Broccoli cabbage: cleaning and storage

Keeping broccoli fresh for a long time is no easy task. This is a delicate vegetable that quickly deteriorates if the storage rules are not followed. But still, experienced gardeners manage not only to grow an excellent crop of this vegetable, but also to extend its shelf life. In this article, I would like to understand when it is better to cut broccoli and how to store it properly. We will also see interesting videos about growing and harvesting cabbage, beloved by many.

Harvesting

The whole growing process can simply go down the drain if cabbage is not harvested in time. And you should not collect either unripe fruits or overripe ones. It is especially difficult to guess heads with readiness if broccoli is grown in the country, and there is no way to constantly monitor growth.

You can determine that the time to harvest the fruits has come by the following signs:

1. A ripe broccoli head has a diameter of at least 10 cm. You can focus on the size of your palm. This is how cabbage should be.
2. Readiness can also be determined by the color of the heads. Ripe broccoli is dark green in color. At this time, the buds are still closed. If you see that the buds begin to bloom and turn yellow, then there is nowhere to delay harvesting. Blossoming cabbage loses its taste properties and is unsuitable for use in cooking. Even slightly yellowed fruits no longer have that attractiveness and exquisite taste.

   

3. Full maturity usually occurs 2 months after the first shoots appear. At this stage, each head should weigh at least 250 grams.
4. As long as the temperature has not dropped below 0, the cabbage can safely remain in the garden. Broccoli is often harvested in late autumn. In each region, cabbage ripens at different times.

The video below shows how and when to harvest kale broccoli.

How to harvest broccoli

Harvesting is carried out in the following way:

1. The best time to pick fruit is early morning. In the scorching sun, cabbage will quickly fade.
2. Do not uproot the cabbage or tear off the fruit. Only the head is cut off. So, we retreat about 10 cm down from the head itself and cut off the broccoli. In no case should you cut the stem, this will only damage the bush, which in the future may re-crop.
3. It is necessary to have time to harvest broccoli before the temperature drops below -2°C. Cabbage does not tolerate low temperatures and can simply freeze. One night with slight frosts and you can say goodbye to the harvest.
4. When the main head is cut, side shoots will begin to actively grow. Since they are small in size, they grow quite quickly. It is necessary to constantly monitor in order to cut ripe cabbage in time. Usually, young shoots fully mature within 3 days. If the weather is cloudy outside, then ready-made fruits can be expected no earlier than in a week. Fruits harvested in time are much better stored. So, without missing the moment of ripeness of broccoli, you can get a tasty and healthy dietary vegetable.

Crop storage

Of course, every gardener would like to keep his crop for a long time. It is for this that it is necessary to leave the base of the bush on the bed. After the main head is cut, new side shoots will appear on it. Thanks to this property, cabbage can be harvested from the garden a few more times.

Such cabbage is perfectly stored in the freezer for 6 months. Inflorescences should be divided and decomposed into vacuum or other freezer bags. Do the same with the main head of cabbage. In the video below, you can more clearly see how to properly freeze cabbage for the winter.

But not everyone knows how to properly freeze broccoli. This is done as follows:

• cabbage is washed in cold water;
• then the heads of cabbage are cleaned of leaves and woody parts of the stem;
• the head is divided into small inflorescences;
• prepare a saline solution (2 tablespoons of salt per 2 liters of water);
• inflorescences are soaked for half an hour in the prepared solution. This is done so that caterpillars and other insects get out of the cabbage;
• after 30 minutes, rinse the broccoli in water again;
• put a large container on the stove and pour more than half of the water there. Turn on the fire and bring the water to a boil;
• after the water boils, prepared inflorescences are thrown there and kept in boiling water for at least 3 minutes;
• cabbage is taken out of the pan with a colander and dipped in ice water for 5 minutes. If the water is not cold enough, you can throw ice into it;
• now the broccoli is taken out of the water and left in a colander to drain;
• further, the cabbage is packaged in special bags or containers. Air is released from the bags and tied well;
• broccoli is ready to freeze.

But, many gardeners want to store broccoli fresh. This method of storage is also practiced, but vegetables will not stand for as long as in the freezer. Usually, ripe cabbage can stand for no more than 5 days. Subject to all storage rules, this period will last up to a maximum of 15 days. This does not apply to damaged or diseased heads. In this case, the timing of the harvest plays an important role. Timely cut heads will be stored a little longer than overripe ones. The video above shows what a ripe cabbage should look like.

It is best to store fresh cabbage in the refrigerator. For this, the following conditions must be met:

• air humidity should be about 90%;
• temperature regime is not less than 0 and not more than +10°C;
• there should not be any other vegetables or fruits in the broccoli crate. Some of them have the ability to release ethylene, which is bad for the quality of broccoli. Because of this substance, the cabbage begins to rot and quickly deteriorates.

To keep broccoli fresh, you must follow the instructions exactly:

1. Heads should be inspected for insects and damage. In addition, cabbage may have mold and dark spots. Because of this, the fruits quickly begin to deteriorate and rot.
2. Wash vegetables before putting them in the refrigerator. This is done immediately before using cabbage.
3. You can put the head in a plastic bag, but in no case should you close it. Vapors will remain inside the bag, which may cause the vegetable to become moldy.
4. Humidity in the refrigerator must be at least 90%. If it is not enough, you can use the following method. A damp paper towel is placed at the bottom of the vegetable crate. Then you should put a bag of broccoli there. This method allows you to extend the shelf life of cabbage. Now the vegetable will be stored in your refrigerator for at least 2 weeks.

It is better not to keep broccoli in the refrigerator for a long time. The longer the vegetable sits, the worse the taste will be. It is advised to cook cabbage within 4 days after harvest. If you do not have time to cook a vegetable, then it is better to freeze the cabbage in the manner described above.

Conclusion

So, we looked at how broccoli is harvested and stored. These are very important steps. Every gardener knows how difficult it is to keep broccoli fresh for a long time. These tips will help you avoid making mistakes and cook dishes from your own grown vegetables all winter. Also, do not forget to watch a video about harvesting broccoli for the winter.