Results of the LSU Agcenter and Mississippi State University 2014 Fall Broccoli Variety Trial

In the 2014 fall season, LSU AgCenter and Mississippi State University researchers evaluated twenty broccoli cultivars in two locations to determine which cultivars are best suited to Deep Southeastern environmental conditions. Cultivars were evaluated under conventional growing practices at Burden Botanical Gardens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and the Coastal Research and Extension Center near Beaumont, Mississippi. ‘Packman’ was used as the standard cultivar because of its popularity among commercial producers. Cultivars were started from seed five weeks prior to transplanting at both locations. Cultivars were planted using drip irrigation and black plastic mulch. Rows were space 48 inches apart with plants double drilled at 12 inch centers. Pests were managed using recommendations in the 2014 SE Vegetable Growers Handbook. Heads were harvested at full maturity but before beads showed yellow color. Heads were categorized using USDA grading standards U.S. No.1 and U.S. No.2 and cull. Individual heads were weighed and counted. Stem and head width was recorded. Days to production were accounted for and disease and insect damage were noted. Cultivars were placed in the fields in a complete randomized design with three replications (twenty plants per replication) of each cultivar. Data were analyzed using Means Duncan’s PROC GLM. ‘Arcadia’, ‘Patron’, ‘Green Magic’ and ‘Everest’ out produced ‘Packman’ in terms of total number of heads harvested/ acre. ‘Bluewind’ and ‘Packman’ had 100% marketable heads, while ‘Arcadia’, ‘Everest’ and ‘Green Magic’ had 98%, 88% and 81% marketable heads respectively.