Why Purple Broccoli Is The Perfect Cold Hardy Plant

Why Purple Broccoli Is The Perfect Cold Hardy Plant

Purple broccoli is named thus because it is purple-colored. However, that isn't its most notable characteristic. Instead, purple broccoli is very well-suited for colder conditions, thus making it a good choice for people who want to continue growing during the colder parts of the year.

Extremely Cold Resistant

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These plants are capable of surviving temperatures of below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, which would be below -12 degrees Celsius. As such, they can do just fine when planted either late summer, late winter, or early spring in a lot of places.

Won't Flower Without a Vernalization Period

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Colder conditions are actually necessary for purple broccoli. This is because they are one of the plants that need a vernalization period, which means that they need to go dormant in response to colder temperatures before a time before they will flower. In the case of purple broccoli, it needs this for at least six weeks. Otherwise, it might not flowering at all, which is a serious issue when the most often-eaten part of them would be the florets.

Smaller Heads But Sweet-Tasting Side-Shoots

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Curiously, purple broccoli have smaller heads than their standard counterparts. In exchange, they tend to come with a lot of side-shoots, which are particularly sweet-tasting because of their exposure to colder temperatures. It is possible to cut the central floret for the purpose of encouraging the development of side-shoots if that is what is desired the most.

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