Are you in need of new and different broccoli varieties to round out your crop portfolio? Scan the photo gallery above for a selection of fresh choices from leading seed breeders and distributors.
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Abrams (Seminis, Seedway, LLC, and Stokes Seeds)
Type: Fresh market, open field, hybrid Days to maturity: 104 direct seed, 62 from transplant Regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, West Other: ‘Abrams’ features a dark-green, smooth, firm, tight, dome-shape crown, and flat bottom. Vigorous plant holds the head up well. Harvest in one to two passes due to uniform, medium-fine bead. Average weight is 330 grams, with harvest uniformity between 55 and 60.
Belstar F1 Organic (Bejo Seeds and Harris Seeds / Garden Trends Inc.)
Type: Crown Cut Disease package: HR: FY, IR: WR, BR, Xcc Days to maturity: 66 Other: ‘Belstar F1’ performs very well under many different regional growing conditions. A uniform-shape dome with medium-size beads. It produces offshoots after the main head has been harvested.
Type: Fresh market, open field Regions: Southwest Other: ‘Castle Dome’ is a heat-loving hybrid that matures fast. It features quality crowns, florets, and uniform heads with tight, small beads, and high dome. Plant vigor allows later plantings in early season slots. Great for extended planting and harvest windows.
Eastern Crown F1 (Sakata Seed America, Osborne Quality Seeds, and Stokes Seeds)
Type: Hybrid Disease package: HT Days to maturity: 94 to 98 direct seed, 64 from transplant Regions: Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest Other: This compact hybrid highlights small blue-green beads on a dome-shape head. ‘Eastern Crown’ is perfect for the crown cut, short trim market. Performs well in long days, and moderate heat.
Type: Hybrid, Crown cuts, Short trim Disease package: AD, IR: Pfs, Pp Days to maturity: 93 direct seed, 77 to 78 from transplant Regions: Ohio, NAFTA Other: ‘Emerald Crown' was specifically bred for high-quality and high-yield crown cuts and short trim. Small framed plants produce blue-green, uniform, tight heavy heads with a small bead size, and a nice domed shape. Suited to fall plantings.
Type: Hybrid Disease package: IR: Aal, AS, ASC Days to maturity: 115+ days from direct seed for winter harvest Regions: Desert Southwest and Central Coast of California Other: Uniform harvest, dense curd, multi-use for crown and florets. Easy to clean and excellent field standability.
Disease package: AD Days to maturity: 88 Other: A highly adaptable, crown cut type yielding high-domed heads with very small beads and exceptionally uniform head maturity. It has a round shape, good heat tolerance, and less side shoots. Strong post-harvest color retention.
Disease package: HR: Pfs, Pp; Aal Days to maturity: 80 to 85 Other: Excellent crown cut, and floret for optimal harvesting. It has tight, firm heads with good weight.
Days to maturity: 80 to 85 Other: Exemplary uniformity optimized for domestic, and export crowns. ‘Secretariat’ has excellent machine harvest potential, and nicely homed heads with uniform beads.
Sorrento (Sakata Seed America and Gowan Seed Company)
Type: Raab, Rapini, Fresh Market Disease Package: B Days to maturity: 45 to 50 Other: ‘Sorrento’ is a faster-growing, early-maturing broccoli raab/rapini variety. It has a tall, upright plant habit, uniform, large florets with blue-green, narrow turnip-shape leaves. Perfect in fall or later winter growing slots.
Days to maturity: 58 Other: ‘Wolfman’ is a bunching-only variety, producing smaller heads held above the plant. Make sure to plant at higher populations.