VEGETARIAN NE'WSLETTER - Horticultural...

INSTITUTE OF FOOC ANO AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

UNIVERSITY OF FLOAIOA

FLORI CA COOPERATIV E

EXTENSION SERV ICE

VEGETARIAN NE'WSLETTER

September 17 , 1980

Prepared by Extension Vegetable Crops Specialists

D.N. Maynar d Chairman

James Montelaro Professor

Mar k Sherman Assistant Professor

R.K. Showalter Professor

W.M. Stall Associate Professor

J.M. Stephens Associate Professor

TO: COUNTY EXTENSION DIRECTORS AND AGENTS (VEGETABLE AND HORTICULT URE) AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN VEGETABLE CROPS IN FLORIDA

FROM: J.M. Stephens,

VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER

Extension V~g. e be cialist sr, ':k'-r:~ 80-9 (/ , ·

IN THIS ISS UE:

I . NOTES OF INTEREST A. Knott ' s Handbook for Vegetable Growers B. Florida Community Gardening Pilot Program C. Master Gardening Expands in Florida D. New Publications

II. PESTICIDE UPDATE A. New Section Add ed to Vegetaria n B. Terr - 0- Gas 67 Approved for Peppers c. Wit h drawal of TOK from U. S. Market

III. COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE PRODUCTION A. Broccoli Production and Varieties B. Effects of Seepage and Trickle Ir rigation on Broccoli

Yiel d s

IV. HARVESTING AND HANDLING A. Broccoli

V. HOME VEGETABLE GARDENI NG A. Kno w You r Mino r Vegetabl es - Broccoli

The Insti tute of Food end Ag ricu ltur al Sciences is en Equal Emplo yment Opportunity • Aff irmat ive Act ion Employ er authorized to provide r818erch, educationa l inform atio n end other services only to individ uals and institu ti ons that funct ion without regard to race, colo r, ,ex, or nationa l origin.

COOPERAT IVE EXTENSION WORK IN AGRIC ULTU RE AND HOME ECONOMICS, STATE OF FLORIDA, I FAS, UNIVE RSITY OF FLORI DA, U . S. DEPARTMENT OF AGR ICU LTURE , AND BOARDS OF COUNT Y COMM ISSIONERS COOPERATING

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THE VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER

I. NOTES OF INTEREST

A. New Edition of Knott ' s Handbook for Vegetab l e Growers

The popular handbook for vegetable growers, first publi s hed in 1956, has now been thoroughly r evised. Oscar A. Lorenz, University of California , Davis and Donald N. Mayna r d, University of Florida, Gainesville have updated all chapt e rs and added much new material . The contents of the handbook i nc lude : Vegetables and the Vegetable Indu s try; Plant Growing; Field Plan ting; Soils and Fe rtilizers; Water and Irrigation; Vegetab l e Pests and Problems; Weed Control; Harvesting and Storage; Seed Production and Storage and an appendix an d index.

The handbook can be obtained from the publisher Wiley Interscience, 605 Third Avenue , New York , NY 10016. The cost is $16.50 .

(Stall)

B. Florida Community Gardening Pilot Program

Dean Woeste has announced the passage of House Bill 11.23 which created the Florida Community Gardening Pilot Program. Th e pilot counties are Broward, Dade , Duval, Orange , Palm Beach and Pinellas . The bill takes effect July 1 , 1980 , and expires July 1, 1982 . The bill provides a way for residents of these pilot counties to grow gardens on vacant public lands . The program wil l be the j oint responsibility of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services .

(Stephens)

C. Master Gardening Expands in Florida

Three new counties are joining the Florida Master Gardening program in September , 1980 . These are Volusia , Polk and Hillsborough . In its second year, Flor i da now has six counties in the program including the original counties of Dade, Manatee, and Brevard .

(Stephens)

D. New Publications

1. Onion Production Guide, Florida Cooperative Extension Circular 176E. July 1980. (Revised).

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2. Vegetable Variety Trial Results in Florida for 1975-76-77 and Recommended Varieties. Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Circular S-272.

(Maynard)

II. PESTIC I DE UPDATE

A. New "Pesticide Update" Section Added

With this issue begins an additional category for articles in THE VEGETARIAN. The "Pesticide Update " section will include articles dealing with the use of pesticides in vegetable production .

B. Terr - 0-Gas 67 (Methyl Bromide/Chloropicrin) Approved for Growing Peppers in Florida

Great Lakes Chemical Corporation has announced a state registration (Section 24(c} of FIFRA) of their methyl bromide/chloropicrin mixture, Terr-0-Gas 67r , for control of Verticillium wilt , nematodes and weeds in soil to be used for commerc ial pepper production . This is the firs t registration for a crop other than tomatoes and strawberries that permits growing a food crop from seedling to final harvest in methyl bromide -t reated soil . Rates and practices are like those for production of tomatoes on beds covered with plastic film, as is commonly practiced in South Flo rida. The supplemental labeling which permits use of this product for pepper production must be in the hands of the user at the time that the pesticide is being applied for pepper production , to comply with Federal regulations . Research is underway in many different locations in the United States to obtain the necessary residue data to enable registration of this product fo r pro du ction of a wide va ri ety of vegetab le crops. Until registration is obtained however, only tomatoes , strawberries and peppers may be legally grown through to harvest on methyl bromide treated soil .

(R. A. Dunn , Extension Nematologist)

C. Temporary Withdrawal of the Herbicide TOK from the u . S. Marketplace

Rohm and Haas Company has announced the voluntary withdrawal of TOK from the U. S . marketplace .

Laboratory tests have shown that TOK can cause birth defects in rats . It was assumed , therefore , that the exposure of pregnant women to TOK may ha ve adverse effects on their unborn . The present label prohibits women of child bearing age from handling the materials. California Department of Food nd Agriculture ( CDFA) officials have ruled that the exclusion of women from a ny marketplace is unaccep ta ble .

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CDFA and EPA have indicated that the mar keting of TOK herbicide may resume after applications have been demonstrated to be safe under conditions by female as well as male applicat o rs.

Please remove TOK from present herbicide reco~nendations. (Stall)

III. COMMERCIAL VEGE'rABLE PRODUCTION

A. Broccoli Production and Varieties

Broccoli is increasing in importance as a possibl e crop in Florida due to the increasing consumer demand and rising transportation costs to ship the product from Texas and California.

Broccoli can be produced in all areas of Florida. The plants are relatively hardy and can withstand mild frosts. Hot weather during the harvest period often results in increased leafiness of the head and rapid head development with loss of quality.

Broccoli is a re latively high user of nitrogen. Fertilizer recommendations can be found in Circular 225--Commercia l Vegetable Fertilization Guide for various soils in the state. To increase yield of side shoots 30 lbs of Nin a 1-0-1 ratio should be side-dressed after center heads have been cut.

Broccoli also has a high requirement fo r the minor elements molybdenum and boron. Symptons of deficiences are similar to t ho se of cauliflower Whiptail conditions for rnolybenum and wa te r -3oaked stem and head discoloration for boron .

Broccoli can be direct seeded into the field or tra ns planted. The same general care and requirements must be obse r v ed for broccoli as for cabbage and other crucifers. Brocc o li differ s from many other of the crucifers only as a botanical variety and is susceptible to most of th e same insects and pathoge ns.

Recommended spacing of plants in the field is recommended from 2 0 to 40 inches between rows and 1 2 to 24 inc hes in the row. Broe coli has been grown as close as 8 inches in the row. Under higher plant p op ulations the center head size decrease s and fewer side shoots are initiated . Broccoli can als o be doub l e -rowed o n beds with good results ( see article by A. A. Csizin szky).

An impo rtan t character of broccoli cultivars is their response to time of planting . The variance in potential yield and quality among c ul ti vars is closely related to the season of planti ng. In several seed catalog descriptions the cultivars are listed as early, medium or late. The se are descriptions for more temperate climates, but they can gi ve an idea for seasonal variations in Florida .

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Early cultivars are for planting primarily from late winter through mid-summer in the North . Harvest would be late spring, summer and early fall. Medium cultivars are developed for summer and early fall plantings to be harvested in late winter and early spring.

J.M. White and J.O. Strandberg tested Agricultural Research and Education Center, version of their results. The broccoli transplanted into the field on December 26. inches) in row and 76cm (30 inches) between

six cultivars of broccoli at the Sanford. Table 1 is a condensed wa s planted on October 26 and

The plants were set 30 cm ( 1 2 row s.

Table 1 - Summary of broccoli trial results, Sanford FL 1979-80

Days to % Cut harvest % Heads first

Cul ti vars First7Last cut harvest --Coaster 70 81 92 36 Clipper 70 84 96 48 91B 76 84 100 56 Idol 76 84 96 48 Corvet 76 87 88 24 Surfer 76 87 100 36

1 g = 0.0353 oz l quintel (100kg) = 2.2046 cwt 1 hectare (ha) = 2.471 acres

Diameter Height (cm) (cm) Top of

g/head q/ha Stern Head Plant head -- -- --

168 66 . 4 3.0 9.9 53.1 36.2 114 46.8 2.7 10.2 50.0 36.6 136 58.5 3.3 10.7 43.2 27.4 227 9::,. 7 3.3 12.4 60.4 31. 4 191 72.1 3.1 9.9 59.0 36.6 163 70.3 3.1 10.0 57.8 25.6

In Gainesville, L.H. Halsey of the Vegetable Crops Department, tested thirteen cul ti vars to determine yield as related to transplant date. Here the plants were se~ 15 inches in row with 48 inches between rows.

In Table 2 the differences in yield of center shoots and side shoots can be readily seen in relation to transplant date. Table 3 is a condensed summary of the seasons results.

Both tests were for one year only and care should be taken in interpretation of the results for recommendations. Changes of cu l tural methods and cultivars should be made on a small trial basis the first season.

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Table 2. Broccoli yields in relation to t ransplant date

Gainesville, Florida - 1979-80 Season

Transplan t Dat e Sept Oct Nov Nov Dec Jan Jan Feb Mar Apr Apr

26 17 6 27 26 9 30 20 9 2 23 Cultivars (23 lb cartons per acre)

Center: Heads Premium Crop 402 176 136 87 93 180 228 374 242 210 139 Gre en Hornet 381 236 149 26 14 35 160 265 271 315 176 Green Duke 399 201 128 21 4 1 07 136 170 210 285 13 8 Green Comet 333 180 88 10 50 110 130 307 203 123 114 Cape Queen 347 199 144 51 94 108 151 236 25 0 10 Bravo 241 191 12 4 41 4 23 36 180 354 211 176 At lantic 196 128 84 47 65 103 64 273 175 95 54 Italian Sprouting 225 162 86 36 10 8 46 82 184 171 81 Pac i f ica 130 155 63 11 18 12 57 253 138 91 10 Deci c co 204 119 55 15 18 32 45 111 162 112 39 Corvet 5 75 94 75 195 137 36 Waltham 29 143 113 90 27 57 30 72 118 70 52 Cleopatra 116 12 1 26 26 37 27 38 119 77 16

Side Shoots

Premium Cr op 41 6 1 23 46 94 70 10 20 3 Green Hornet 87 76 18 46 72 98 66 37 9 30 Gre e n Duke 57 108 24 44 121 107 24 3 8 13 Green Cornet 111 78 19 62 77 84 74 30 5 31 4 Cape Queen 75 102 24 87 82 50 15 15 21 Bravo 83 93 29 22 81 179 22 27 5 42 Atlantic 51 70 53 54 91 1 10 39 23 3 18 Ita lian Sprouting 83 62 22 52 62 47 24 25 17 35 3 Pacifica 41 61 23 46 94 70 10 20 3 Dec i cco 54 94 32 44 77 65 50 12 12 24

Corvet 38 77 83 21 5 6

Waltham 29 27 31 31 70 67 79 26 7 4 14 Cleopatra 50 51 30 35 60 55 15 9 13 2

Cul ti vars

Premium Crop Green Hornet Green Duke Green Comet Cape Queen Bravo Atlantic

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Table 3. Summary of broccoli trials Gainesville, Florida 1979-80

Days from Harvest Average Yield transplanting period Center heads Side shoots

to harvest days (23 lb cartons per acre)

51-107 6-34 206 37 51-93 1-23 184 54 51 - 113 1-28 163 51 51-113 1- 36 15 0 57 51-107 7-34 145 47 51 - 93 1-22 144 58 51-93 9-34 116 51

Italian Sprouting 51-93 6-28 99 43 Pacifica 55-103 1-28 85 37 Decicco 51-93 7-28 83 46 Corvet 60-107 7-20 77 33 Waltham 29 55-103 1- 41 55 31

(Stall)

Average wt center

heads (oz.)

8.7 10.4 10.5

8.8 8.3 8.9 7.9 7. 7 8.4 7.4 7.1 7 . 2

B. Effect of Seepage and Trickle Irrigation on Broccoli Yield

In West central Florida, on fine sandy soils with a hard-pan 2-3 ft below the surface, vegetables are irrigated by the seepage ( modifed furrow) method. This irrigation system requires large amounts of water per unit of yield.

At the AREC, Bradenton we investigated the feasibility of reducing the amoun~ of irrigat ion water in veg etable production by irrigating th e crop with the trickle (drip) system.

In earlier experiments with drip irrigationl we found that water had to be applied several times a day for short periods at each time to provide good soil moisture in the raised plant beds under the plastic mulch. When dry fertilizers were used, they had to be placed near or around the drip tube where moisture was constantly available. In this article, the results of experiments with seepage and trickle irrigated broccoli crops are described.

In both seep and drip irrigated land, 9 inch high and 30 inch wide flat top plant beds were fo rmed with 4.5 ft centers . There were seven, 300 ft long beds between two lateral irrigation furrows. This arrangement allows a total of 7350 linear ft of bed per acre. Starter fertilizers were applied in a 10-inch wide band and incorporated to a depth of 4 inches and provided 41 lb N, 103 lb P205 and 18 lb K20 acre . An 18-0-25+2 analysis fertilizer was banded on the shoulders of the beds in the seepage irrigated land and placed around the Chapin bi-wal l tube in the dr i p irrigated land. The 18-0-25+2 supplied 193 lb N, 257 l b K20 and 20 lb MgO per acre. Beds were covered with a 1. 25 thick white polyethylene film.


In the first week of November 1979 , five-week old 'Green Comet Hybrid' broccoli seedlings were planted in two rows per bed. Within r ow spacing was 18 inches with 12 inches between the rows . Total number of plants per acre was 9,800.

Water with the tri ckle syste m was applied 6-8 times every day for a short duratio n each time, regardless of rainfall. The trickle irrigated land rec eived, on a gross acre basis, 5.28 acre inches of irrigation and 3. 72 i n rain , for a total of 8 acre inches of water. The seepage irrigated land recei ved 18 .86 acre inches of irrigation and 3. 72 in rain, for a total of 22 . 58 a cre inches of water.

Survival of seedlings was 91% with seepage and 83% with trickle irrigation. First cut was on December 26th and the la st on January 9th. Onl y the main heads were harvested . Head s i z ? was 0.57 lb with seepage and 0 . 60 with trickle irri ga tio n. Total y ield was 50.8 cwt/acre with seepage and 48.8 cwt /acre with trickle irrigation.

In these experiments , yields of ' Green Comet Hybrid ' broccoli wi th trickle irrigation were comparab l e to that of yields with seepage irrigation . At present , equipment and installation costs for trickle irrigation are much higher than f or seepage ir ri gation. However the vol ume of irrigation water applied with the trick le system in these experiments for the broccoli crop was 4 ti mes less than with the seepage system. In the future , if i r rigatio n water is in short supply , or pu mping costs substant i ally in c rease , then trickle irrigation will be a feasible alternative to th e presently used seepage system in broccoli production.

lcsizinszky, A.A. 1979 . The importance of irrigat i on frequency and fertilizer placement in growing vegetables with drip irrigation. Proc. Fla State Hort Soc . 92 :76- 80.

(Csizinszky, Bradent on AREC)

IV. HARVEST AND HANDLING A. Broccoli

Consumer Quality

Broccoli consumption has increased dramat i cally with the in creased frequency of away-from-home dining and increased popularity of salad bars. Many people have discovered that broccoli tastes good in a salad without being cooked, and per ca p ita consumption of fresh broccoli has incr e ased fro m O. 3 lb. i n 1967 to 1 . 4 lb. in 1979. Consumpt io n of frozen broccoli has increase d from 1.0 to 1.8 lbs. during the same period.

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Broccoli ranks very high nutritionally and increased consumer awareness of nutritional va l ue has probably contributed to its increase in consumption . Broccoli is exceptionally high in vitamin content with a normal serving providing more than 2 1/2 times the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C and 80% of the vi tam in A. It is also a low source of energy with only 32 calories per 100 grams .

Harvesting Broccoli plants form a central head consisting of flower

buds and thick, f le shy flower st a lks . After the mature heads, varying in diameter from 3 to 6 inches , are harvested , side shoots may develop with bud c lusters measuring 1 to 3 inches in diameter. Sin c e the edible portions include flower buds , stems and small leaves , they must al l be considered in harvesti ng and handling operations . Sprouting broccoli cu l tivars vary in plant type from lar g e erect plants with abundant foliage to dwarf , compact types. Some pr oduce more large , center heads that are better adapted for a single harvest ; others produce smaller central heads and many lateral shoots for multiple harvests. Some commercia l growers in Florida have made single harvests, and others mul tiple harvests, dependin g upon their plants and market conditions. In a 1979-80 broccoli tria l with 6 cultivars at Sanford, White and Strandberg reported plan ts with mature heads at the first harvest included only 24 to 56% of the total heads . Yields can be increased by repeated harvests, but the cost of harvest labor in California has lim i ted the number of harvests to 4 or 5 .

Most broccoli i s cut by hand in order t o select the mature heads , but some Texas broccoli is mach i ne harvested in a once-over operation. Broccol i is usually tossed in to bulk bins or onto mobile , self-propelled conveyors for transfer to bins and subsequent hauling t o a packinghouse. The pr i nciple factors 1 imi ting mechanical harvesting are lack of crop unifor mity and concentrated harvest periods . Harvesting machinery can be relatively simple because of the lack of specific size characteristics of t he harvested product and its adaptation for bulk handling. Brocco l i is cut with 5 to 10 inches of stem , and the attached l eaves protect the bud clusters from mechanical injury.

Maturity, Quality and Size Official standards of quality and inspection are not used,

al though available. The terms heads and shoots may be used to designate stalk sizes. According to the US grade standards, heads must be 2 1/4 inches or larger in diameter and shoots are smaller. When stalks are tied into bunches, the larger heads may be combined with the smaller shoots that mature at the same ti me , but this lowers the market value of the bunches . Heads should not be allowed to increase in size until they reach overmaturity

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TRE VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTER

as cha~acterized by woodiness in the stems and l eaves, open flower buds , or buds which are en l arged and about to open . Buds with good green color are desirable , but a bluish or purplish cast over the green is often c haracteristic of good broccoli and should not be considered as damage . Bud size varies from small to large among cultivars, but the individ ual buds and bud clust e rs in the head should be tightly crowded together and fee l fairly fi r m.

Trimming and Packing Broc coli stalks often require extensive hand trimming before

they are tied into 1 1/2 lb bunches. I n order to grade US 1, bunches should be neatly and fairly evenly cut off at the base with the length of each stalk not less than 5 inches or more th an 9 inches. Large leaves ex tending above the head are cons id e r ed undesirable when broccli is prepared for packing . Four level s of trimming are defined in the broccoli grades , beg inning wi '"h a maximum of 5% by weight of leaves for "c losely trimmed " an<l ex tending to no more than 50% for the " leafy " category . USDA reports t hat the edib l e portion of marketed broccoli may be reduced by 22 to 39% beca use of tough l eaves and stems. Broccoli, held in bunches with r ubber bands or wire twistems are pla c e-packed in wax-treated cart o ns or crates holding 14 bunches wi th a net weight of about 23 pounds . The same containers are so metimes packed with 1 8 smaller bunches . Packing may be done on a mobile field packing unit , in a packinghouse or some packing fa c ility in the field that provides for rapid handling and precooling .

Postharvest Handl i ng Since broccoli has one of the highest respiration rates of

any fruit or vegetable and is one of the most perishable, it must be proper l y handled i n order to minimize yellowing , wilting, molding, and other de t erioation during marketing periods of 2 weeks at 36°F or 1 week at 41°F . Broccoli should be precooled to about 32°F as soon as possible after harvest by vacuum cooling , hydrocooling or packing in ic e . Package - icing p r ovides the necess a ry moisture and c ontinuous refrigeration until the package is opened. At retail , wilting can be prevented by sprinkling or packaging in ventilated film.

(Showalter)

V. HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING

A. Know Your Minor Vegetables - Broccoli

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Italica group) is also commonly referred to as Brassica oleracea var . botrytis L. subvar. cymosa Lam. Broe coli. is closely related to cau l iflower , since bo th are grown for the clusters of unopened flower buds and

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tender flower stalks . The botanical variety botrytis comes from the Greek word

meaning a " cluster " like a bunch of grapes . The Italian word brocco means sprout, bud or shoot , from the Latin brachium meaning an arm or branch .

Broccoli has two distinct forms . One is "sprouting broccoli" , which makes a somewhat branching cluster of green flower buds atop a thick, green flower stalk, and smaller clusters that arise like "sprouts" from the stems at the attachments of the leaves. This form is termed " calabrese" in Britain, and i s the most conunonly grown form in the u.s. The other form of broccoli makes a dense , white "curd" like that of cauliflower and is called " heading broccoli" or " cauliflower broccoli. " This latter form is usually grouped with cauliflower , leaving the term broccoli restricted to sprouting varieties. For a discussion on broccoli nomenclature , see Proc. Amer. Soc . Hort. Sci. 84 : 535-548 (1964), and HortscTerice 7(4):361 - 362 (1972).

Origin and Distribution Like the other close relatives of cabbage, brocco l i is

native to the Mediterranean area and Asia minor . rt has been popular in Italy since the days of the Roman Empire. However , records indicate this vegetable was unknown in England until a relatively recent few hundred years ago. It has become popular in the U.S. only very recently , during the past fifty years.

According to the 1979 National Gardening Survey conducted by Gallup Inc., broccoli is one of the less frequently grown vegetables in U.S. gardens. Only 15% of all gardens include broccoli as one of the vegetables , compared with 93% of the nation ' s gardeners growing tomatoes the leading vegetable. This statistic is in stark contrast to the popularity of broccoli on the table, for a major food cafeteria chain reported broccoli to be the vegetable most often ordered by patrons. Furthermore, in recent years, only frozen peas, green beans, and corn were processed in greater volume than broccoli. However, the trend is up for broccoli in the garden too , for this vegetable represented the greatest increase in popularity among gardeners between the years 1974 and 1979 . During that five-year period, broccoli increased 50% in rank, jumping from 10 percent of gardeners growing it in 1974 to 15% in 1979 (see Table 1).

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THE VEGETARIAN NEWSLETTE R

Ta ble 1 . Vege ta ble s gro wn in home gar d e ns: 5- ye a r trend (1979 Natio na l Garde n ing Su rvey )

Veget ab le s 1974 (%)

Years 197 9 (%)

74 - 79 % Change

Toma t oe s . . . .. . . .... . . .. . . .. . . . . . 92 93 +l On i ons . . . • • • • • . . • . • • . • . . . • • . • . . • 5 9 6 4 + 8 Gr e en Be a n s . • •. • .•..••.. • ....•.• 6 3 6 1 - 3 Cucumbe rs . . . • • . • . . • . . • • . • • . • • • • • 58 58 O Pep pe rs • • • . • • • • • . • • • • • • . • . . • • • • • 5 7 5 7 O Let tu ce . • . . • • . . • . . • . • . . . . . • • • . • • 5 0 5 4 + 8 Radi shes ••• •. .•. •. • ..... • ••• •• .. 51 47 - 7 Car ro ts . . • . . . . ..•.• • • . •.• . .• . . • • 47 42 - 10 Pe a s • . • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • 3 8 4 O + 5 Corn . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 3 9 -13 Cabbag e • • • . •. • •• • • ••• . • •• • .•• •.• 37 37 - 2 Summe r Sq uash • • ... • ••• . • •• .. • .• • 36 35 -2 Be ets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 2 8 - 2 8 Whit e Potatoes . • •• ••• . • • • . . .• ••• 36 26 - 27 Sp i na c h . ... . . . . . . . ... . . . .... ... . 13 16 + 23 Wi nt er Sq ua sh ••• •• • • • • • • .• . •• • • • 15 16 + 16 BROCCOLI • •• .. ••• . .•••• • •. • . .• . . . 10 15 +50 Egg Pl an t .•• •. ..• . .• . • . ... . . • . •• 14 14 O Pump kins • • •• • • • •.•.•• .• .•.•••••• 14 13 - 7 Aspar agus ••• •• ••.. . • •• • •••. . ••• • 9 12 +33 Her bs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 10 - 33 Swe et Po ta t o e s .. ••. •• • •. . . .• • •. . 9 1 0 + 11 Bru ss e l s Spro ut s • • •• • . ••••• • • • •• 7 8 +1 4

I n Fl o rid a , br o cc o li is pr o b a bl y grow n to a s li ght ly g reate r e x t ent than in ot her ar e a s of the co untr y . It wou l d c ompar e her e quite f av o ra bly wi th bee t s a nd garden pe a s in f requ en cy o f p ro d uct i o n; ho wever , a l l thr ee of the s e vege t ab le s must compet e wit h suc h co o k ing g re ens a s collar ds , tu r nips, and mus t ard for s pac e in t he g a r den.

Ti me o f Pla nti ng Br o cc ol i is we l l-a d ap ted t o all ar eas of t he st a t e when

g row n d u r i ng the coolest mo n ths of th e year . Pl an ti ng time in t he no r th and centr a l d i s tric t s of Fl or i da s hould be gi n no ear lie r tha n mi d-A ugu s t a nd may co nti nu e thr o ugh mid - Marc h . I n so u th Flor i da , b ro cc o l i may b e p l anted September t h rou gh February. Be st r e sults are ge n er al ly expected f rom br o cc o li plan t ed November th r ough J a n ua r y .

Although broccol i is a coo l s easo n ve ge ta b l e , it is susceptib l e to cold in j u ry esp e cia l l y wh en th e p l ant s ar e t en d e r a nd not c ondit i oned t o withs t a nd lo w tempera t ure s . Te mper atu r e s 26°- 32° P for 3 0- 36 hour s hav e ki lled brocco l i p la nt s i n so me

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previous years in north Florida. Temperatures in the thirties for 20 or more days may have a severe stunting effect on broccoli. Plants stunted by low te mperatures fo r m small central flower buds and very few side shoots. However , those wishing to avoid chances of loss from freezing should plant in February and early March.

Varieties Varieties of broccoli vary considerably in their garden

performance. The old standard ' Waltham 29' still is a top choice. It is ready to cut from 80 to 100 days from transplanting , and continues to form side shoots (secondary heads) after the main central head is cut. Other varieties for Florida gardeners are : ' Green Mountain ' ; ' Spartan Early' ; ' Atlantic ' ; 'Green Sprouting '; ' Green Comet ' ; ' Italian Green Sprouting ' ; and ' DeCicco'.

Growing Broccoli in the Garden Broccoli 1s grown very much like cabbage and collards . Soil

preparation, bedding, liming, fertilization, irrigation practices are similar to those for other garden vegetables.

The desired soil pH level is 6.0-6.2. Very sandy soil should be supplemented with compost or other organic materials such as cow or chicken manure.

Fertil i zer at planting time should be applied at the rate of 4 pounds per 100 square feet. One-half ( 2 pounds) should be broadcast and mixed well into the bed. The other two pounds should be placed in a b and on both sides of the row. Use a common analysis fertilizer such as 6- 8-8. Certain rnic ron utrients such as boron, maganese, and zinc might be needed where soil conditions warrant. Starting four to five weeks after transplanting, s idedress with the same fertilizer ( or 15-0-15) every 10 to 14 days at 1 pound pe r 100 feet of row.

Since direct seeding quite often results in poor stands , start broccoli by using healthy, vigorous four to five-week old transplants.

Set plants 18 to 24 inches apart on rows that are 36 to 40 inches wide. Care for the plants in the usual manner used fo r any vegetable, keeping an eye out for disease and insect damage. Cabbage loopers and imported cabbage wor ms are especially troubl eso me on broccoli; BT insecticide should be appl ied on a weekly basis.

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Harvesting

The central flower buds should be harvested first when they are fu l ly formed yet st ill tight, compact, a nd with no opened flow e r s . This usually takes from 60 to 90 day s from planting to first harvest • As much a s 5 inches of the flower stalks should be cut along with the buds. Do not allow the sterns to become tough and woody . After the central buds are removed, side shoots will develop . Although smal l er, these shou l d be harvested at two to four day intervals. The entire harvest period may run fro m 40 to 80 days, depending on the season , crop conditi on and local i ty.

(Stephens)

Sta t e ment : "Th i s pub lic docum e nt was pr omu l g ated at a cost o f _ 290. 22 o r .49 q: pe r copy for the pur pose of communicat i ng

c u r re n t t ec hnic a l & e d uc ati onal mat eri a l s to extension and

VEGETARIAN NE'WSLETTER - Horticultural...

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