Good Source of Info On Broccoli Varieties
For excellent info on the best broccoli varieties by state go to the vegetable variety data collection project at Cornell University - www.vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu. We urge you to join this valuable site and contribute your own ratings of varieties.
SPRING BROCCOLI
DeCicco: This variety grows big center heads as well as lots of smaller side shoots. A late maturing type, it is both tasty and productive. It produces a good fall crop also. Seed packets hold 1.5 grams of seed, sufficient to plant a row of about 150 feet at the specified spacing. Plants will be ready to pick 90 days from when the seeds sprout.
George’s Best (Barbados) Hybrid: A spoof of former president George Bush’s opinion of broccoli, this vigorous Barbados hybrid is mildew-tolerant. It produces deep blue-green heads, even in very warm areas. Flavorful and vitamin-rich, a packet of seeds plants a row about 15 feet long if seeds are planted at specified spacing. It takes 60 to 70 days before the broccoli is mature enough to pick.
- 60-70 Days to Harvest
- Plant 1/2-inch Deep, 3-foot Row Spacing & 2-foot Plant Spacing
FALL BROCCOLI
One of the best broccoli varieties for fall is Waltham 29. Saga has good tolerance for late summer heat
SPROUTING BROCCOLI
The best sprouting varieties, which produce no main head but lots of sprouts, are DeCicco and Green Sprouting Calabrese.