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Broccoli Growing Methods

Broccoli growing methods for spring and fall of 2014 and 2015.

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Updated:

December 22, 2025

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Broccoli and ruler; Photo: Tim Elkner, Penn State

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Site, Season: Planting Date, Production System	Row spacing (center-to-center; feet)	Single or double plant row	In-row spacing (inches)	Irrigation	Fertility	Harvest date
Central, Spring: 5/20/2014, Bare ground 5/27/2015, Plasticulture	2014: 5 ft. 2015: 6 ft.	2014: Double, 30 inches between rows 2015: Double, 12 inches between rows	2014: 12 in. 2015: 18 in.	Drip irrigation system; applied to achieve 1 acre-inch of water weekly	60 lb/acre N applied preplant; 40 N, 39 lb.acre P₂O₅, and 40 lb/acre K₂O evenly split in weekly fertigation events	9/8– 10/7/2014 9/14– 10/13/2015
Southeastern, Spring: 5/13/2014, Bare ground 5/13/2015, Bare ground	5 in.	Double, 30 inches between rows	12 in.	Drip irrigation system; applied to achieve 1 acre-inch of water weekly	50 lb/acre N applied preplant, no P₂O₅ and K₂O applied based on soil test reports; 100 N fertigated weekly	7/1– 8/1/2014 7/24– 7/27/2015
Western, Fall: 7/24/2014, Plasticulture 8/4/2015, Plasticulture	5 in.	2014: Single 2015: Double, 12 inches between rows	2014: 15 in. 2015: 12 in.	Drip irrigation system; applied to achieve 1 acre-inch of water weekly	2014: 75 lb/acre N, 76 lb/acre P₂O₅, 75 lb/acre K₂O applied preplant; 2015: 35 lb/acre N, 71 lb/acre P₂O₅, 70 lb/acre K₂O applied preplant; 40 lb/acre N, 40 lb/acre P₂O₅, 40 lb/acre K₂O evenly split in two fertigation events	9/7– 10/7/2014 9/14– 10/13/2015
Southeastern, Fall: 7/24/2014, Bare ground 8/3/2015, Plasticulture	2014: 5 ft. 2015: 6 ft.	2014: Double, 30 inches between rows 2015: Double, 12 inches between rows	2014: 12 in. 2015: 18 in.	Drip irrigation system; applied to achieve 1 acre-inch of water weekly	50 lb/acre N applied preplant, P₂O₅ and K₂O applied preplant based on soil test reports; 100 lb/acre N fertigated weekly	9/8/– 10/23/2014 9/11– 10/29/2015

At all sites, we used a plasticulture system with a single line of drip tape on each raised row covered with black plastic mulch. All sites had silt loam soils. We managed diseases and insect pests locally using recommendations from the Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide. We harvested single crown-type heads as they reached maturity: when beads (flower buds) were tight and dark green. Stalks were cut to 5 inches long from the top of the head in the central and southeastern sites in 2014 and from the base of the head in 2015. Stalks were cut to 5 inches long from the base of the head in the southwestern site in both study years.

Reference

Sanchez, Elsa Sanchez, Thomas Butzler, Lee Stivers, Robert Pollock, Timothy Elkner, Steven Bogash, and William Lamont. Performance of Broccoli Cultivars in Spring and Fall Evaluations in Pennsylvania.

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