Broccoli crowns began appearing in North Carolina Eastern Broccoli Quality trial plots in late June.  Evaluations of hybrids in that planting are now about 90 percent complete.  Broccoli hybrids in the second planting, which was transplanted on June 12, are just beginning to show signs of heading.   A third planting went in the ground last week.

The season in Western NC started out hot, then turned cooler in late June.  Summer heat and humidity returned in July.  Some Alternaria and secondary fungal infections related to minor insect damage have been noted but managed.

The limited amounts of seed available for new hybrids means that Quality trials plots are necessarily small.  To achieve results that are representative of  performance, plots of 15 plants per hybrid are replicated three times per planting, with three plantings per season happening at each  Quality trial location.