Broccoli may stir up strong opinions about its taste, but there’s no denying its health benefits. Packed with fibre, vitamins, and minerals, this superfood has earned its spot in health-conscious diets around the globe.

But did you know this green giant can thrive in more than just cold climates? Rema Devi from Kerala shares her tips for growing broccoli at home even in the tropical heat.

1. Sow seeds or saplings

Broccoli can be grown from either seeds or saplings. To start with seeds, plant them in a tray or pot, and keep the soil moist but not overly wet.

This method enhances germination and produces stronger seedlings. Once the seeds develop into healthy seedlings, transplant them into the soil.

Rema advises dipping the roots in pseudomonas liquid for 30 minutes before transplanting. This practice strengthens the roots and helps prevent decay.

2. Prepare a nutrient-rich potting mix

Combine the soil with lime and let the mixture dry in the sun for about a week. Use five grams of lime per grow bag.

After drying, incorporate organic manure, such as cow dung powder or compost, and mix in some coco peat. Before planting, add a handful of neem cake and bone meal for each grow bag.

3. Fill the grow bag

A crucial step is to fill the grow bag in stages according to the plant’s growth. Start by filling the grow bag with the soil mix up to one-quarter full. Then plant the sapling or seedling.

As the plant grows, gradually add more soil to the bag. This method promotes faster growth and helps produce bigger broccoli.

4. Provide less sunlight

Broccoli thrives in cooler climates, so it’s best to place the plant where it gets up to 50 percent sunlight rather than full sun.

Broccoli can also grow in temperate regions like Kerala. However, it requires extra care, including watering twice a day to keep the soil moist.

5. Add organic fertilisers

Once you’ve planted the sapling, ensure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged. Rema suggests, “You don’t need to add fertilisers immediately; the soil is nutrient-rich enough for the first two weeks. After that, you can enrich it with bio-slurries and other organic materials for better growth.”

To make a bio-slurry, mix cow dung, groundnut cake, neem cake, and green leaves in a container, ferment for 10 days, then add 100 grams of lime and let it sit for another five days.

Dilute one cup of the slurry in 10 cups of water and use it occasionally. Fermented groundnut cake can also be applied twice a week.

6. Combat pests

Broccoli is vulnerable to pests, so it’s essential to use organic pesticides. Mix 100 grams of neem cake in 3-4 litres of water and add 2-3 crushed garlic bulbs. Let it sit for at least 12 hours overnight, then strain and spray it on your plants.

Healthy broccoli will be ready to harvest in about 60 days, and you can enjoy both the heads and leaves, which are also nutritious.