Broccoli and Cauliflower Trials Round 2

[Mark_Thompson]

Varieties in this planting include: Purple Magic, Aspabroc F1, Baby, Fioretto, Amazing (not sure why I chose to give it a second chance) Romanesco from Baker Creek, Sun King F1. Will keep everyone updated on the progress of this plot. About to roll out in the dark to stab slugs and smash Chinese rose beetles before they can do any more damage.

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[JayneR13]

Will row covers or high tunnels thwart the beasties?

[Mark_Thompson]

@JayneR13 I’m sure they would. An occasional early morning or night of manual murder is usually good enough though.

[greenthumbomaha]

Varieties in this planting include: Purple Peacock, Aspabroc F1, Baby, Fioretto, Amazing (not sure why I chose to give it a second chance) Romanesco from Baker Creek, Sun King F1. Will keep everyone updated on the progress of this plot. About to roll out in the dark to stab slugs and smash Chinese rose beetles before they can do any more damage.


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I'm curious how Romanesco does for you. It does not do well here as our spring is short and summer heat arrives quckly. The Spruce lists three varieties: Veronica, Natalino, Gitano, and many lesser known heirlooms. Interesting!

- Lisa

[Mark_Thompson]

@greenthumbomaha Follow along here and you’ll be among the first to find out! Everything growing pretty nicely so far, last batch my first broccoli was picked 36 days post-transplant, so hopefully not too long to wait.

[Mark_Thompson]

Progressing

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[Mark_Thompson]

Right around the one month mark Fioretto cauli and Sunking F1 brocc showing signs of life. I planted a little closer together than I normally do in hopes that the plants would support each other, and it’s worked out so far despite some nasty winds. Wonder if the trade off will be head size?

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[MissS]

I don't see much pest damage on your plants. What are you using to control the insects?

[Mark_Thompson]

@MissS No issues knock on wood. Saw one moth flapping around and smashed one caterpillar, but besides that all good

[Mark_Thompson]

Month and a week first harvest. Sunking F1, Fioretto cauliflower, and Aspabroc. No comments on flavor, everything the same to me. Amazing seems to be a standout as susceptible to whatever foliar disease I’ve got.

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[GoDawgs]

I'll be starting my Packman F2 seeds tomorrow. The fall group got hit really hard by H. Helene. They gradually recovered but I don't consider it a fair trial.

In the rare seasons when cauliflower of any kind decides to grow, Amazing has been the winner with no disease problems at all. I almost didn't start any cauliflower for this spring because the weather has been so variable. But I'm rethinking that even though I swore I wasn't going to grow any more in the spring I just might do maybe four just for the heck of it. Sometimes I'm a glutton for punishment. But after seeing one head of cauliflower for $3.99 at Walmart the other day I think I've decided to just give it another shot.

[Mark_Thompson]

Got a few more Fiorettos, and continue to harvest Aspabroc. One of my Purple Magics finally threw a head. Very pretty, but only purple where the sun was hitting it. No action yet from Baby, Amazing, or Romanesco.

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[MissS]

That's a beautiful head of broccoli in the first photo. I wish you luck with the Romanesco. I tried it three different times and never got a head from it. Hopefully it just didn't like my climate.

[rossomendblot]

Very pretty broccoli! I wonder what they crossed it with to get that colour, perhaps a purple cauliflower? The purple stem really reminds me of kalettes (kale X Brussel sprouts).

[Mark_Thompson]

Yeah my brother has successfully grown Romanesco before, not sure what time of year though. Plants are so-so so I haven’t given up yet.

@rossomendblot I really wanted to try those Kalettes but I don’t think I have the weather for them. Fun idea though.

[Mark_Thompson]

Romanesco never happened, pulled it the other day. I have another variety going in another plot, will make a thread for that one if anyone expresses interest.

This plot almost cured my desire for experimentation. I really should just stick with Fioretto cauli and Aspabroc.

[AdrianaG]

I harvested my first ever broccoli this week. Promptly made a copycat of Panera’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup.

Overnight one of my plants was attacked by cabbage loopers. I hand picked and squished all I could find and sprayed the plants with insecticidal and it seems to have contained the damage.

I read that Cabbage moths are territorial and if you put fake white moths on strings nearby it will deter them. I cut little white moths out of plastic and attached with thread to shishkabob sticks and they flutter in the wind like live moths.

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[Jeannine Anne]

Thank you for this topic, I no longer have the space to do much since I got a wee bit "elderly" (going on 83) and left the acreage but can't shake the needy feeling to try, I have a large greenhouse for my toms an large pots for everything else so this year I am going to try some broc in pots.. I am sticking to sprouting types as I don't need big heads of anything. I do have a couple that you mention Asperbroc eg. so I am watching your topic about that as it is new to me. Looking at the top of your last picture you seem to have some plants quite close together so that makes me hopeful. Thank you again

XX Jeannine

[Mark_Thompson]

@Jeannine Anne Yeah I crammed them in there. They all end up supporting each other so the wind can’t topple them. Good luck with the potted broc, I don’t see any reason why that shouldn’t work

[Jeannine Anne]

Oh Good because I had a couple more new to me ones come in the mail just today