Minimum, Optimal Spacing for Green Magic Broccoli

[karstopography]

Online well known seed companies seem to not necessarily agree on how far apart, the range I’ve read has been 12”-24” apart and up to 36” between rows. to plant one green magic broccoli from another one. I was leaning towards 15”-18” apart to maximize my garden space, but didn’t want to crowd them so that production might suffer. 24” apart like one or two seed vendors suggest seems excessive and a waste of space.

Does anyone have experience with green magic broccoli and how to space it?

[rossomendblot]

I haven't grown Green Magic in particular, but usually with calabrese the bigger the spacing the bigger the head. I typical space at 16-18" depending on the shape of bed they're going in, with 18" between rows.

[PlainJane]

Lol, I’m a confessed crowder who’s slowly learning to reform.
First reaction was 12” is plenty of space.
On reflection of last year’s broccoli and cauliflower crop, 14” is better.
Now I’ll have to run outside and see if I need to move this year’s first planting around.

[GoDawgs]

I tried Green Magic for the first time last spring next to the Packman I usually grow at 15'18" spacing. It appears to be what I call a fountain-shaped head as opposed to the more dome-shaped head of the Packman.



Then I tried it again last the fall because sometimes things do better in the fall here and got this:



This fall I have Green Magic, Goliath and Packman growing next to each other for comparison so we'll see what happens. They're still at the 15-18" spacing

[karstopography]

@GoDawgs very pretty broccoli there. I generally get the six pack starter plants when going with broccoli rather than starting my own. Green Magic is one of the few varieties they have around here. Sometimes, there’s six packs with eight, nine plants or more in them that I will separate so it isn’t so bad on the transplant cost math. 15-18” spacing and heads like that like would have me thrilled with those results. Putting broccoli transplants out in the fall, mid October in through November, is the way to go here. Whatever frosts we typically get aren’t bad enough to bother broccoli. I fertilized the heck out of the bed yesterday as I know broccoli and the other cabbage group are heavy feeders. I’ll transplant over the weekend.

[GoDawgs]

I measure out 15" spacing but you know how shovels wander a few inches.

[karstopography]

I transplanted eight Green Magic broccoli plants today. I actually got out a measure to see how I did. Closest spacing was 15”. 19” was the most distant.

I planted four of the broccoli near to my giant pascal celery because I read celery grown close to broccoli makes the broccoli taste even better.

[karstopography]

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Some of the fall brassicas et.al.

Still have some broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collards transplants that could use a few more days in the small containers before setting out.

Feel like a lot progress has been made recently on the fall plantings.

Not done yet, but when is a garden ever done?

[karstopography]

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Started broccoli and Romansco seeds today.

[GoDawgs]

I was going to plant out broccoli and other stuff on Wednesday but a front is coming through bringing a lot of sustained wind over Wed and Thurs. Not good for small plants! I might have to wait until Friday. This year it will be Goliath and Packman, six of each at first followed by the same again three weeks later.

[karstopography]

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My Belstar, Burgundy broccoli and Romanesco are up. There were hardly any seeds in the Burgundy pack, but I’ll have more than enough. Hybrid both broccolis so seeds are either more expensive or they send fewer. Meanwhile, there are ample Romanesco. Might be something to send along to the MMMM.

These will probably go inside under the lights and in the AC in a day or two. Cool night tonight and tomorrow night so being outside won’t hurt them.

[GoDawgs]

Last year I collected seeds from Packman broc even though it's a hybrid. It has always done the best for me of any other varieties I've grown. So I started six plants this fall and they're now in the garden. Those F2s were nicer than the first Packmans grown from the F1 seed and the Goliath! There are six more of both F1 and F2 under the lights for the second round of planting. So far the F2 plants look a little bigger than the F1s.

[ddsack]

Interesting, I have never attempted to save seeds from my broccoli, I'll be waiting for your final verdict of the F2 Packman. I grow just one crop of spring started broccoli per year, about 10-12 plants, I freeze as well as eat fresh, then get enough secondary shoots to last me through fall. My summer highs are mostly in the low 80's, so heat is not a big problem. When I get tired of it, I let some go to flowers because the bees just love the yellow blossoms. But after they fade, I often remove them when they start looking ratty. Not sure if my season is long enough for the seeds to mature before frost and freeze.