Spindly Broccoli Heads: Too Much Nitrogen from Manure

Lush, huge leaves but tiny, spindly heads? Your composted horse and chicken manure delivered a nitrogen overdose. Broccoli shifts to vegetative growth (leaves) when nitrogen is excessive, neglecting flower bud (head) formation. A soil test (georgiasoiltest.com) would confirm this.

At this stage, till the plants under—hot weather will bolt them anyway. Next season, use balanced fertilizer and test soil first.