Page 18 - JAMS Organic Farms Imported Seeds

4. 3297.54 Eastern Magic (F1) Broccoli Seed - 2 X 5000 seeds
Days to maturity: 62 days (Annual)
Excellent in the Northeast. The medium-size plants produce well-domed, blue-green heads with a fine bead. Good tolerance to stress; will yield quality crops under, less than ideal conditions. For summer and fall harvest. Avg. 75,000 seeds/lb. Packet: 100 seeds
GROWING INFORMATION SCIENTIFIC NAME: Brassica oleracea
CULTURE: Broccoli prefers a well-drained, fertile soil that is high in organic matter with a pH of 6.0– 7.5. A consistent supply of moisture throughout the growing season is important; irrigate regularly for best results. While more heat-tolerant varieties are now on the market, broccoli does not generally do well in hot weather. The best success is with spring and fall crops.
EARLY SPRING CROP: Use early and midseason varieties. Sow 2 seeds per cell in 72-cell plug flats, 3– 4 seeds/in. in 20 row flats, or in outdoor beds 1⁄4" deep. Seedlings should be ready to transplant in 3– 4 weeks. If possible, keep soil temperature 75–80°F (24–27°C) until germination, then reduce air temperature to about 60°F (16°C). Ensure good air circulation and light. Transplant outdoors 10–18" apart in rows 18–36" apart. Broccoli prefers cooler growing temperatures, between 55–75°F (13– 24°C), optimum being 60–70°F (16–21°C), but will produce good crops under warmer, summer conditions.
FALL CROP: Use midseason and storage varieties. Start seedlings as above in May and transplant to the garden in June–July. To ensure mature heads, seed the crop early in areas where heavy freezes occur early in fall.
WINTER CROP: Successful broccoli crops can be grown where winters are mild (temperatures rarely below 32°F [0°C]). Transplants can be set out from September to February in these regions.
DIRECT SEEDING: Sow 3 seeds per foot, 1⁄2" deep, rows 18–36" apart, thinning to one plant in each group.