Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu
We are finishing late spring, early summer harvest in our Broccoli variety trial in Georgetown. Of the over 20 varieties tested, only a small number have shown potential for extended harvest into late spring/early summer. The majority of varieties in our April 17 planted plot have “knuckled” or have significant brown bead rendering them unsaleable.
Broccoli variety with a high percentage of “knuckled” heads with uneven floret growth rendering the variety unsuitable for later spring production.
Broccoli variety with a high percentage of heads with brown bead rendering the variety unsuitable for late spring production.
One variety that has stood out in our late trial is ‘Millennium’, a variety with noted heat tolerance. While lighter green in color, the majority harvested have been marketable with little “knuckling” or brown bead.
‘Millennium’, a stand out in our late spring broccoli variety trial, Georgetown, Delaware, 2017