It was attacked by flea beetles, then some other little wormy things. Broccoli also likes cool weather.

If you cut off the flowery parts and wait, you will get sprouts on the sides of the stalks that you can eat. I wait until after the first frost to eat it so all the creepy crawlers are gone.

I didn't even bother planting it this year. Fresh-cut broccoli is sooooo good though... so much better than from the supermarket.

Just get out there in the morning before the male flowers close. You have to pay attention to when there's a male about to bloom. When it does, just pick it, peel off the petal stuff, and go around sticking it in to all the female flowers that are blooming. You can also use something like a feather or q-tip to collect pollen from the males and transfer it to the females. Sounds odd but it really works.

gender

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The females have a bulge underneath the flower, that's the beginning of your fruit. The males are on a skinny stem with no bulge. The first week or so of flowers are usually entirely male, then females start showing up.

But you are right, it would work. I just use my finger, since I am too lazy to go grab a paintbrush or something. I get pollen all over my finger, and brush it against the female stigma. Well, I suppose that sounds pornographic too.