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Broccoli - Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Non GMO & Organic Heirloom Vegetable

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Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli - (Brassica oleracea) Non GMO & Organic Heirloom Vegetable

Annual

Height 76 -91 cm 30-36 in

The Early Purple Sprouting broccoli is an heirloom broccoli bred for overwintering! This variety produces lots of beautiful purple broccoli sprouts in the spring. The Early Purple Sprouting grows slowly through the winter; very frost hardy

  • Annual
  • Sow broccoli seeds in early March indoors, or in May and June for a fall harvest.
  • Start seedlings indoors 3 or 4 seeds per pot, 5 mm (¼”) deep, under very bright light. Germinate @ 20 C in early March. Cover seeds lightly. Thin to the strongest plant.
  • When seedlings are strong enough to handle; transplant out in May to 30cm apart. Space transplants 45-60 cm (18-24″) apart in rows 75-90 cm (30-36″) apart. Matures 80 days from transplant
  • Produces very tender 7 – 10 cm central head with side shoots
  • Sun:Full Sun / Partial Shade
  • Days To Maturity (# Days):63

  • Plant Height 18-30”

  • Seed count: 1 gr

Broccoli is a hardy, cool-season vegetable bringing colorful green nutrients to the table. Broccoli is part of the Cole Crop family, which also includes cabbage, kohlrabi, kale and more. It can be grown twice a year, in the late spring and the fall.

Before Planting: Broccoli prefers a well-drained, fertile soil high in organic matter, and a pH of 6.0–7.5 with a consistent supply of moisture throughout the growing season. Irrigate regularly for best results. Broccoli does not generally do well in hot weather. The best success is with spring and fall crops.

Planting: Use early and midseason broccoli varieties in the Spring. Sow 2 seeds per cell or 3–4 seeds/in. in row flats. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 3–4 weeks. If possible keep soil temperature at 80°F until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 60°F. Ensure good air circulation and light. Transplant outdoors 10–18″ apart in rows 18–36″ apart. Broccoli prefers cooler growing temperatures, between 55–75°F but will produce good crops under warmer, summer conditions. For a Fall crop, start seedlings indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting. as above in May and transplant to the garden in June–July. To ensure mature heads, seed the crop early in areas where heavy freezes occur early in the Fall. Successful broccoli crops can be grown where winters are rarely below 32°F. Transplants can be set out from September to February in these regions. Sow 3–4 seeds 12″ apart, ½” deep, rows 18–36″ apart, thinning to one plant in each group.

Watering: Broccoli likes cool soil, so adding grass clippings around the plants helps. Also, water deeply and often. When watering broccoli, do not get water on the developing heads. Some varieties of broccoli are heat tolerant, but still require adequate watering, such as 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.

Days to Maturity: Broccoli is ready to harvest when florets are tightly closed in the center but begin to loosen slightly around the edges. (50-80 days)

Harvesting: Before flower buds open, cut center head. Harvest secondary side shoots regularly to encourage continued production. If buds begin to show a yellow color, harvest immediately.

Tips: Repel flea beetles and root maggots on young seedlings by covering with floating row covers from day of planting. Treat flea beetles with pyrethrin or azadirachtin if heavy pressure is observed. For cabbage worms and loopers, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt.).

AVG. Seeding Rate: 1,000 seeds/83′, 50,000 seeds/acre spaced 7″ apart in rows 18″ apart.