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

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

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

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.