Apart from Broccoli being an easy vegetable to grow it is also amongst the superfood groups and is extremely good for you.
You can do one of two things, buy plants from a nursery/garden centre or grow from seed. (I tend to try and grow from seed)
Growing from seed is the cheapest way and allows you to buy mopre varieties, however, buying the plants will give you a head start.
Growing from seedFill a flat or individual peat pot with equal parts topsoil, sand and peat moss. Plant the seeds two inches apart, two seeds to a pot is also fine. Water these well and keep the ground moist while the seeds are germinating. When they have sprouted, give them plenty of water to prevent the soil from drying out, do NOT let the soil go soggy, this will make the seedlings rot and it sounds like they have done just this.
You may move your seedlings into the ground when the Broccoli has produced it's second or third set of true leaves. Plant the seedlings 18 to 24 inches apart in row 24 to 36 inches apart.
You can also plant seeds directly into the garden, four to six weeks before the last frost of winter (we don't get much frost in Spain but some areas in the country and further will for sure).
Ensure that the soil you are growing your Broccoli in is rich in nutrients and organic matter for the best results. Your soil should also be good draining soil, if you have a lot of clay (like me) work some sand and compost into the soil.
Remember: Any type of soil is improved by working well-rotted manure through it.Broccoli needs a lot of water throughout the growing season, but watch from the soil becoming soggy.
You can fertilise your Broccoliu with various solutions such as: compost tea, fish emulsion, liquid seaweed, well-rotted manure.
Weeds will do more harm that good around your Broccoli plants, they will soak up the nutrients that the Broccoli requires and make the Broccoli more susceptible to insects and diseases.
Do you have any cabbageworm infestation?
Cabbageworm will devastate a Broccoli plant in a short time. They are hard to see, they are almost the same colour as the Broccoli itself. If you see any black pellets at the base of the leaves then you have cabbageworm, pick these off by hand if you see any.
Aphids can also infect Broccoli, check for these and spray the plants with a hard stream of water to knock them off, as you would with roses etc.
Making your Broccoli HarvestWhen the central head of the Broccoli is a few inches across, take a sharp knife, cut the stalk a few inches below the top of the head above the leaves. Leave enough stalk so that the plant can send out side shoots. These side shoots can be harvested throughout the season.
I hope this helps and if not, let us know as other members may have further tips and advice for your Broccoli that is soggy, however, I think you were right when you said that the bad weather has flooded them out.
Simone
General Gardening Spain