Spring Broccoli Trial – Late Spring, Early Summer Harvest

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