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Seed of the month - Yates Seed Tape Broccoli

Feb SOM

Yates Seed of the Month for February 2010 is Broccoli Seed Tape, a top quality variety that can
be sown now to crop in the cooler months.

By starting broccoli now, the plants get to be as big as possible before the winter slow down. And
this new seed tape is the easiest way of all to sow from seed.

Here’s how to go about it: dig Yates Blood &Bone and some compost into the soil in a sunny,
well-drained spot. Then form a groove about 1 cm deep in the soil and lay the broccoli tape along
the base of the groove. Break off the tape when you reach the end of the row. Cover with soil
and water well. Make other rows 25- 40 cm apart, and keep them all moist through the
germination period.

When the seedlings appear you’ll need to thin them out if crowded, but nowhere near as much as
you would with normal seed sowing. As the plants grow, feed them regularly with Thrive Soluble
Plant Food.

This hybrid variety produces firm, dome-shaped heads. The first head (broccoli heads are really
just clusters of flower buds) will appear on top of the central stem. After this first central head is
cut, smaller side branches will continue to produce over a long period.

Watch out for leaf-eating pests like cabbage butterfly. Yates Nature’s Way Derris Dust or
Success will give low-toxic control. Nature’s Way Insect & Mite Spray will take care of sapsuckers
like aphids.

Sow a few more rows of tape in autumn and you’ll be eating your own delicious broccoli for
months to come.



Comments (12)

Add a comment

  • Sylvia

    Yates site member

    08:54, 10 February 2010

    I love these seed tapes. I have for the first time grown carrotts and very little thinning. mmmmm!!!!

    Reply

  • Claire

    Yates site member

    09:13, 10 February 2010

    oh wow ! i never knew it could be so simple !!! i am so going to buy some of these !

    Reply

  • Steve

    Yates site member

    09:16, 10 February 2010

    I actually find there is less waste in thinning with seed tapes, great invention!

    Reply

  • Gail

    Yates site member

    09:22, 10 February 2010

    Will have to give the seed tape a try.

    Reply

  • Lance

    Yates site member

    09:43, 10 February 2010

    what they will not tell you is once you take the main head and any others that are big enough, do not rip the plant out. leave it there and let the little heads go to seed, collect the seed for next year. I paid for one packet of seed many years ago and have used my own seed since

    Reply

  • Valis

    Yates site member

    10:12, 10 February 2010

    Wow! I’m off down to the nursery. I’ve always wanted to give broccoli a go and didn’t realize it was this easy.

    Reply

  • Larraine

    Yates site member

    14:12, 10 February 2010

    A friend has used the seed tapes before and said they are great!

    Reply

  • Laurence

    Yates site member

    06:49, 11 February 2010

    Must try some

    Reply

  • Laurence

    Yates site member

    06:51, 11 February 2010

    Ditto

    Reply

  • mary

    Yates site member

    08:46, 13 February 2010

    must try these.

    Reply

  • Maureen

    Yates site member

    21:21, 14 February 2010

    What a great idea!

    Reply

  • Hayley

    Yates site member

    15:36, 16 February 2010

    Sold!

    Reply

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