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Broccoli — Brassica oleracea var. italica

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Broccoli — Brassica oleracea var. italica

layout: base.njk title: Broccoli description: Growing Broccoli in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: cool-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below
Broccoli heads with tight green florets

Type: Biennial (grown as annual)
Family: Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)
Sun: Full sun (6+ hours, essential for good head formation)
Water: High (1.5-2" per week, consistent moisture critical)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0 (optimal 6.5-6.8)
Hardiness: Zones 3-10 (cool season annual, moderate cold tolerance)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: Main head: 0.5-1.5 lbs. Side shoots (after main harvest): 0.5-1 lb additional over 3-6 weeks.
  • Per 10' row: 10-20 lbs main heads. 5-10 lbs side shoots (with continued harvest).
  • Per season: With spring and fall crops: 20-40 lbs per 10' row annually.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties (5-10+)

'Calabrese'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (rareseeds.com), Johnny's Selected Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom, standard broccoli in America. Large central head (4-6" diameter), abundant side shoots. Blue-green heads. Cold tolerant. Reliable producer. Introduced to America by Italian immigrants. Standard for home gardens.

'Waltham 29'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Developed at University of Massachusetts (Waltham) in 1950s. Dense, blue-green heads. Excellent side shoot production. Cold tolerant. Disease resistant. Revolutionized American broccoli production. Reliable, productive.

'DeCicco'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 55 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom from 1880s. Early maturing. Produces many small side shoots rather than one large head. Continuous harvest over 4-6 weeks. Cold tolerant. Self-sows. Sprouting broccoli type. Excellent for extended harvest.

'Purple Sprouting'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Heirloom sprouting type. Purple-tinged heads and spears. Sweet, tender. Cold hardy—often overwintered for spring harvest. Beautiful ornamental value. Sprouting habit (many small heads) rather than single large head. Delicious, visually striking.

'Romanesco'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Italian heirloom. Lime-green fractal heads (mathematical Fibonacci spirals). Stunning appearance. Nutty, delicate flavor. More heat sensitive than regular broccoli. Conversation piece. Requires cool weather for best head formation.

'Packman'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Baker Creek
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Large, dome-shaped blue-green heads. Very early. Uniform. Heavy yielder. Good side shoots. Disease resistant. Popular with market growers. Reliable producer.

'Green Goliath'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek, Johnny's Selected Seeds
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Open-pollinated heirloom. Large, blue-green heads. Good side shoot production. Cold tolerant. Reliable in variable conditions. Standard for Pacific Northwest. Excellent flavor.

'Arcadia'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds (highmowingseeds.com)
  • Days: 63 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Dark blue-green, large domed heads. Excellent heat tolerance for broccoli. Holds well in field. Heavy yielder. Disease resistant. Good for spring and fall. Industry standard for fresh market.

'Belstar'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, Burpee (burpee.com)
  • Days: 62 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Small, round, blue-green heads. Very uniform. Excellent side shoots. Cold tolerant. Good for fall crop. Disease resistant. Reliable yielder.

'Marathon'

  • Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds
  • Days: 68 days
  • Notes: Hybrid, F1. Large, blue-green heads with high domes. Excellent cold tolerance. Holds well in field. Heavy yielder. Popular for fall harvest and storage. Disease resistant. Industry standard.

🌾 Seed Saving

  • Method: Broccoli is biennial—requires vernalization (cold period) to flower. For seed saving, select best plants, leave in ground over winter (mulch heavily in zone 6b, or dig and store in cool, humid place at 35-40°F), replant in spring. In spring, plants send up 3-5' flower stalks from center.

Yellow, four-petaled flowers bloom over 3-4 weeks. Heavy insect pollination (bees, flies). Seed pods (siliques) mature 4-6 weeks after flowering, turning from green to tan/brown.

Cut stalks when most pods brown but before shattering. Hang in paper bags or on tarps in dry, ventilated area 2-3 weeks. Thresh by beating bags or rolling stalks.

Winnow by pouring between bowls in breeze to separate seeds from chaff. - Isolation distance: 2 miles minimum (up to 5 miles for pure seed). Broccoli cross-pollinates readily with all Brassica oleracea varieties (cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi—all same species). For pure seed, grow only one B.

oleracea variety or cage isolated plants with netting and hand-pollinate. - Viability: 4-5 years when stored in cool, dry, dark conditions in airtight containers. Medium-sized seeds store well. - Special notes: Save seed from minimum 5-10 plants to maintain genetic diversity. Select for head quality, disease resistance, cold tolerance, side shoot production, bolt resistance.

In zone 6b/7a, hardy varieties can overwinter with heavy mulch. Less hardy varieties must be stored indoors and replanted. Some varieties bolt more easily—avoid saving seed from prematurely bolting plants.

Biennial requirement means seed saving requires two full seasons. Sprouting types often easier to save seed from (more flowers, more seed)..

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead