Good Source of Info On Broccoli Varieties
For excellent info on the best broccoli varieties by state go to the vegetable variety data collection project at Cornell University - www.vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu. We urge you to join this valuable site and contribute your own ratings of varieties.

The Ferry-Morse Seed Company has four great varieties of broccoli:

DeCicco: This variety grows big center heads as well as lots of smaller side shoots. A late maturing type, it is both tasty and productive. It produces a good fall crop also. Seed packets hold 1.5 grams of seed, sufficient to plant a row of about 150 feet at the specified spacing. Plants will be ready to pick 90 days from when the seeds sprout.

De Rapa Spring Annual: This sprouting-type broccoli (also called Raab) forms many small, sweet, and delicious tender shoots rather than a single large head. The leaves are tasty and healthful, too, great for stir-fry. A packet of 1.5 grams holds enough seeds to plant a row of about 90 feet. It will take about 60 days for the raab to mature for picking.

George’s Best (Barbados) Hybrid: A spoof of former president George Bush’s opinion of broccoli, this vigorous Barbados hybrid is mildew-tolerant. It produces deep blue-green heads, even in very warm areas. Flavorful and vitamin-rich, a packet of seeds plants a row about 15 feet long if seeds are planted at specified spacing. It takes 60 to 70 days before the broccoli is mature enough to pick.

Green Comet Hybrid: This All-America Selections award winner matures early and produces high-quality, large, deep-green broccoli heads. It is excellent fresh or frozen. A packet of seeds plants about a 30 foot row. It takes about 60 days after they sprout for them to be ready for harvest.

One of the best broccoli varieties for fall is Waltham 29. The best sprouting varieties, which produce no main head but lots of sprouts, are DeCicco and Green Sprouting Calabrese. Saga has good tolerance for late summer heat