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Advice on Publications Available.Broccoli in the 1950s was traditionally a temperate vegetable crop, not likely to be considered for growing in the sub-tropical conditions of the Lockyer Valley, 80 km to the west of Brisbane (halfway between Brisbane and Toowoomba). However, in the 1960s, F1 hybrid broccoli varieties became available from national vegetable seed companies such as Arthur Yates, Henderson Seeds, New World Seeds and others.
This range of varieties had several advantages over the previously available, open pollinated varieties. F1 hybrids were uniform in head size and shape, since they tended to have one central head, rather than several with various heading times, within each plant. Hence, they were suitable for once-over harvesting. They were also higher yielding. The range of maturities amongst the available F1 varieties was such that it proved possible to produce broccoli in the Lockyer Valley all year round.
Mike Titley, at the Queensland Agricultural College, Gatton, realised that the mild winters and hot, humid summers would be ideal for the growing of hybrid broccoli. He was prompted to consider broccoli since there was, in 1979, a broccoli 'boom' in Singapore, as identified by the Export Division of C.O.D. in Brisbane (Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing, now known as Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers).
A group of 15 broccoli varieties, comprising 14 F1 hybrids and one open pollinated variety, was sown every three weeks, on 19 different occasions from March 1979.This research was funded by the Commonwealth Extension Service Grants Scheme (CESG) and the QAC Research Fund.
Plantings were established by direct seeding and standard agronomic practices used for broccoli in other areas were used throughout the trials. All varieties were compared at plant densities of 66,000 plants/ha, although it was thought at the time that some varieties might yield better at denser plantings.
The optimum time for harvest was defined as when 5% of the heads in a variety were over mature. On the basis of the yields from once-over harvesting, it was established that there were four principal types of response among the group; summer varieties (that is, suitable for harvesting during the summer), between season varieties, winter varieties and late winter/early spring varieties.
By careful scheduling of planting of the correct variety, broccoli could be produced all year round. To do this, plantings began in January and concluded in September. Crops matured in 10-12 weeks in summer and 14 weeks in the cooler weather.
Broccoli was often packed directly into cartons in the field, using harvest-aides originally developed for the pineapple industry.
Due to the high rate of respiration of broccoli heads at harvest, they needed to be cooled to 10°C with a relative humidity of 95% within 1-2 hours of harvest, so coolrooms were designed and built.
The growth of the broccoli industry in the Lockyer was also assisted by a demonstration planting of over 30 hectares of broccoli which was harvested and exported from the Queensland Agricultural College site.
The impact of this research can be demonstrated by the growth in export broccoli through Eagle Farm airport in Brisbane. In 1980, a total of 9900 broccoli packages (of 8.5kg weight each) was exported. By 1985, the figure had increased to 55500 packages. A significant part of this growth can be attributed to the crop scheduling work undertaken by Mike Titley.
Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter
Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email:
r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au[
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GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF