Farm to Fork

ASI is participating in several farm-to-fork and Food Day events this fall, including the Davis Chamber of Commerce Ag Economy luncheon which will feature broccoli seedlings grown by UC Davis Student Farm students.

The broccoli seedlings the Student Farm is sharing with the Davis Chamber of Commerce are one example of the sort of hands-on education students receive at the Student Farm, which is a program of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis

Learn more about the UC Davis Student Farm.

Caring for your broccoli plant

Wondering how to take care of the broccoli plant you received today? Alice Del Simone is happy to help.

 

Planting instructions:

  • Transplant seedling into your indoor, or outdoor, garden in the next couple of weeks
  • If you’re planting into a pot, use at least a two-gallon container per seedling.
  • Broccoli prefer at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
  • Fill the pot with potting soil mix.
  • Before transplanting water your seedling.
  • To plant, gently squeeze the sides of the seedling pot before removing it by holding near the base of the stem
  • Place it in the hole and firmly pack the soil around the base of the seeding
  • Water the pot.


Care instructions:

  • Water regularly, about one inch per week
  • Add nutrients, such as a fish fertilizer or another nitrogen-rich amendment
  • As the plant grows, check for pests such as cabbage worms or aphids. Cabbage worms are small green worms that are generally on the undersides of the leaves.  Remove any worms immediately.
  • Harvest the central head as it comes to maturity. After you cut off the first head of broccoli, side heads will continue to grow well into the cooler weather. These can be harvested as they mature.