Castle Dome Hybrid Broccoli Seeds

Days to Maturity: 50 from setting out transplants

For years Packman has been the go-to broccoli for generous, dependable yields of big domes and lots of side shoots. It was heat-tolerant and easy to grow in a wide range of climates. Now we are introducing its replacement, which improves on Packman's strengths and adds a few more of its own.

Castle Dome hybrid is a compact variety, less than 2 feet tall, and it finishes very quickly (a week sooner than Packman, on average). It is also even more heat-tolerant, lasting well into the warm weather without becoming rangy or going to flower. You can use it both for extra-early crops and for extra-late . . . as well as the whole season in between!

This domed variety offers uniform, mid-green, heavy, deep heads with small, tight beads. It holds well in the field if your harvest is delayed. Tolerant of both unseasonable heat and cold, it is a season extender you will love! And because it's tolerant of both hollow stem and brown bead, your harvests will be bigger and healthier than ever before.

You can use Castle Dome for florets, crown cuts, and bunching. It sets numerous side-shoots after the main head is harvested, and thrives even in challenging environmental conditions. This fine new variety is poised to become the new gold standard in broccoli.

Sow seeds directly or transplant into the garden when they have 4 true leaves (about 8 weeks from germinating). Before planting, prepare the soil well, adding nitrogen if necessary and neutralizing heavily alkaline or acid soils. If planting in spring, plan to harvest before the temperature reaches 80 degrees; the heads will bolt in high heat. If planting in fall, start 10 to 12 weeks before first frost date.

Space seeds or transplants 18 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Harvest the central head first, which will stimulate the production of numerous side-shoots and extend your harvest another few weeks.