After harvesting my broccoli, I found that at the point of the cut they
developed a rot stating in the hollow of the stem . The stem contents turned to
stinky mush. I've cut it down to healthy stem. Is there something I can do to
prevent this on other plants?


Jack

Jack1000 wrote:

After harvesting my broccoli, I found that at the point of the cut they
developed a rot stating in the hollow of the stem . The stem contents
turned to stinky mush. I've cut it down to healthy stem. Is there
something I can do to prevent this on other plants?


Jack


I've never had that happen so it sounds like an opportunistic fungus to me.
Did you water / did it rain soon after cutting? Was the humidity
exceptionally high? The cut wound needs to heal (dry up) for a bit. You
might also look at dipping your cutting tool in a bleach solution to
sanitize it because it might be the source of the infection.

Bill
--
Zone 5b (Detroit, MI)
I do not post my address to news groups.

On 31 Jul 2003 18:53:02 GMT, (Jack1000) wrote:

After harvesting my broccoli, I found that at the point of the cut they
developed a rot stating in the hollow of the stem . The stem contents turned to
stinky mush. I've cut it down to healthy stem. Is there something I can do to
prevent this on other plants?


Jack

One way to minimize the problem is to cut the broccoli stem slanting
downward instead of straight across - then water doesnt collect that
easily.

Peter (Denmark)

Peter Norris wrote:

On 31 Jul 2003 18:53:02 GMT, (Jack1000) wrote:

After harvesting my broccoli, I found that at the point of the cut they
developed a rot stating in the hollow of the stem . The stem contents
turned to stinky mush. I've cut it down to healthy stem. Is there
something I can do to prevent this on other plants?


Jack

One way to minimize the problem is to cut the broccoli stem slanting
downward instead of straight across - then water doesnt collect that
easily.

Peter (Denmark)

Good point ... I guess I just assumed he was cutting at an angle because
that's how I do it. Also he should be certain to use a good sharp knife or
shears. If you are wounding the plant ... at least make a clean job of it.

Bill
--
Zone 5b (Detroit, MI)
I do not post my address to news groups.