The broccoli season is due to start on time this year around June 1, despite late plantings.
“It does not seem to matter whether we are early or late planting, from experience the crop always seems to start around the same time,” said Richard Mowbray, chairman of the research and development committee at the Brassica Growers Association (BGA). “This season we began planting on March 18 - about seven days later than we would have liked as it was frosty to begin with and then became wet.”
Growers in Lincolnshire are getting ready to take polythene covers off their crops at the end of this week and into next week. The relatively dry weather over the past six weeks has proved beneficial for calabrese and product quality in the field looks good.
Prevailing weather conditions have been ideal for the crop, with temperatures in the 15-18°C range and intermittent rainfall.
But there is concern with frost forecast for the end of the week. “A bit of moisture is good for the crops but we could do without the forecast frost which can slow growth,” said Mowbray.
Producers are hoping for good product continuity once the season gets going, with even supplies, rather than slow development and then a rush in the harvest that has plagued the Spanish season.
The campaign from southern Spain has been particularly tough this year due to unseasonably low temperatures in growing regions and late frost.
However, prices have been strong. “We hope the inflated price levels we have seen for Spanish product will carry on into the UK season,” said Mowbray. The two seasons will probably dovetail for about three weeks in June as volume from Lincs, Scotland, Kent and Lancashire builds.
This season will also see greater volume from Cornwall as large-scale field trials have proved effective on calabrese that can withstand summer temperatures.
Acreage in general is estimated by the BGA to be slightly up this year on last as producers respond to marketplace demand for the popular broccoli over other types such as cauliflower.
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