I am growing brocolli for the first time and would like to know how to store it long term
Dehydrating with a dehydrator, or flash freezing will be the best for long term storage.
Does the plant die back to the ground? Should I cut it back? Do I cover with mulch? If so, what kind of mulch? After the second growing season can I plant new broccoli plants in the same part of the garden?
Broccoli is a biennial similar to how a carrot is a biennial. In order to obtain seeds, you must sacrifice the edible portions of the plant and only harvest the seeds after the second year.
If you wish to eat the broccoli, and not collect its seed, then it must be treated as an annual. This article will help you to grow broccoli: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/how-to-grow-broccoli.htm
My plants are leggy and leafy but no heads are forming.
This can be caused by a few issues. Heat, low humidity, lack of nitrogen, and lack of sunlight, depending on the exact look and fashion of the issue. This article will help you to address this problem: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/broccoli-not-forming-heads.htm
I am a brand new gardener (retired surgeon). I have seeds of Broccoli and Bean seeds (Bush variety) Instruction keeps talking about FIRST and LAST frost dates. Then it seems it says to sow it in spring. Then it seems to say, sow anytime! Confusing. Please help. When should I sow i) Broccoli ii) Bean seeds (Bush) outside in the yard? Or should I plant in a pot now and transfer to yard later? Or should I plant in spring? Thanks.
We have just the article to lay out when to plant what! This will help:
broccolli does not form a head
This article should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/broccoli-not-forming-heads.htm
It also happening with cabbage plants as well
There aren't soil-borne problems with hydroponics, but apparently some pests don't care what growing medium you're using - they love broccoli. Can pests get in the shade house? Look carefully at the undersides of the leaves for cabbage worms or other insects. You may need to spray them off or pick them off by hand. These articles should help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/broccoli/common-broccoli-problems.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cabbage/protecting-your-cabbages-from-cabbage-maggot-cabbageworm-and-cabbage-moth.htm
Set seeds to early and plants put out under cover (to protect from caterpillars).They are very advanced - what can I do?
If they have bolted, you will need to start over. This article will help: