Chapter 6. Cole Crop Production
Lincoln Zotarelli, Peter J. Dittmar, Nicholas S. Dufault, Bonnie Wells, Johan Desaeger, Joseph W. Noling,
Eugene J. McAvoy, Qingren Wang, and Christian F. Miller
Botany and Planting
Broccoli - Brassica oleraceae Italica group, Brassicaceae (Cruciferae).
Cabbage - Brassica oleraceae Capitata group.
- Brassica oleraceae Botrytis group.
Chinese broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra.
Chinese cabbage - Napa (tight headed), chi-hili (semi-loose headed) –
Brassica rapa var. pekinsis.
Chinese mustard - Bok choi, shanghai choi / baby bok choi / yuchoi /
yuchoy / u-choi / choy sum – Brassica rapa subsp. Chinensis.
Kohlrabi - Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes.
Oriental radish - Daikon (Japanese) / lobok or lo bok (Chinese) –
Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus.
Collards - Brassica oleraceae Acephala group.
Kale - Brassica oleraceae Acephala group.
Mustard - Brassica juncea.
Turnip - Brassica rapa Rapifera group.
Table 6.1. Planting information for cole crops.
Planting dates Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage1 Cauliflower1
North Florida Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb
Central Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Feb
South Florida Oct - Jan Oct - Jan Sept - Jan Sept - Jan
Planting information
Distance between rows (in) 24 - 40 24 - 40 24 - 40 24 - 40
Distance between plants (in) 10 - 15 16 - 24 9 - 16 12 - 18
Seeding depth (in) 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5
(lb) 1 - 2 1 - 2 1 - 2 1 - 2
Seeding per acre for transplant (lb) 1.25 - 1.5 1.25 - 1.5 1 1.25 - 1.5
Days to maturity from seed 75 - 90 120 - 140 85 - 110 75 - 90
Days to maturity from transplant 50 - 70 90 - 120 70 - 90 50 - 70
Plant populations (acre) 10,400-26,000 Up to 15,500 Up to 29,400 Up to 29,000
Planting dates Collards Kale Mustard Turnip
North Florida Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb Aug - Feb
Central Florida Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Feb Sept - Feb
South Florida Sept - Jan Sept - Jan Sept - Jan Sept - Jan
Planting information
Distance between rows (in) 24 - 36 18 - 24 12 - 36 12 - 36
Distance between plants (in) 12 - 24 8 - 12 5 - 10 2 - 6
Seeding depth (in) 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5 0.25 - 0.5
(lb) 2 - 4 2 - 4 3 - 5 2 - 3
Seeding per acre for transplant (lb) 1.25 - 1.5 N/A2 N/A2 N/A2
Days to maturity from seed 70 - 90 50 - 70 40 - 50 40 - 60
Days to maturity from transplant 50 - 70 — — —
Plant populations (acre) Up to 21,800 Up to 43,500 Up to 116,200 Up to 261,400
1 It could be planted in double rows (15-24 in between rows; 10-12 in within rows; 40-60 in bed centers).
2 Direct seeded.