Question
My Hubs and I live in Chino Valley AZ about an hour south of Flagstaff.  We are growing Broccoli for the first time and the plants are leafy as all get out but no buds yet.  While they are a cold weather crop, am I just waiting in vain or will they eventually give me the goods?  We planted about 2 weeks after mother's day (the rule of thumb here to avoid frost).  Whadda ya think?

Answer
Victoria, if you planted back on Mother's Day, you should already have been harvesting full heads. My broccoli was started in early May, and I harvested two weeks ago. Most varieties can be harvested 60 days from sowing.

My guess is that your soil lacked sufficient phosphorus and probably was very high in nitrogen. Nitrogen promotes lush foliage while phosphorus stimulates blooming and budding.

If the plants look healthy, you can still spray them with a high-phosphorus fertilizer. Miracle-gro markets two such products. One is labeled for blooming annuals and perennials; the other for tomatoes. Both are rich in phosphorus and will work.

Next year, I would highly recommend adding organic amendments to the soil. These would include compost, peat, and aged manure. This will add fertility to the soil and also balance the ph levels. Soils rich in organic matter also help in warding off disease and pests.

I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike