Best Broccoli?

[so lucky]

What kind of broccoli do you grow from seed? I planted Pacman plants last year, and it seemed to bolt prematurely and unevenly--a few of the individual flowerets in a head would spring up and bloom, while the rest of the head was sort of firm. Not a good look or effect. This year I grew De Cicco from seed, and although they made big sturdy plants, the heads were never big. Just sends up little half inch buds. And the flavor is not good, either. I have no trouble growing the stuff, not even much trouble with cabbage worms, if I am dilligent, but I still haven't been able to grow a good attractive, tasty broccoli. I can't remember what I used to plant when I gardened before. So.....what do you plant?

 

[Carol Dee]

I am no help as I do not remember what we planted this year or last! But we got a few small but nice heads last summer. And stuff like you mentioned this year. Bur we think the heat and drought have a lot more to do with it than the variety.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

My broccoli died in the heat and drought this year. Same with my sprouts and cauliflower. I got my cabbage in early enough that they did real good. I just pulled all the dead plants out a few days ago. My compost pile is growing by leaps and bounds.

Carol Dee, you sound a lot like me - I can never remember the names of the stuff I plant. But I do keep close track of my heirloom tomatoes and the names.

Last year my sprouts did OK and with the mild winter we had they did OK all the way up until it was time to prepare the garden soil for this season's planting. I harvested Brussels sprouts in January, February, and March. Very strange.

I remember a few years ago we had an unusually cool and wet growing season and my Brassicas did very well. But if this weather trend keeps up I won't be wasting my time planting them any time soon.

 

[wsmoak]

My vote was going to be for for Pacman but it sounds like it doesn't do well in your environment. Here I can only grow it in the Fall (I have seeds started now!). In the Spring it's a disaster -- it gets too hot too fast here, the bugs get it, etc. In the Fall it grows nice big (delicious) heads and then a decent crop of side shoots. It takes a LOT of room though, it spreads way out -- and apparently this affects how big the head is.

-Wendy

 

[so lucky]

Hmmm, maybe if I plant Pacman in the fall it would do better. It did last all through the winter, last season, and I harvested some in February. Of course, the winter was milder than normal.

 

[digitS']

I didn't look at this thread early because I didn't think I had much broccoli variety experience to share. So Lucky, I have grown Pacman for about 6 or 7 years now and once grew De Cicco. The De Cicco is doing what it is supposed to, I believe. It is a "sprouting broccoli" so you are getting "sprouts" not a head.

For quite awhile, I grew Premium Crop but the plants begin to develop heads a little late for here. The hot weather would show up and they'd just bolt immediately, some years. Pacman has been quicker to develop heads and gets in under the wire .

This year, however, the rabbit really did a number on the broccoli! I've essentially lost them all. What survived the attacks have been delayed long enuf that, you guessed it, the weather is now interfering with them. The puny little things are just bolting . . .

Steve

 

[so lucky]

You know, the word "sprouting" kept popping into my mind when I thought the words "De Cicco" as if I had learned that info years ago and it just got lost in the mess inside my brain. Thanks, digitS' for reminding me. So what am I supposed to do with sprouting broccoli? Is it for using as sprouted seeds? If so, I wonder why the seed company wouldn't say that on the label. It sure did sprout well, at any rate!

 

[lesa]

I have always grown De Cicco. It gets a smallish head first- maybe the size of a baseball. After that it grows small "sprouts" that are very edible, just not the lovely large head you buy in the grocery. I prefer this, since it keeps on producing the entire season, well into fall. If you do not cut it, it will go to flower for sure. But, if you keep up with it, you will have many nice meals from it. I don't think this year (with all the crazy heat, dryness, etc.) is a good one to judge much in the garden this year. Happy Gardening!

 

[hoodat]

You know, the word "sprouting" kept popping into my mind when I thought the words "De Cicco" as if I had learned that info years ago and it just got lost in the mess inside my brain. Thanks, digitS' for reminding me. So what am I supposed to do with sprouting broccoli? Is it for using as sprouted seeds? If so, I wonder why the seed company wouldn't say that on the label. It sure did sprout well, at any rate!

Sprouting brocoli is a cut and come again crop. It has individual sprouts rather than forming a tight head. It actually gives you a longer season and more production overall. You might look into the purple sprouting brocoli. It has a nice color for salads and if you cook it, it turns green with heat. Many of the sprouting brocolis come from Italy, where it is very popular.