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.
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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.
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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." |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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.' |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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 | Medium Green | None | Early / 24 | Medium | Shorter than 'Happy Rich' | Medium | 6–12" | Excellent | Good | Tender, flavorful, and very early. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
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. |