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Broccoli
Frank J. Dainello,
Extension Horticulturist
Department of
Horticultural Sciences,
Texas A&M University |
Click photo to enlarge in new window. |
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VARIETIES
Sultan, Everest, Patriot, Marathon, Liberty, Signal, Triathlon
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SOIL PREFERENCE
Fertile, well-drained, medium-textured soils; will do relatively well
on heavy soils, but poorly on sands.
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OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS
Cool days(70-80oF) with cool to cold nights(40-50oF).
Will tolerate wide temperature fluctuations. Mid 20's is the normal freeze
threshold.
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ESTABLISHMENT
Direct seeded or transplanted
| Optimum time= |
| Spring- |
soil seed zone temperature >40oF, 60-90 days prior
to maximum air temperature exceeding 90oF; |
| Fall- |
soil seed zone temperature <than 100oF, 60-90 days
prior to average first frost date. |
| Seeding rate= |
0.5 - 1.5 lbs/A. |
| Approx seed / oz= |
9,000 |
| Seeding depth= |
0.25" |
| Seedling spacing= |
| Fresh market- |
1 - 2 rows on 24 - 40" raised beds with 6 - 9" in-row spacing |
| Processing- |
9 - 15" in-row spacing. |
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FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION
Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P20 and K20 (base actual application
rates on soil test results).
| Generalized rate lbs/A |
120 - 70 - 80. |
| N- |
75 - 100 lbs pre-plant broadcast incorporated, split-banded 4"
on either side of seed row, or injected through irrigation water;
25 - 50 lbs/A side-dressed at thinning or transplanting; 25 lbs
approx 2 wk prior to harvest. |
| P- |
60 - 80 lbs banded approx 2" below seed at planting. |
| K- |
approx 80 - 100 lbs if needed, normally only required in East
Texas. |
|
| * Note-
Use high phosphate starter solution with transplant establishment (5 lbs
of 5-20-10 etc./100 gal water). |
WATER/IRRIGATION
High water demand(20 - 25"). Critical demand period is during establishment
of direct seeded stand and during heading. Drought stress can cause buttoning.
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PEST MANAGEMENT
| Major Diseases |
Control |
| Black rot |
Treated seed, resistant varieties |
| Black leg |
Rovral, disease free seed |
| Bacterial soft rot |
Resistant varieties |
| Alternaria |
Bravo, maneb, Quadris |
| Downy mildew |
Aliette, Bravo, maneb, Ridomil Gold Bravo |
| Brown bud (bead) |
Factors related to rapid growth and calcium nutrition |
| Nematode |
K-Pam, Telone II, Telone C-17 |
|
| Major Insects |
Control |
| Cabbage looper |
Asana, Avaunt, B.t.'s, Fury/Mustang, Intrepid, permethrin, Proclaim,
Spintor, Warrior |
| Diamondback moth |
Asana, Avaunt, B.t.'s, Fury/Mustang, Intrepid, permethrin, Proclaim,
Spintor, Warrior |
| Beet armyworm |
Avaunt, B.t.'s, Intrepid, Lannate, Larvin, Proclaim, Spintor |
| Aphid |
Assail, Admire, diazinon, dimethoate, Di Syston, Fulfill, Metasystox-R,
Provado |
| Harlequin bug |
Asana, Capture, Danitol, endosulfan, Fury/Mustang, Sevin, Warrior |
| Whitefly |
Assail, Admire, Danitol, endosulfan, Provado |
| Mite |
Capture, Danitol |
|
| Weeds |
Control |
| Preplant incorporated |
Dacthal, Devrinol, Prefar, Treflan |
| Preemergence |
Dacthal, Prefar, Goal (transplants only) |
| Postemergence |
Poast, Select, Stinger |
|
| *NOTE--The
above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels
may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product
labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result
in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals
and the environment may also be adversely affected by miusue. |
HARVEST
| Days after planting |
| Direct Seeded- |
65 - 100. |
| Transplanted- |
50 - 70. |
| Optimum stage= |
While flower buds are green and tightly closed |
| Fresh market- |
4 - 6" flower. |
| Processing- |
1" stem diameter + flower > 6". |
| Normal method= |
Hand harvested. |
| Containers= |
Bulk wagons or bushel baskets. |
| Grades/Grading/Handling= |
3 - 4" heads cut with stalks 6-7" long and less than 1"in diameter
and tied into 1.5-lb bunches for fresh market sales; stalks 7-8"
in length with heads >6" for processing. |
| Packaging= |
Normally in half-carton cardboard boxes, packed 14 bunches (20
- 23 lbs) / box and top iced. |
| Anticipated yield/A= |
| Fresh market- |
350 - 400 boxes. |
| Processing- |
5 - 6 tons. |
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STORAGE/TRANSIT/CONDITIONS
32oF at 95 - 100 % RH; 31oF; freezing point; 10
- 14 day maximum shelf-life. |
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS
- Stress (low moisture, unfavorable temperatures and low fertility)
during early growth will stunt plants and greatly reduce yield and
quality.
- Warm temperatures and increasing day length will cause early flowering
of the heads.
- Water beading on heads can cause discoloration and decay.
- This crop may have an adverse allopathic effect on following vegetable
crop (plant stunting, reduced yield or possible seedling death under
certain environmental conditions).
- High nitrogen requirements.
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Texas Cooperative
Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series
Revised November, 2003
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/broccoli.html
Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger |
