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Why Did My Broccoli Flower So Fast

I have Broccoli growing that went to flowers so fast that all I had of them were a few Buds to eat… Can the flowers/Stems be eaten, and can I just cut back the stems and hope for a new buds to grow? Thank you in advance Gary

Posted by mecochise on July 7, 2008

Marianne's Response

Your broccoli is bolting - this is a gardening term used to describe cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and broccoli that goes to flower instead of making heads. The cause is warm weather and the cure is an organic mulch like compost on top of the soil to keep it cool or even a shade covering to keep the hot sun off the plants. Next year, plant the crop sooner so it has cool weather in late spring to set heads.