- Common Brassica Pests & Diseases | Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Broccoli | Standard Heading Varieties | Planting Program Comparison Chart
- Broccoli | Standard Heading Varieties | Planting Program Comparison Chart
- Early-Sprouting Broccoli (aka Summer-Sprouting Broccoli) | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Standard Heading Broccoli | Key Growing Information
- Late-Sprouting Broccoli (aka Winter-Sprouting or Purple-Sprouting Broccoli) | Tech Sheet (PDF)
- Mini Broccoli & Sprouting Broccoli Varieties | Comparison Chart | PDF
- Broccoli Rabe (Raab) | Key Growing Information
- Broccoli | Standard Heading Varieties | Comparison Chart / Planting Program (PDF)
- Mini & Sprouting Broccoli | Key Growing Information
- Leaf Broccoli | Key Growing Information
- Johnny's Planting & Harvesting Programs
- Video: 'Happy Rich' Mini Broccoli
- Video: What's the Difference Between Gai Lan & Gai Lan x Broccoli?
- Mini & Sprouting Broccoli Varieties | Planting Program Comparison Chart
- Success with Brassicas | Advice on Timing, Temperature, Fertility & Watering
Succession Planting Program: Standard Varieties
Succession Planting & Season Extension for Broccoli
Successive plantings of different broccoli varieties allows you to extend your harvest of premium-quality, standard heading broccolis across the growing seasons. Determine which standard heading broccoli varieties to sow during which seasonal slots by evaluating the sowing and harvesting periods indicated in the charts below.
| Succession Planting & Harvesting Chart • Broccoli | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Key |
Transplant | Harvest | |||||||
| Variety | Cool/Spring | Warm/Summer | Cool/Fall | Cold/Winter | |||||
| 'Monty' | |||||||||
| 'Green Magic' | |||||||||
| 'Amadeus' | |||||||||
| 'Snow Crown' | |||||||||
| 'Tessaury' | |||||||||
| 'Synergy' | |||||||||
| 'Twister' | |||||||||
| 'Bishop' | |||||||||
| 'Paxton' | |||||||||
| 'Amazing' | |||||||||
| 'Denali' | |||||||||
| 'Sierra Madre' | |||||||||
| 'Skywalker' | |||||||||
| Non-White Standard Cauliflower | |||||||||
| 'Clementine' | |||||||||
| 'Cheddar' | |||||||||
| 'Amethyst' | |||||||||
| 'Flame Star' | |||||||||
| 'Purple Moon' | |||||||||
| 'Lavender' | |||||||||
| 'Vitaverde' | |||||||||
| 'Graffiti' | |||||||||
| Romanesco Cauliflower | |||||||||
| 'Puntoverde' | |||||||||
| 'Veronica' | |||||||||
| 'Whitaker' | |||||||||
| 'Delaverde' | |||||||||
| Variety Comparison Chart • Cauliflower | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variety | Notes | Days to Maturity | Heat tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Color |
| Standard White Cauliflower | |||||
| 'Song TJS-65' | Performs better in heat and below-average fertility and sweeter and more tender than standard white-stemmed, heading cauliflowers. | 42 | Very good | Good | White with green stems. |
| 'Earlisnow' | Reliable, widely adaptable first-early. Produces medium-size plants with average wrapping of heads. | 45 | Very good | Good | White |
| 'Fujiyama' | Superior heat tolerance. | 45 | Excellent | Poor | White |
| 'Snow Crown' | Extra early and adaptable. Medium-size heads. AAS Winner. | 50 | Good | Good | White |
| 'Tessaury' | Heat tolerant organic cauliflower. | 58 | Very good | Good | White |
| 'Synergy' | Adaptable; large heads mature between 'Snow Crown' & 'Bishop'. | 60 | Good | Good | White |
| 'Twister' | Superior wrap and adaptability. Big heads with large, protective wrapper leaves. | 62 | Very good | Good | White |
| 'Bishop' | For summer and fall crops. Vigorous and widely adaptable. Produces well-wrapped heads. | 65 | Very good | Good | White |
| 'Paxton' | For summer and fall-harvested crops. High resistance to club root races 0–2. Produces large, welf-wrapping heads. | 67 | Very good | Good | White |
| 'Amazing' | Tolerant to both heat and cold stress. Plants produce self-blanching, upright wrapper leaves when well-fed. | 68 | Good | Good | White |
| 'Denali' | For fall production; widely adapted. Large, self-wrapping heads. | 73 | Good | Excellent | White |
| 'Sierra Madre' | Overwintering variety for the West Coast. | 73 | Very good | Very good | White |
| 'Skywalker' | Best organic variety for late summer and fall harvest. Medium-size, self-wrapping heads. | 80 | Average | Very good | White |
| Standard Non-White | |||||
| 'Clementine' | Produces big and sturdy plants, even under less-than-ideal conditions. Earliest orange variety for summer and fall harvest. | 55 | Very good | Good | Vibrant orange |
| 'Cheddar' | Beautiful, early, and orange; holds well in the field and retains color upon cooking. | 58 | Very good, but less than 'Flame Star' | Good | Orange |
| 'Amethyst' | Extra-early purple cauliflower. | 59 | Good | Good | Purple |
| 'Flame Star' | Favorable tolerance to heat and stress. Performs very well in both spring and fall. | 62 | Very good | Good | Pastel-orange |
| 'Purple Moon' | Widely adapted: exceptionally early; best-performing purple variety in warm weather; excellent fall crop. | 62 | Good | Good | Purple |
| 'Lavender' | Performs best for fall crops but may also be grown successfully for summer crops. | 70 | Good | Good | Violet |
| 'Vitaverde' | Large and heavy heads. Suitable for both cool and warm weather production. | 71 | Very good | Very good | Green |
| 'Graffiti' | Best for fall harvest, but also can be sown in spring. Produces true cauliflower heads on large plants. | 80 | Very good | Very good | Purple |
| Romanesco Cauliflower | |||||
| 'Puntoverde' | Most reliable all-season Romanesco. | 78 | Very good | Good | Green |
| 'Veronica' | Summer plant for fall to midwinter harvest. | 78 | Poor | Good | Green |
| 'Whitaker' | First white hybrid Romanesco. | 80 | Good | Average | White |
| 'Delaverde' | Romanesco for short-day crops. | 83 | Good | Good | Green |
Cauliflower Photo Comparison
Tech Tip: How to Blanch White Cauliflower Varieties
Blanching white cauliflower
Exposure to the sun can cause the heads of white cauliflower varieties to turn yellow or light purple. Some varieties are self-wrapping, which helps prevent this process from occurring. For varieties that are not self-wrapping, a simple blanching method can be used to produce the creamy-white heads that many look for in cauliflower. Follow these tips for uniformly white heads.
- The time to begin blanching is when the developing heads are just visible through the leaves, about 1–2" in diameter.
- Gather the outer wrapper leaves and pull them over the heads, securing them together with twine, clothespins, or a rubber band.
- Another method is to crack the midribs of the leaves and fold them over the head until it is completely covered. Do not break the leaves, or they may blow away.
- Check the heads as they develop. Tied or covered heads may be subjected to increased humidity levels, increasing their susceptibility to Alternaria.
- Blanching becomes less important in the cooler, shorter days of fall.
Note there is no need to tie the leaves around the heads of colored cauliflower varieties—to achieve their rich coloration they require exposure to light!