Where is broccoli mostly grown

Onions: Total production in totaled Area harvested, at , acres, was up 2 percent from In California, the largest producing State, winter rains resulted in adequate water supplies in the major onion growing areas. Onion sizes were reported to be good. In both Oregon and Washington, extended wet conditions caused by a prolonged rainy season delayed plantings by several weeks. Wet conditions persisted until early May. Green Peas: Total production in totaled 5.

Planted area was estimated at , acres, down 16 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, at , acres, was down 15 percent from In Minnesota and Wisconsin, yields were reported as average or slightly below average due to wet weather in late May and June. The wet conditions caused some fields to be bypassed or no second crop was able to be planted. In Washington, the season started out wet, making it difficult for producers to get into the fields to plant.

This was followed by hot and dry conditions for the remainder of the growing season. Fields with irrigation did well, while those without irrigation showed signs of stress due to dry conditions. Bell Peppers: Total production in totaled Planted area was estimated at 44, acres, down 1 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, at 43, acres, was down 1 percent from In Florida, abnormally dry conditions were persistent throughout the growing season.

Growing conditions in Georgia were ideal for much of the season and damage from Hurricane Matthew was minimal. In Michigan, warm, humid weather during July promoted crop development but did increase disease reports. Cooler nights in mid-August reduced foliar disease pressure. California growers reported ideal growing conditions for most of the season. However, late-season heat waves with higher than normal overnight lows affected quality and shelf life. Chile Peppers: Total production in totaled 4.

Planted area was estimated at 20, acres, down 4 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, at 18, acres, was down 6 percent from Utilized production totaled 4. In California, weather conditions were reported to be ideal for much of the season.

However, late season heat waves with higher than normal overnight lows negatively impacted quality, shelf life, and yields.

In New Mexico, despite reports of dry conditions and high temperatures, the crop was not adversely affected. Pumpkins: Total production in totaled Planted area was estimated at 73, acres, down 3 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, at 69, acres, was down 3 percent from In Illinois, cool, dry weather allowed the pumpkin harvest to start in late July.

The main pumpkin producing regions averaged 6 days suitable for field work per week for the first 3 weeks of August. This helped to mitigate potential harm from a much warmer than average September and October. In Ohio, planting was underway from May into June.

Several instances of powdery mildew were reported in July, several weeks later than normal. Mild temperatures, cloudy days, and rain in August led to some Downey mildew cases in September. Harvest was completed in October. Michigan began planting in May and finished in mid-July. Early season harvest began in September with full harvest underway in mid-October. The season got off to a slow start in Indiana, but warm temperatures during the second half of the season helped push crop development ahead of normal.

In California, adequate irrigation supplies prevailed across the major pumpkin-growing areas after several years of drought. Above average temperatures were recorded throughout the late summer and fall, but growers reported a good crop overall.

Spinach: Total production in totaled 7. Planted area was estimated at 54, acres, down 2 percent from the previous year. Area harvested, at 53, acres, was down 1 percent from Utilized production totaled 7. Arizona growers reported above average rainfall and higher than average temperatures in January, followed by higher temperatures in February and March that began to affect quality of the crop. Squash: Total production in totaled 5. Planted area was estimated at 35, acres, down 4 percent from the previous year.

Area harvested, at 34, acres, was down 4 percent from In Michigan, the largest producing State, seeding of summer squash and zucchini into plastic mulched beds was underway by late April, while transplants were being set out under low tunnels by mid-May.

Direct seeding continued into late-May. Harvest began in mid-June, although cool temperatures hindered progress. Fall and winter squash planting continued through early June, with winter squash setting fruit by early August. Harvest began in early September.

Florida producers experienced an abnormally dry winter and spring causing them to run more irrigation than normal. Some growers reported whitefly pressure, but overall the crop fared well.

In California, winter rains resulted in adequate water supplies in the major squash growing areas. Above average temperatures during the summer months and some disease pressure were reported by growers.

New York producers reported a wet growing season. Rain continued into the harvest period causing delay and lost crop due to rot. A wet spring followed by a dry summer made it a challenging year for growers in Oregon. Strawberries: Total production in totaled Planted area was estimated at 54, acres, up less than 1 percent from the previous year.

Area harvested, at 52, acres, was down 1 percent from In California, the largest producing State, there was an increase in summer plantings for fall production despite winter rains early in the season.

An increase in higher producing varieties and generally better weather conditions for most of the season led to increased production compared with the previous season. In Florida, wet conditions early in the growing season presented some disease and insect issues. In Oregon, some growers reported heat stress, as well as weed and pest pressure which negatively impacted the crop. Tomatoes: Total production in totaled million cwt, down 14 percent from the total.

Area harvested, at , acres, was down 11 percent from While broccoli generally 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 generally emerge in less than 7 days.

Adequate soil moisture is essential for optimum broccoli seed germination. Depending on climate, transplanting begins in late March to mid- April. Successive plantings can occur every 2 weeks through August. Optimal plant populations for broccoli are 14, to 24, plants per acre. Therefore, the amount of seed per acre that you should buy varies with plant spacing, final plant stand, and percent seed germination. Depending on the planter type used random or precision , you should sow 0.

When transplanting, you should have a minimum of 11, plants per acre. Spacing decisions depend on the row spacing of your equipment, your ability to irrigate, the planting date, and your specific market requirements small or large heads. Fertilizer rates should be based on annual soil test results. If you are unable to conduct a test, the recommended N-P-K application rates are pounds per acre broadcast or pounds per acre banded at planting. Liming may also be necessary to maintain soil pH in the 5.

Cruciferous crops such as broccoli require more boron than most other crops. Applying 3 pounds of boron per acre will eliminate broccoli stems that are brown and hollow.

Severe boron deficiency can produce browning on head surfaces. These affected heads are not marketable. Weed control can be achieved with herbicides, mechanical control, and a good crop-rotation system. Broccoli competes fairly well with weeds, but it should be kept weed-free until plants reach the preheading stage. Many pretransplant and postemergence herbicides are available for broccoli, depending on the specific weed problem and the broccoli growth stage.

If infestation levels are mild, cultivation can be used to reduce weed problems. Insects are a major potential problem in broccoli production.

Flea beetles, cabbage loopers, imported cabbageworms, diamondback moths, and aphids all can cause crop losses. Monitoring insect populations with traps or by scouting will help you determine when you should use pesticides and how often you should spray. Several broccoli diseases can cause crop losses. Black rot, blackleg, bacterial head rot, downy mildew, and Alternaria are common problems.

Many of these diseases can be prevented by having a good crop-rotation program and by using disease-resistant varieties. Many of the pesticides required for broccoli production are restricted-use pesticides and require a pesticide applicator license to purchase.

Pesticide applicator tests are usually administered at county extension offices, so you should contact your local office for dates and times of these examinations. When using any pesticides in your enterprise, remember to follow all label recommendations regarding application rates and personal protection equipment PPE requirements. Because there are no mechanical harvesters for broccoli, it is necessary to hand-harvest the crop. To ensure marketing a high-quality product, you should check the broccoli heads for worms, which tend to hide underneath the florets.

You also will need to grade the heads for size head diameter generally averages 6 inches and for flower bead tightness. Broccoli should be cooled with packed ice or a hydrocooler immediately after harvest. If broccoli is stored this long, however, it will begin to lose its dark green color and firmness. In the normal course of operations, farmers handle pesticides and other chemicals, may have manure to collect and spread, and use equipment to prepare fields and harvest crops.

Any of these routine on-farm activities can be a potential source of surface or groundwater pollution. Because of this possibility, you must understand the regulations you must follow concerning the proper handling and application of chemicals and the disposal and transport of waste.

Depending on the watershed where your farm is located, there may be additional environmental regulations regarding erosion control, pesticide leaching, and nutrient runoff. Contact your soil and water conservation district, extension office, zoning board, state departments of agriculture and environmental protection, and local governing authorities to determine what regulations may pertain to your operation. Good agricultural practices GAPs and good handling practices GHPs are voluntary programs that you may wish to consider for your operation.

The idea behind these programs is to ensure a safer food system by reducing the chances for foodborne illnesses resulting from contaminated products reaching consumers. Also, several major food distribution chains are beginning to require GAP- and GHP-certified products from their producers.

These programs set standards for worker hygiene, use of manure, and water supply quality. These practices require an inspection from a designated third party and there are fees associated with the inspection.

Prior to an inspection, you will need to develop and implement a food safety plan and designate someone in your operation to oversee this plan. You will need to have any water supply used by your workers or for crop irrigation and pesticide application checked at least twice each year. For more information about GAP and GHP programs, contact your local extension office or your state's department of agriculture.

You should carefully consider how to manage risk on your farm. First, you should insure your facilities and equipment. So you can buy broccoli seeds and prepared your own broccoli plant seedlings. Broccoli plants grow on a raised bed in rows and maintain the distance between raw to raw is 30 cm and plant to plant is 30 — 45 cm.

Approximately plants are required for the one-hectare area. Generally, plantation did after afternoon after plantation. Before planting the seedlings, seedlings should be Dip the solution of fungicide 12 ml in 10 liters of water.

For the Broccoli crop, drip irrigation is very beneficial. It improves crop yields and quality. Light and frequent irrigation should be given after days intervals depending on weather conditions and maintain soil moisture around the root zone. Before giving fertilizer to the broccoli crop, the soil must be analyzed and then decide fertilizer dose quantity. Generally, the broccoli crop is required to give kg of Nitrogen, kg of phosphorus, and kg of potassium per hectare.

Nitrogen kg, 80 kg phosphorus and 60 kg potash should be applied at the transplantation time. The remaining half of nitrogen should be used in two split doses at 30 and 45 days after transplanting. Give micronutrients according to the crop requirement. After the 30 days of transplanting, remove weed; this weed competes for food, sunlight, and air with the main crop, maintaining the crop weed-free. It is a serious disease, and It occurs in the pre-emergence and the post-emergency phase.

High humidity condition, heavy rainfall poor water drain soil and low temperature this are the favorable condition for this disease control Seed treatment with Thiram or Captan at 2. White Hair, like Fungus growth, is observed on the leaves.

After some time, brown necrotic spots appear on the upper surface of the leaves. At disease, the infestation stage sprays Mancozeb at 0. It is a soil-borne disease caused by the fungus Sclerotiniascelorotiorum. The white rust fungus attacks the lower surface of the outer leaves, and plants suddenly die.

First signs appear on leaves; leaves become yellow in color at leaf margin areas. Plant Veins and veinlets start to turn brown and then become black. If this infection is observed at an early stage of the plant, the plants wilt and die. After some time, they become large circular with 1mm in diameter.

The size caterpillar larva is about 3 to 4 cm long; they are gray or brown in colour. The larva may cut several plants in a single night. They hide in the daytime and feed at night.