Without boron, small buds, hollow pithy stems with internal brown discoloration, and low yields can result. Sidedress after 3 and 5 weeks with 30 lb of actual nitrogen per acre. Home gardeners should mix 2 level Tbsp of borax to 5 qt of fertilizer and apply this to each 100 ft of row before planting. Apply 100 lb per acre of calcium nitrate when heads are about the size of a quarter. This will reduce large stem diameter and, to some extent, rots.
Cultivation is often necessary.
This requires between 43,560 and 29,869 plants per acre. Mechanical transplanters, hand transplanters, or hand trowels may be used. Double rows will require that mechanical transplanters be set up in tandem or offset, and the field driven twice. To ensure proper settling of soil around the roots, water the plants well. Home garden, local sale, and large single-head crops should be spaced further apart for larger head size.