CASTOR

The Broccoli Castor F1 is a mid-season hybrid of Japanese selection, developed by Sakata. This variety features a vegetative period of 80 to 90 days, allowing harvest at the end of August to the beginning of September. The plant forms a powerful foliage apparatus with dark blue or blue-green leaves covered with a moderate waxy bloom and a slight wavy edge. The leaves are upright and tightly cover the head, protecting the inflorescences from sunburn and damage during harvest. Heads have an oval or oval-flattened shape, dense inflorescence structure, and pure white color. The average fruit weight is from 1.5 to 2 kg, with specimens weighing up to 3 kg and more occurring.

The Castor F1 Broccoli prefers growing on light and medium soils with a neutral pH reaction and does not tolerate acidic soils. Successful development requires regular moderate watering, mineral fertilizers, and loosening of the rows to ensure good water and air permeability of the soil. The hybrid demonstrates high resistance to infectious diseases, however, preventive measures against pests and rot remain mandatory. The recommended planting density is 32-37 thousand plants per hectare.

This variety of broccoli is excellent for the fresh market as well as for processing, including canning and freezing. The yield reaches 4.5-5.4 kg per square meter. Thanks to good self-coverage and the dense structure of the heads, Castor F1 is distinguished by excellent taste qualities and high product marketability, making it in demand among horticulturists and consumers.