Broccoli Arcadia Seedling Tray

For best results with Broccoli Arcadia, grow one seedling plug per 4-inch container or 1801 cell. Use well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.5, light feed (75-125 ppm), and temperatures between 60-70 degrees. Watch for flea beetles, root maggots, cabbage worms, and cutworms. Broccoli can be prone to downy mildew and black rot, although this variety is resistant. 

Harvest heads before flowering begins. Medium green beads on the head become mealy in texture once they bud. These buds open into yellow flowers.

This plant doesn't require pinching.

Space plants for adequate airflow and sunlight penetration around the base and foliage of each plant.

Combine a few techniques to keep Broccoli seedling plugs from stretching tall. 

1. Provide adequate space between plants.

2. Grow plants with the proper amount of light.

3. Maintain an optimal temperature of 60-70 degrees. 

4. If height control is an issue with this plant in your greenhouse, pinching can promote bushier growth.

We don't recommend using chemical growth regulators for vegetables. 

Scout for flea beetles, root maggots, cabbage worms, and cutworms as part of your commercial greenhouse's Integrated Pest Management plan. Floating row covers can help combat worms among Brassica vegetables.

Flea Beetles are jumping insects which eat Brassica vegetables and other plants, creating tiny holes in the foliage which can reduce yields and stunt growth. Rotate crops, remove plant debris, and monitor plants to decrease the likelihood of an infestation. Introduce parasitic wasps as a natural enemy, use floating row covers, or physically remove beetles from plants. As a last resort, apply an insecticide labeled for flea beetle control, rotating between products to prevent resistance.

Root Maggots are larvae of a particular fly species that feed on plant roots, leading to wilting, stunted growth, and reduced yields. Rotate crops, keep the greenhouse clean, and destroy any infested plant material to prevent spread. Beneficial nematodes and parasitic wasps can help control root maggot populations. Prevent adult flies from laying eggs on plants with floating row covers or by drenching soil with insecticidal soap or neem oil. As a last resort, use an insecticide labeled for root maggot control when adult flies are active. 

Cabbage worms are the larvae of the cabbage butterfly. They feed on Broccoli leaves and other brassica vegetables, causing holes and tattered leaves. To control cabbage worms, use floating row covers; introduce natural predators, including ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps; handpick and dispose of the larvae; or use Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) insecticide. 

Cutworms are moth larvae that eat seedlings at the soil level, causing plants to wilt and die. 
Control cutworm populations by removing weeds and debris that allow cutworms to hide; introducing parasitic nematodes and predatory wasps; using cardboard or metal collars around the base of seedlings to prevent access; handpicking and removing worms from the soil and plants; or applying insecticide bait around plants. 

This variety resists disease, but watch for downy mildew and black rot which commonly effect Brassica vegetables.

Downy Mildew is a disease caused by Peronospora sparsa, a fungus-like organism that causes white or gray growth on foliage undersides and yellowing of the leaf surface. Use proper sanitization, ventilation, and humidity control. Remove infected plants and debris to control the spread. Don't use overhead irrigation, and apply a fungicide if needed. Azoxystrobin, chlorothalonil, mancozeb, and fenamidone are effective in a rotation against a severe outbreak of Downy Mildew.

Black Rot is a bacterial disease that destroys cruciferous vegetables. Xanthomonas campestris pv. Campestris leads to V-shaped yellow lesions on foliage, wilting, and blackening. Start with disease-free seeds or seedling plugs and sanitized equipment, tools, and surfaces in your commercial greenhouse. Rotate Brassica crops yearly to reduce disease pressure and remove and destroy any infected plant material. If you choose to use chemical control, apply a preventative spray of a bactericide labeled for black rot control at transplant and as needed during the growing season.

We recommend planting one seedling plug per 1801 cell or 4-inch container. Use a well-drained soil in full sun and completely bury the ellepot in the center of the container. Handle the roots carefully, spreading them out in your final container. Water the seedling to provide even moisture and dispel air pockets. Cell packs finish in one to two weeks.