Johnny's MINI BROCCOLI Planting Program
Succession Planting & Season Extension for Mini & Sprouting Broccoli
Designed to take the guesswork out of succession-planting mini and sprouting broccolis, Johnny's Mini Broccoli Planting Program allows you to easily extend your harvest across the growing seasons.
NOTE
- Without protection, all of these varieties will "winterkill" in colder climates, where winter temperatures fall consistently below 20°F/-7°C.
- For optimal results, observe the guidelines provided in our Early-Sprouting Broccoli (#8304) and Late-Sprouting Broccoli (#8299) Production Tech Sheets.
- Late-sprouting, aka winter-sprouting broccoli requires vernalization to produce florets. Vernalization takes place while the plant is exposed to temperatures at or below 50°F/10°C for a period of time. The cumulative amount of time the plant needs to be exposed to these temperatures to produce florets varies between varieties; a cumulative period of 6–8 weeks represents a "high" vernalization requirement.
- DTM = Days to Maturity
Based on trialing data collected by Johnny's Research Team, the program recommends optimal transplanting and harvesting times for 10 different varieties. These are the two main categories and their subtypes included here:
- Early-sprouting varieties: broccoli raabs, choi sums, and broccoli x gailon types, also known as summer-sprouting broccoli;
- Late-sprouting varieties, including types for winter harvest and overwintering, also known as winter-sprouting broccoli.
To achieve a steady supply, succession-plant the varieties listed in the suggested sequences. By selecting appropriate varieties, meeting vernalization requirements where indicated, and providing protected cover where necessary, it is possible to achieve a 3–4-season harvestable yield.
Johnny's Planting Programs
Broccoli • Standard Heading Varieties • Planting Program
Broccoli • Mini & Sprouting Varieties • Planting Program
Broccoli • Mini & Sprouting Varieties • Planting Program Comparison Chart • PDF Version
Brussels Sprouts • Planting/Harvesting Program
Cauliflower • Planting Program
Leeks • Planting/Harvesting Program
Lettuce • Full-size Head Varieties • Planting Program
Radicchio • Planting Program
Radish • Specialty & Daikon Varieties • Planting Program
Spinach • Planting Program
View ALL Planting Programs…
Determine which mini and sprouting broccoli varieties to sow during particular seasonal slots by evaluating the transplanting and harvesting periods shown in the charts below.
Broccoli Raab & Choi Sum • Direct-Seeded
Direct-Seeding / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
DIRECT-SEEDING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | DTM | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Note: |
| Brassica rapa var. purpurea | Purple | 37 | Short | High | 2–4" | Unique purple-stemmed choy sum with dark green leaves and yellow flowers. Sweet mild flavor. Also known as kosaitai. |
Direct-Seeding / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
DIRECT-SEEDING
DIRECT-SEEDING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | DTM | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Note: |
| Brassica rapa var. chinensis | Bright Green | 40 | Short | High | 2–4" | Uniform, great tasting green choy sum for spring and fall planting slots. |
Direct-Seeding / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
DIRECT-SEEDING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | DTM | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Note: |
| Brassica rapa var. ruvo | Dark Green | 42 | Short | Very High | 4–6" | Vigorous broccoli raab with versatility and adaptability. Good for single or multiple (cut-&-come-again) harvests. This type is known in Italy as cima di rapa, which translates as "turnip top." |
Early-Sprouting Broccoli (aka Summer-Sprouting Broccoli) • Transplanted
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica x alboglabra (aka Broccoli x Gailon) | Dark Green | None | Early / 22 | Small | Short | Low–Medium | 4–6" | Average | Great | Extra-fast maturity, and plants go directly to producing bunchable shoots without large central heads. More mustardy flavor, but still very sweet and tender like 'Happy Rich.' |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica x alboglabra (aka Broccoli x Gailon) | Medium Green | None | Early / 27 | Medium | Long | Medium | 6–12" | Excellent | Good | Improved heat tolerance, sweet flavor, and very tender stems. Great for spring, summer, and fall broccoli production. Will produce small central head unless pinched. |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea | Bright Green, with Dark Blue-Green Florets | None | Early / 33 | Large | Medium–Long | High | 8–15" | Excellent | Good | Slender, tender stems pickable at longer length (up to 8") for easier bunching. Finely beaded florets. Fewer leaves on stems for minimal stripping at harvest. No pinching necessary. |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica x alboglabra (aka Broccoli x Gailon) | Dark Green | None | Early / 33 | Medium | Medium | High | 8–15" | Good | Good | High-yielding variety, compact plant habit, good flavor. Will produce small central head unless pinched. |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica | Purple | None | Early-Mid / 37 | Tall | Short | Very High | 12–18" | Good | Good | Purple-beaded, strong upright variety for main season production. Grow and harvest similar to Atlantis. |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica | Dark Green | None | Mid / 45 | Large | Long | High | 12–18" | Average | Good | OP broccoli best known for its prolific side shoot production, but can produce good sized central heads as well. Pinching may encourage earlier and larger side shoot production. |
Late-Sprouting Broccoli (aka Winter-Sprouting Broccoli) • Transplanted
Transplanting / Harvesting Period in COLD AREAS
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
Transplanting / Harvesting Period in MILD AREAS
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica | Purple | Low | Late / 80–115 | Large | Medium | High | 18–24" | Average | Good | Plant in summer for overwintering and early spring harvest in warmer climates. Plant in late spring/early summer for fall harvest in cooler climates. Available in both organic and conventional seed. |
Transplanting / Harvesting Period
Cool/
Spring
Spring
Warm/
Summer
Summer
Cool/
Fall
Fall
Cold/
Winter
Winter
TRANSPLANTING
HARVESTING
Features
| Taxon | Stem Color | Vernalization Requirement | Rel. Maturity /DTM | Plant Size | Harvest Duration | Rel. # Side Shoots /Harvest | In-Row Spacing | Heat Tolerance | Cold Tolerance | Note: |
| Brassica oleracea var. italica | Purple | High | Very Late / 210 | Large | Short | High | 18–24" | Average | Excellent | Overwinter in milder climates for spring harvests. Plants require vernalization and will not flower in the fall before vernalization. |