WVU Update
Published as a Special Insert for Farm Bureau News
Summer 2013
Grow beautiful broccoli and cauliflower this fall
B
oth broccoli and cauliflower are ideal vegetables for the fall
garden in West Virginia.
Cauliflower and broccoli are in the
cabbage family and are related to kale,
radishes, turnips, cabbage, collards,
Brussels sprouts, rutabagas, and
kohlrabi.
from early- to mid-August in most areas
of West Virginia. Nitrogen fertilizer can
be applied before planting, with a sidedress application approximately four
weeks after transplanting.
Timing
Immediately after being transplanted,
each plant should receive water with
starter fertilizer and subsequently
mulched. Caulif lower is spaced about
18 inches between plants, and broccoli is
spaced 12 inches between plants. Rows
can be spaced 36 to 48 inches apart.
Row covers can be used to provide
freeze protection in the fall. Both
broccoli and caulif lower perform well
when grown in a low-tunnel structure.
Broccoli and cauliflower are cool-season
crops, so as the days get progressively
cooler in the fall the growth and quality
of these vegetables are enhanced.
Caulif lower can survive light frosts
but can be damaged by hard freezes
so planting at the appropriate time is
important. Broccoli, however, is more
tolerant of frost than cauliflower.
Planting
Like many vegetables, broccoli and
caulif lower prefer a well-drained soil,
relatively high in organic matter with
a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
Both vegetables can be direct-sown
in the garden or transplanted. If directseeding, sow about three seeds per
inch. After sprouting, the plants can
be thinned to the optimal spacing. The
transplants are typically 21 to 28 days
old (from seeding) and can be planted
Harvesting
Most varieties are ready to harvest
approximately 60 to 70 days after
being transplanted. Both broccoli and
cauliflower are harvested while the
heads are tight and firm. The harvested
heads can be placed in the refrigerator
until used or marketed.
Varieties
Recommended varieties of broccoli
include Everest, Imperial, and Green
Magic. Recommended varieties
of caulif lower include Fremont and
Candid Charm. Choose cauliflower
varieties that are self-blanching.
These varieties have large wrapper
leaves on the plant, which shade the
developing head from sunlight and
maintain a high-quality head. If the
caulif lower
head is
exposed
to light,
it develops
an off-color
and texture.
There are
caulif lower
varieties
with diverse
colors.
Cheddar cauliflower
Cheddar is
grows best during
an excellent
the summer and fall.
orange
(Photo credit: Lewis Jett)
caulif lower,
which grows best during the summer
and fall in West Virginia. Graffiti is
a deep purple caulif lower variety that
has good market appeal.
By Lewis W. Jett, Commercial
Horticulture Specialist,
WVU Extension Service
Insert Provided by WVU Extension Service and Davis College of Ag., Natural Resources, and Design
Summer 2013
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 11