The birthplace of broccoli is Asia Minor and the Eastern Mediterranean. It has been cultivated there for two thousand years. In Russia, this relative of cauliflower appeared not so long ago, but immediately became popular and beloved by supporters of a healthy lifestyle.
Features of broccoli cabbage
In this rather unpretentious variety of cabbage, not the leaves are edible, but the unopened inflorescences, which are natural multivitamins due to their composition.
Nutritional properties and unique composition
At the beginning of the XNUMXth century, Russian scientists NI Kichunov and R.D. Schroeder gave broccoli the highest rating, placing it above cauliflower. It contains more protein than asparagus, spinach, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, as much essential amino acids as in beef, and lysine, isoleucine and tryptophan as in chicken eggs.
Broccoli inflorescences contain vitamins A, B1, AT2, PP, C, E, K, salts of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium. This culture contains methionine and choline – anti-sclerotic substances that prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the body and improve memory. Broccoli also contains a substance sulforaphane, which prevents the formation of cancer cells, and sinigrin, which destroys malignant cells. Therefore, this vegetable plant must be planted for a long and healthy life.
It’s great to eat raw broccoli, but it’s also easy to cook.
The nuances of growing
Very often, having failed at the first planting, vegetable growers abandon this crop. However, it is not difficult to grow this vegetable, you just need to know some features.
Broccoli is photophilous and grows best in humus-rich, well-drained soils with a pH between 6,0 and 6,8. Broccoli is a moderate temperature culture (+ 16-25 ะพC) and humidity (relative humidity of the soil 75%, air – 85%). The vegetable is hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as -7 ะพC, late-ripening varieties are especially cold-resistant. But plants react to a rise in temperature with rapid growth and, of course, one must not miss the moment and have time to cut off the head before flowering.
Broccoli heads must be cut off before flowering, otherwise they become inedible.
In southern regions, broccoli should only be grown as an early spring crop and in the fall for winter storage. But in the middle zone and in the north, this culture feels great.
What to consider when choosing a variety, seed producers
Today, more than 200 varieties and hybrids of broccoli cabbage are known in the world. The State Register of Breeding Achievements includes 37 names of this wonderful vegetable. The seed producers are the Netherlands, France, Italy, Switzerland, Japan and, of course, Russia. They are approved for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation, therefore, it is worth choosing seeds for planting based on your needs and desires, taking into account the descriptions of the plants. The only thing to consider when choosing a variety for planting in your region is the ripening time. Broccoli of the latest ripening dates (130-145 days) should not be planted in Siberia and the Urals, where a short summer will not allow a good harvest. It is also worth noting that the varieties have a brighter taste, and the hybrids surpass them in yield, frost resistance, and unfavorable conditions.
The best varieties of broccoli with a description and characteristics
Like most vegetables, broccoli are ripened according to their maturity dates.
Early
Early-maturing broccoli varieties include varieties and hybrids of broccoli cabbage with a ripening period of up to 100 days.
Usually early-maturing varieties are kept little fresh, but they can be processed.
- Jung F1 is a super-early hybrid, the originator of which is the selection station named after N.N. Timofeev. Allows you to harvest in 60โ65 days after planting seedlings. The small green head is loose, weighs 200 g. Marketable yield 1,3 kg / sq. m.
Video: Jung’s broccoli F1
- Green Magic F1 is an early ripe hybrid of the selection of the French company SAKATA, which has a great taste, a larger head weighing up to 700 g, elliptical, gray-green in color, medium density. Shows repair properties, is resistant to diseases and pests. You can collect 2,2 kg per square meter.
Video: broccoli Green Magic F1
- Chronos F1 is another early hybrid of the SAKATA company. Included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2017. A short plant forms dense blue-green inflorescences of medium to large size, weighing 0,5-0,6 kg, excellent taste. The yield of Chronos F1 is 2,7 kg / sq. m.
The Chronos F1 hybrid has a large dense head weighing up to 600 g
- Tonus is a long-known proven variety of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing. The first central head weighing up to 200 g is formed at the end of July, then small heads are formed on the lateral shoots until October.
Photo gallery: long-term fruiting of the Tonus variety
At the end of July, a large central head is formed (photo taken on July 21) 
By the end of summer, smaller heads are formed on the lateral shoots (photo dated August 21) 
Plants continue to bear fruit in the fall (photo from 28 September)
- Vyarus is an early ripening variety originated by AGRO-BEST. Forms dense bluish-green heads with a diameter of 20 cm and a mass of 120 g. The plant is resistant to both low and high temperatures, gives a large number of secondary shoots. You can collect 2,9 kg per square meter.
Vyarus broccoli, which is resistant to both low and high temperatures, is grown in Russia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
- Venus F1 – early maturing (80โ90 days) hybrid, not forming side shoots, from the Sedek company. Heads are dense, dark green, weighing 350-600 g, excellent taste. Productivity 3,0-3,5 kg / m2… The hybrid is resistant to fusarium, the harvest is maturing amicably.
Venus F1 is characterized by amicable maturation of the heads
Medium
Among medium early broccoli, the following hybrids can be distinguished:
Medium early broccoli can be grown in Siberia and the Urals.
The middle-ripening
The ripening period for mid-season broccoli is 105โ130 days. The State Register of the Russian Federation includes the following varieties and hybrids of the average ripening period:
- Batavia F1 of Dutch selection with a gray-green dense inflorescence of excellent taste, weighing 700 g, additionally forms secondary shoots, gives a yield of 2,6 kg / sq. m;
- Heraklion F1 from the SAKATA company – a high hybrid, yield 2,5 kg per square meter, dense heads, weighing 550 g, excellent taste, there are secondary heads;
- Dwarf – from the agricultural firm Sedek has a medium-sized inflorescence weighing 400 g, gray-green in color, medium density, there are secondary shoots with inflorescences. You can collect 2,4 kg per sq. m;
- Curly head – another variety from Sedek, has smaller leaves and a larger head of 600 g;
- Curly is a variety from the breeding company Gavrish, which does not form secondary inflorescences. Head mass – 600-700 g. The taste is excellent. Productivity – 2,6 kg per sq. m;
- Linda is a medium-sized variety with a dark green elliptical head, medium texture, weighing 300-400 g. It is appreciated for its high yield (3-4 kg per sq. M); after cutting, up to 7 lateral shoots with 50 heads each grow on the plant โ70 g;
- Montop F1 is a hybrid of Sady Russia, it has a large head of average density weighing 900 g of excellent taste, there are no secondary heads. Productivity – 3,1 kg / sq. m;
- Ronnie F1 – a tall hybrid of Italian selection, has gray-green dense heads weighing 500 g, does not form secondary shoots;
- Surfing F1 is an excellent hybrid from the Research Institute of Protected Ground Vegetable Growing and the Gavrish breeding company. In the presence of secondary heads, the central one has a mass of up to 1,0 kg. The taste is excellent, the color is green, the density is average. The yield of the hybrid is 3,7 kg per sq. m;
- Stromboli F1 from Dutch breeders. The hybrid has inflorescences weighing 600-700 g of green color, medium density, excellent taste. You can collect 2,6 kg per sq. m;
- Fortuna is a variety from the Moscow region agrofirm Poisk with a small (150 g) central head of delicate texture and excellent taste. Due to numerous shoots, it has a yield of 2,6 kg per square meter;
- Caesar is another variety in which secondary heads grow after cutting off the central head. The mass of the central head is up to 135 g. The taste is good. It is possible to collect 2,5 kg / sq. m.
Photo gallery: mid-season broccoli varieties and hybrids
Late ripening
Late-ripening broccoli varieties are commonly used for winter harvesting. In the northern regions, there is a risk of not getting the harvest in time. Their ripening period is 130-145 days.
- Parthenon F1 is a hybrid of the SAKATA firm with dense medium and large inflorescences, gray-green in color, weighing 600-900 g, excellent taste. Productivity 3,3 kg / sq. m;
- Monrello F1 is a Swiss hybrid of excellent taste without secondary head formation. Head weight – 700-800 g, yield – 3,6 kg / sq. m;
- Monopoly F1 is a productive (3,1 kg / sq. M) hybrid of Dutch selection, which forms secondary inflorescences. Central head weight 600 g;
- Monaco F1 is another fruitful (4,2 kg / sq. M.) Dutch hybrid with dense gray-green medium-sized heads weighing 600 g, excellent taste. There are no secondary heads;
- Marathon F1 is a Japanese hybrid from SAKATA with a yield of 3,2 kg / sq. m, has a green head of medium size, dense, with a delicate texture, weighing 800 g, excellent taste;
- Agassi F1 is a Dutch hybrid with a yield of 3,7 kg per sq. m, with a gray-green head of medium size, weighing 700 g, forms secondary heads;
- Lord F1 – a hybrid from Holland with a large head of light green buds, dense, weighing 0,8-1,2 kg, excellent taste. Can collect 2,7kg / sq. m.
Photo gallery: late ripening broccoli hybrids
Mid-late
In Siberia and the Urals, such hybrids can be grown in greenhouses.
Not only healthy, but also an ornamental vegetable
It is customary for us to plant broccoli with green inflorescences. Purple and white varieties are very common in Europe. They are just as useful as well as very decorative. Online store Russkiy Ogorod-NK, LLC SPK APD sells broccoli seeds of the Purple Queen variety with purple heads. The variety is very beautiful during the flowering period. The Purple Queen produces the main harvest in the second half of summer, continuing to bear fruit until mid-autumn.
Broccoli variety Purple Queen with purple buds
Reviews of varieties and seed producers
There are enough broccoli hybrids and varieties to find your favorite. Choose seeds from reliable producers, pay attention to ripening times and yields, and grow broccoli for a long and happy life.
