Broccoli, which is part of the Brassica family are in effect a cool weather crop. Through breeding however, these crops have been developed with improved heat tolerance. This development has meant that brassicas can now be produced throughout the year choosing the right variety for the right season.
Sakata has several broccoli varieties available for the various planting seasons and producers must make sure that they plant the correct variety in a specific season to get the most out of their crop.
WARM SEASON VARIETIES
ARES*
Ares* is a fast maturing pre-packing variety suitable for spring, summer and autumn sowing. The dark green coloured heads are dome shaped with a medium bead size. Ares* produces smooth heads with small to medium plants. Very uniform maturity for a first cut. Very adaptable for production in all areas of South Africa.
SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS
- Only sow Ares* in late winter to end of summer
- Do not plant Ares* in mid-winter in frost areas
NAXOS*
Naxos* is Sakata’s new summer variety. Does very well when grown from cool to hot conditions. Naxos flourish in high temperatures. Plants are big with a strong root system. Heads are dome shaped with longer stems than other varieties. It’s a variety with good adaptability and with good holding ability. Heads sit deep in the plant so that the heads are well protected against damage from birds and wind. Dark green heads with small to medium beads
SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS
- Only sow Naxos* from late winter to end of summer
- Do not plant Naxos* in mid-winter in areas prone to frost
COOL SEASON VARIETIES
PARTHENON
Parthenon is one of Sakata’s ‘new generation’ broccolis created as a result of extensive research and breeding programs. Parthenon has achieved a new level of quality with its exceptional characteristics and versatility. It is for these reasons that Parthenon is steadily capturing not only the European, but also the American broccoli market and is creating much interest within South Africa. Parthenon is a vigorous stout plant that produces large heads of excellent quality in cold weather. The heads are a high dome shape with very small beads of a dark blue-green colour. However, bead quality is adversely affected by warm weather. Parthenon is unlikely to develop anthocyanin (red pigment) build up and Hollow stem. Parthenon has very compact heads and thus excellent field holding ability, even if harvesting is delayed. Parthenon has an exceptional yield potential for both fresh market and processing. Excellent adaptability, reliability, quality and high yields make Parthenon the first choice for cool season production.
SPECIAL VARIETAL REQUIREMENTS
- Parthenon is a large, strong plant with an excellent root system. It has been found to require less nitrogen than other varieties
- Parthenon should only be grown in the cool season
