SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brassica oleracea var. italica
INTENSIVE SPACING: 2 rows per bed spaced every 45cm on the row
PAPERPOT TRANSPLANTER: Use LP303-15 paperchains and remove every second seedling at nursery stage. Transplant after temperatures average above minimum 10C.
CULTURE: Broccoli as well as cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and related brassicas are heavy feeders. They require fertile soils in a pH range of 6.5-7.5, supplied with consistent irrigation throughout the growing period.
EARLY SPRING CROP: Use early and mid-season varieties. Sow 2 seeds per cell in 50-72 cell plug flats, 3-4 seeds/2.5cm. in 20 row flats, or in outdoor beds 6mm deep. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 4-6 weeks. If possible keep soil temperature over 24C until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 16C. Transplant outdoors, 4-6 weeks after sowing, 30-45cm apart in rows 45-90cm apart. Cabbage prefers cooler growing temperatures, between 13-24C, optimum being 16-21C, but will produce good crops under warmer, summer conditions.
AUTUMN CROP: Use mid-season and storage varieties. Start seedlings as above in November and transplant to the garden in December-January. To ensure mature heads, seed the crop early in areas where heavy freezes occur early in autumn.
WINTER CROP: Successful cabbage crops can be grown where winters are mild (temperatures rarely below 0C). Transplants can be set out from March to August in these regions.
DIRECT SEEDING: Sow 3-4 seeds 30cm apart, 12mm deep, rows 60-90cm apart, thinning to one plant in each group.
SPLITTING: Early varieties may split or burst at maturity or from rapid new growth if rain or heavy irrigation follows a dry spell. Splitting may be partially avoided by slowing a plant’s growth. To accomplish this, cultivate close to plants to sever some of the root system, or by slightly twisting the plant.
DISEASES: Adhere strictly to a preventive program including: (1) long crop rotations with non-cruciferous crops, (2) clean starting mixes and outdoor seedbeds, and (3) strict sanitation practices.
INSECT PESTS: Repel flea beetles and root maggots on young seedlings by covering with floating row covers from day of planting. Treat flea beetles with insecticides such as pyrethrin or azadirachtin if heavy pressure is observed. For cabbage worms and loopers, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) ‘Dipel’. Cutworm prevention: cultivate soil 2-4 weeks before planting to work in cover crops and destroy weeds.
HARVEST AND STORAGE: Relatively young heads (still green and actively growing) store best. Ideal conditions are 0C, at 95-98% relative humidity, with good air circulation. Store only disease-free heads.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From cool weather, spring transplanting. Subtract 10-14 days for late spring or early summer, warm weather transplanting. Add about 14 days for direct seeding.
AVG. PRECISION SEEDING RATE: 100 seeds/15metres, 500 seeds/83metres, 1M/165metres, 29M/acre at 2 seeds/30cm. with rows 90cm apart.
SIZED SEEDS: Standard except where noted.
SEED SPECS: SEEDS/500g.: 67,500-164,300 (avg. 108,600)
