 4 days during this 10-day period can cause poorly shaped heads.
Broccoli Growing Tall and Flowering Due To Low Soil Temperatures
Cold soil temperatures can also cause broccoli plants to grow tall and flower. According to Clemson University, a mature broccoli plant will bolt:
“if exposed to a prolonged cold period of 10 or more consecutive days of temperatures between 35 and 50 F following a period of favorable growing conditions.”
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/broccoli/
Even younger transplants are subject to bolting due to cold temperatures. According to the University of Maryland Extension, temperatures below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius) can cause bolting or even stop a broccoli plant from forming a head.
Always check the weather forecast before transplanting. If cold is expected, wait a few days to transplant.
You could also use a cloche to keep young broccoli plants a little warmer. A row cover is an option for more mature broccoli plants.
Will Broccoli Grow After Flowering?
The main head of broccoli will not grow after flowering – but the side shoots will grow if you cut off the main head. Remember that the flavor of the broccoli head will become bitter if yellow flowers start to form.
Remember that a broccoli plant wants to form flowers and produce seeds to reproduce (this is known as “broccoli going to seed”). Once it has done so, the plant is satisfied that it has completed its mission in life.
Image from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broccoli_Flowers.jpg
At that point, it will stop growing the main head. To get a big head of broccoli from your plant, you will need to prevent it from flowering too early (more detail on this later).
When the head of broccoli is large and mature, harvest it by cutting it from the plant. Make sure to do this while the buds of the broccoli are still green and packed closely and tightly together.
If the buds start to separate and grow taller, cut off the head!
Usually, the head is mature when it has a diameter of 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters). However, some heads of broccoli can get up to 8 inches (20 centimeters).
Of course, the size of a broccoli head can vary by variety, so be sure to check the seed catalog. After the main head is cut off, you can harvest side shoots, which may be only 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) in diameter.
For more information, check out my article on how big broccoli plants can get.
Can You Eat Broccoli That Has Flowered or Bolted?
You can eat a head of broccoli that has flowered, but it might become bitter. However, the main broccoli head will not grow well after flowering.
You can eat the flowers themselves, along with and any side shoots that grow. Just remember that they may become bitter, as many plants do after they go to seed.
You can also eat the leaves of a broccoli plant. This means it is not a total loss if the plant flowers early.
You could use broccoli leaves in a salad, or steam them just like spinach. You can even eat the stems of broccoli if you want!
Just be sure to avoid eating the seeds and roots of a broccoli plant, which are poisonous.
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How To Prevent Broccoli From Bolting
You may feel powerless to prevent broccoli from bolting. However, you have more control than you think.
There are several ways to prevent broccoli from bolting, including:
- choose heat tolerant broccoli varieties
- choose fast maturing broccoli varieties
- insulate broccoli plants against extreme temperatures
Choose Heat Tolerant Broccoli Varieties
First, when planning your garden, choose heat-resistant broccoli varieties. These are less likely to bolt when hot weather comes around in the summer.
Some heat tolerant broccoli varieties include:
- Green Magic – this hybrid broccoli variety yields one large main head and then smaller side shoots if harvested in time. They take 57 days to mature, but they are heat tolerant, and the larger heads make it worth the wait. You can find Green Magic Broccoli at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
- Gypsy – this hybrid broccoli variety yields one large main head followed by smaller side shoots. They take 58 days to mature, and have some heat tolerance as well. You can find Gypsy Broccoli at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
Choose Fast Maturing Broccoli Varieties
Another way to prevent bolting broccoli is to choose varieties that will mature faster. That way, you can completely avoid cold a the start of the season or heat later in the season.
Some fast-maturing broccoli varieties include:
- BC1611 – this hybrid broccoli variety yields multiple small heads, instead of one large central head. The stems stay small, so they are more tender and edible. At only 33 days to maturity, you will be ready to harvest in less than 5 weeks! You can find BC1611 Broccoli at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
- Burgundy – this hybrid broccoli variety also yields multiple smaller heads with a stunning purple color. They only take 37 days to maturity, so you will be harvesting them in no time! You can find Burgundy Broccoli at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
- Spring Raab – this open pollinated broccoli variety yields small heads on thin stems. They only take 42 days to mature, so you will be harvesting in only 6 weeks. You can find Spring Raab Broccoli at Johnny’s Selected Seeds.
Insulate Broccoli Plants Against Extreme Temperatures
It is worth planting your broccoli in a place where it will not be subject to extreme temperatures. Try to find a spot so that the broccoli is shaded during the hottest part of the day, which is early to mid afternoon.
To provide insulation, add layer of mulch or compost over the soil near your broccoli plants. This will prevent the soil temperature from changing so quickly on a hot day or cold night.
For more information, check out my article on compost and mulch.
Other Problems With Broccoli Plants
There are a few other problems that you may encounter with broccoli plants. Here are a few of them, along with an explanation for why each one occurs.
Why Are My Broccoli Plants Falling Over?
Your mature broccoli plants may fall over if they bolt due and become very tall. This is especially likely after the plant flowers and goes to seed.
Younger broccoli plants in the garden may fall over due to pest or disease damage. For example, cutworms love to chew through the stems of young, tender plants before they become too tough.
A cutworm collar is one way to prevent damage from these pests. For more information, check out my article on how to get rid of cutworms.
Broccoli seedlings may fall over if they become “leggy”, or long and spindly, due to stretching as they grow to reach up higher for a limited light supply.
Why Are My Broccoli Plants Producing Small Heads? (Broccoli Buttoning)
Broccoli plants will button, or produce small heads, for several possible reasons. One of the main reasons is exposure to cold while they are young and still developing.
Broccoli Buttoning Due To Cold Exposure
Although broccoli prefers cool weather, they do not necessarily like extreme cold. Exposure to cold temperatures of less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) for a week or more can cause broccoli plants to form small heads.
Buttoning is more likely if the broccoli plant is exposed to frost. According to the Texas A&M Extension, temperatures of 26 to 31 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 to -1 degrees Celsius) will burn the leaves of broccoli plants, but may not kill them.
Your broccoli plants are more likely to be exposed to cold temperatures if you plant too early in the spring. However, cold exposure is also a risk if you plant too late in the fall for a 2nd harvest.
To protect your plants from cold outside, use cloches or row covers. For more information, check out my article on how to protect plants from cold and frost.
You can also start your plants early, growing them from seeds indoors to protect them from the worst of the cold. Be sure to check frost dates before transplanting broccoli outside.
For more information, check out this frost date calculator from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Broccoli Buttoning Due To Lack Of Water Or Nutrients
Broccoli may also button due to stress caused by a lack of water or nutrients. Especially in the hot, dry summer months, you will want to make sure your plants get enough water (lack of water can also lead to brown heads of broccoli).
If you have problems with dry soil, you can try mixing compost into your garden. Adding a layer of mulch over your topsoil will also help.
The compost will improve the soil structure, which will help to retain water. The mulch will insulate the soil and prevent the sun from evaporating water so rapidly.
For more information, check out my article on how to treat dry soil.
Keep in mind that it is also possible to over water plants. For more information, check out my article on the signs of over watering plants.
Another possible source of stress for broccoli plants is soil pH. Broccoli plants prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8 (slightly acidic to neutral).
If your soil pH is far outside of this range, then your broccoli plant may suffer a nutrient deficiency. For more information, check out this article from Research Gate on the effect of soil pH on nutrient availability.
A soil test is really the only way to find out exactly what your soil pH is. You can buy a do-it-yourself test kit online or at a garden center.
However, you can also send a soil sample to your local agricultural extension office for testing. If you send information about what you are growing, the lab can also send back recommendations on how to treat your soil.
For more information, check out my article on how to do a soil test.
If your soil pH is fine, then you should consider the possibility of a nutrient deficiency in your soil. Generally, a soil test will also tell you about such problems.
Broccoli plants are considered heavy feeders, which means they use up lots of nitrogen. Adding compost to your soil and using a balanced fertilizer that provides nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should provide your broccoli plant with the nutrition it needs.
Still, you should be careful with stronger fertilizers. It is possible to burn your plants with fertilizer by adding too much at once, especially during dry weather.
For more information, check out my article on over fertilizing your plants.
Why Are My Broccoli Plants Not Producing or Forming Heads?
Broccoli plants can become damaged during handling when they are young and vulnerable. This is more likely if you transplanted them from your house or a garden center instead of growing them from seed.
In this case, the broccoli plant may never form a head at all. Instead, you may need to settle for using the leaves of the plant for a salad or steaming them like spinach.
As mentioned earlier, extreme cold or heat can also prevent broccoli from forming heads of the proper shape and size.
What To Do When Broccoli Flowers
When your broccoli flowers, there are a few things you can do:
- Harvest any mature broccoli heads that have not flowered yet (to avoid bitterness).
- Compost any broccoli heads that are inedible (due to flowering and bitterness).
- Protect any immature broccoli heads from heat (a shade cloth can help to keep crops a little cooler on hot, sunny days).
Conclusion
Now you have a much better idea of why your broccoli plant is growing tall and flowering. You also know about some methods to prevent the problem in the future.
You can learn about when broccoli plants produce heads here.
I hope you found this article helpful – if so, please share it with someone who can use the information.
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~Jonathon
