A Detailed Guide to Broccoli Seed Selection and Seedling Raising Methods

Broccoli is not only a favorite of people who work out and those who beautify and lose weight, but has now also become one of the mainstream dishes in health-preserving recipes. So if you want to grow broccoli, how should you select seeds? How should you raise seedlings? Let's take a simple look together below.

1. What varieties of broccoli are there?

1. Mantuo Green

An early-maturing variety, with a single head weighing 400-500 grams, a firm head, mushroom-shaped, green in color, with fine buds and a low hollow-heart rate. It is not cold-tolerant and is suitable for early spring and autumn cultivation.

2. Xinlvxue Broccoli

A mid-to-late-maturing variety, suitable for spring or autumn cultivation, harvested 80-85 days after transplanting. The head is firm, dark green in color, and oblate-spherical in shape. The buds are delicate, the plant has few side branches and few hollow stems, and a single head weighs about 500 grams. The buds are highly uniform, and its cultivation adaptability is relatively broad. Sown in spring and harvested in early summer (optimal temperature is 15-25°C).

3. Maosen Broccoli

A mid-season type harvested 110 days after sowing. The plant is upright and can be planted densely. The buds are large, about 300 grams, spherical in shape, the main stem is not prone to hollowing, the grains are fine, the quality is premium, disease resistance is strong, and it is cold-tolerant. It is suitable for sowing in spring and summer and harvesting in early summer and autumn.

2. Broccoli seedling raising methods and techniques

1. Seedling raising methods

The seedling raising method is related to the variety's characteristics and the crop rotation arrangement. In the eastern coastal areas of Zhejiang Province, the method generally used is open-field sowing plus shade-net covering for cooling plus agricultural film covering for rain protection.

2. Growing environment

Broccoli prefers a cool environment. The minimum germination temperature of its seeds is 3°C, the optimal temperature is 20-25°C, and the maximum is 35°C. Flower bud differentiation has no strict low-temperature requirement. Early-maturing varieties can differentiate flower buds as long as the average temperature is below 20°C, but during the seedling stage they must not be exposed to low temperatures, otherwise small heads will form, causing them to lose commercial value. Early and late-maturing varieties have a relatively low temperature requirement for flower bud differentiation and are not suitable for cultivation in high-temperature seasons, so as to avoid forming hairy heads. Therefore, the sowing period is extremely important.

3. Preparing the seedbed

The seedbed should be chosen on soil with high, dry terrain, good drainage, good permeability, and rich organic matter, and it should not have been planted with cruciferous crops within two years, so as to avoid worsening the degree of disease. The seedbed soil should be plowed 7-10 days before sowing, then 25 kg of compound fertilizer per mu should be applied as base fertilizer, and beds should be made. The seedbed must undergo strict disinfection measures. The seedbed can be thoroughly sprayed with Ridomil and Lorsban chemicals to disinfect and sterilize and to kill underground pests. In addition, to avoid seedlings being harmed by weeds, herbicide can be sprayed, and the seedbed should be watered thoroughly.

4. Sowing management

The appropriate sowing time should be chosen according to the local climate, variety characteristics, and cultivation purpose. Generally, early-maturing varieties are sown in August, mid-maturing varieties in August-September, and late-maturing varieties in September-October. Because broccoli seeds are relatively small, in order to give the seedlings sufficient space to grow, the sowing density must be well controlled. Generally, the sowing rate is 12-20 grams per mu. Sowing must be uniform. The method of mixing seeds with mud and sand for direct sowing is often used, evenly broadcasting the seeds on the seedbed. After sowing, generally no soil cover is needed; just spray water so that the seeds and soil are in close contact.

5. Seedbed management

The most critical part of broccoli seedling raising technology is seedbed management. Broccoli sowing and seedling emergence generally require 2-3 days, which is a relatively short time, so management requirements are relatively high. During the germination period, inspections should be made once in the morning, at noon, and in the evening to observe the sprouting situation of the seeds, observe the dry and wet conditions of the soil and the sunlight intensity, and drain water promptly during the rainy season to avoid seed rot. During high-temperature periods, watering should be relied upon to regulate the ground temperature, keeping it between 25-30°C to facilitate seed emergence. Watering is best done before noon and in the evening. During periods of strong light, shade nets should be used as much as possible to cool down and prevent rain, and once the cotyledons unfold, the shade net should be removed promptly.

In summary, the above is an introduction to broccoli seedling raising methods and varieties. When choosing varieties, everyone must make the best choice according to the local climate and environment.

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