Broccoli Apolena F1

Brassica oleracea convar. botrytis var. cymosa - Apolena F1

Broccoli is rich in fiber, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, folic acid, minerals, and flavonoids. It also has a low sugar and fat content, making it not only very healthy but also suitable for diet. It originates from the Mediterranean, from the Apennine Peninsula area. One plant can even provide multiple harvests!

To preserve valuable nutrients, it's better to steam broccoli rather than boiling it. It can also be eaten raw. It can be prepared by braising, boiling, frying, or added to salads after light cooking, and is often part of frozen vegetable mixes. Broccoli leaves are edible and can be prepared similarly to cabbage!

How to Grow Broccoli

• Plants tolerate higher temperatures in summer and lower temperatures in autumn. Broccoli requires deep, loamy-sandy, humus-rich soil with calcium content and sufficient organic matter. Summer heat causes premature development of flower buds and the plant quickly blooms, so light partial shade with cooler air circulation is suitable. It tolerates frost down to -6°C. During head formation, we limit overhead watering to avoid degrading the edible parts. Never let the soil where broccoli grows dry out completely. Keep the surrounding soil weed-free and hoed.

• Spring crops are sown in January or February. In April or May, we transplant them to beds at 45×45 cm spacing.

  Summer crops are sown from March to May. We transplant them to beds in June at 50×45 cm spacing.

  Autumn crops are sown in June. Transplanting to beds occurs in July at 50×40 cm spacing.

  Seeds are sown in sterilized substrate. Germination requires daytime temperatures of 15-18°C, at night between 12-16°C. Greenhouses or cold frames are suitable for spring sowing. We transplant broccoli to its permanent location when it has at least 5 leaves and a stronger stem. After transplanting, cover broccoli with non-woven fabric, which ensures even temperature while protecting the crop from water loss and pest attacks.

• Heavy, permeable soils with sufficient soil moisture ratio and optimal pH of 6-7.5 are suitable. Broccoli also has high calcium requirements, so alkaline soils are unsuitable.

• The planting site should be well fertilized with organic fertilizers. To support growth, apply multi-component fertilizers containing boron and molybdenum, as broccoli is sensitive to deficiency of these trace elements. Nitrogen doses should not exceed 20g/m². This would lead to nitrogen accumulation and thus storage of dangerous nitrates in the plant, making it unsuitable for consumption. In autumn, apply manure to the plot, lime with dolomitic limestone, and add 6.5g/m² P2O5 and 45g/m² potassium sulfate to the soil. Avoid fertilizers containing chlorine.

• In acidic soil, broccoli may be affected by clubroot. "Blindness" of broccoli heads can be caused by molybdenum deficiency. The cause may also be damage to the growing point by cabbage root fly.

  Plants are attacked by flea beetles. Keep young seedlings moist (moisture doesn't suit flea beetles) and covered with fabric.

Broccoli is also attacked by diamondback moth and cabbage seed weevil. Another pest is cabbage aphid. Infested leaves are twisted, yellowing, or reddening. In case of cabbage aphid infestation, we recommend immediate disposal of post-harvest residues and immediate treatment of crops with insecticidal products.

Protection against powdery mildew and other fungal diseases with fungicidal products is also suitable.

• Harvest the main head as soon as it's firm and the buds are not yet open. Don't delay harvesting, so the head doesn't flower. After harvesting the main head, side shoots develop in most varieties. They are smaller but just as tender and tasty as the main head.