Everything You Need To Know About Broccoli Farming In A Poly House


Broccoli is a nutritious green plant in the cabbage family which treated as a vegetable and it's large flowering head and stems used to eat. Broccoli farming in a poly house is a great source of income. Broccoli has amongst the highest concentration of magnesium, iron, and calcium in between all vegetables and it also has very high amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C.

Let's have a brief look at the given guide for broccoli farming in a poly house.

A Guide to Broccoli Farming in Poly House

Broccoli is fresh, crisp and tasty to eat and generally used this in a veg salad. Broccoli plant has the same size as cauliflower. Currently, Broccoli has become more popular in India, and the consumption of broccoli has increased in the five-star hotels as well as at home for a veg salad.

Varieties of Broccoli Plants

There are various varieties of broccoli plants used for farming in poly house in India:

●      Royle Green Broccoli
●      Evergreen Broccoli
●      Danube Broccoli
●      Yugren Broccoli
●      Salinas Pilgrim Broccoli
●      Green Mountain Broccoli
●      Premium Crop Broccoli
●      Premium Pusa Broccoli

Basic Requirements for Broccoli Farming

Broccoli is a high-value vegetable crop for off-season and main season production under poly house farming. A partially ventilated low-cost poly house with both polythene and agro shed net can be suitable for farmers.

Poly house farming is a process of cultivation under complete controlled environmental circumstances like temperature, humidity, and fertilizers, etc with the automated system.

Poly house farming should be designed in such a way that smart farmers can produce high-value crops out of season when prices of farm produce are at their highest. This is the way you can get higher incomes and a higher return on the high initial investment. Since you can control light, ambient temperature, humidity, and water for irrigation, you can generate all the crops that fetch a high price in local and regional markets. In poly houses, you can generate pesticide-free produce or even organic produce that fetch a higher price due to their high nutritional value, better taste, and freshness.

Soil Requirement

Broccoli vegetables can be grown in a wide variety of soils type. To obtain a better yield from broccoli crop sandy and silt loam soils are most preferred. The soil pH level (a measurement of the acidity and alkalinity) should be between 5.5– 7.0.

For broccoli farming, the ideal temperature required 25°C to 26°C during the day and 16° C to 17°C in the night. To get through the year production Broccoli farming done in the poly house.

Before planting broccoli land is plowed 3 to 4 times then add compost or well rotten FYM (farmyard manure) and mix thoroughly at the time of land preparation.

Preparation of Broccoli Seedlings

Generally, many farmers make broccoli plant seedlings on their field because most of the nurseries don’t create broccoli seedlings due to less demand for broccoli seedlings.

So that the best option is to buy some broccoli seeds and produce your broccoli seedlings at home.

There are 2 methods for preparing broccoli plant seedlings:

1.       Soilless Media: with the use of coco peat in the plastic nursery tray
2.       Soil Media: raised soil bed

Seed Spacing

Spacing and seed rate varies accordingly to the selected cultivar, soil quality, and fertility, planting method, etc. However, quality seeds are good enough for planting.

However, after spending and transplanting seedlings, thinning must be at about 3 cm apart after 2 to 3 days of germination.

Spacing for single row planting must be 40 cm to 45 cm apart, whereas, for double row planting, the spacing should be 60 cm to 65 cm. The grown seedlings should be watered sufficiently for several hours before planting on the field to avoid the wilting during transplanting. Light irrigation should be done, just after transplanting the seedlings.

Planting and Fertilization

Because broccoli is a cool-season crop, it generally is planted in the spring. You should begin planting when soil temperatures reach at least 50°F and the possibility of hard frosts (28°F or lower) has passed in the area. Broccoli heads should be closed and tight (no yellow petals showing) to be considered good quality.

Generally, Broccoli is transplanted in the spring, it can be sown directly from seed in late summer or early fall when soil temperatures are in the high 60s and ambient air temperatures are in the 80s.

Under these conditions, seeds commonly emerge in less than 7 days. Adequate soil moisture is necessary for optimum broccoli seed germination. Depending on the climate, transplanting begins in late March to mid- April month. Successive plantings can happen every 2 weeks through August.

Depending on the planter type used (random or precision), you must sow 0.5-1.5 pounds of broccoli seed per acre, with seeds placed 12-18 inches apart in 36-inch rows.

When transplanting, you must have a minimum of 11,000 plants per acre. Spacing decisions depend on the row spacing of equipment, your ability to irrigate, the planting date, and your specific market requirements (small or large heads).

Fertilizer rates must be based on annual soil test results. The agriculture industry relies heavily on the use of NPK fertilizer for healthy plant growth. Liming can also be necessary to maintain soil pH in the 5.5-7.0 range for optimal growth.

The soil is a resource that wants to be managed and monitored carefully. Based on soil analysis results fertilization can then be developed. This program is specifically for the kind of soil that was sampled and subsequently analyzed. This exercise must be done every season or every time a new crop is planted on the land.

In addition to having soil samples tested, the water quality must be analyzed because water quality can have a direct effect on the growth of the plant.

Irrigation Requirement for Broccoli Farming

In poly house, Broccoli requires adequate soil moisture to maximize yield and quality, especially during flower head formation.

Overwatering can cause loose heads or hollow stems to increase and can promote root diseases. Broccoli is generally irrigated with furrows and overhead sprinklers. The amount and frequency of sprinkler irrigation or furrow irrigation depend on soil type, weather conditions, crop production area, and maturity.

The combination of soil moisture monitoring and weather-based irrigation scheduling can be used to find out the water needs of Broccoli.

Weed Management

After a month of transplanting remove weed, this weed fights for food sunlight and air with the major crop so maintain the crop weed-free.

Pest Management

Insect pests can be the main problem in broccoli production, especially in summer plantings for fall harvest. Damage to transplants and older plants can effect from cutworms, imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, diamondback moth larvae, and cross-striped cabbageworm.

Bacillus thuringiensis (or Bt) is a microbial insecticide that can be used efficiently against most types of broccoli pests and is a primary component of organic production.

Broccoli Harvesting

In the poly house, broccoli grown from seed will come to harvest in 100 to 150 days. Grown from transplants broccoli will come to harvest in 55 – 80 days. Cut buds when they are still green and tight with a knife and cut the central head with 5 to 6 inches of stem. Leave the base of the broccoli plant and some outer leaves to encourage new heads on secondary shoots. Heads that have begun to open showing yellow flowers are past the eating stage.

As shown in this guide now you have all the required information for broccoli farming in a poly house. If you require more information about the process, tips and seeds please visit Shine Brand Seeds or write us at shinebrandseeds@gmail.com or call us at 8770896002.

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