Effect of sowing time on the once-over harvest yield of broccoli cultivars in north-west Tasmania

Abstract

The effect of sowing times between November and May on the maturity and once-over harvest yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck) was studied on the north-west coast of Tasmania. Sowing times between November and January had little effect on the plant size and marketable spear yield of the cultivar Futura. However, delaying sowing from January to March reduced the plant size and marketable spear yield of 10 cultivars of different maturity types. The length of the growing period of all cultivars was increased for sowings after February. A continuous production of broccoli for once-over harvest can be maintained for March-August by a combination of cultivars and sowings from January to March. However, yields of less than 5 t/ha can be expected for the mid-May-August harvests compared with yields in excess of 10 t/ha for March and April harvests.