Description
‘Green Belt’ is a renowned, medium-early hybrid broccoli celebrated for its dual-harvest ability. It first produces a high-quality, dense, dark green main head with a very fine grain and smooth stem. The flavour is excellent, classic broccoli—sweet and tender.
Crucially, after the main head is cut, the plant is known for its abundant secondary growth (ricacci). This means you get a generous second and third harvest of smaller, tender side shoots throughout the cool season, maximizing yield from a single plant. Its excellent field-holding capacity and quality make it an industry favourite for consistency.
When to Plant: Transplant in Malta from late July through September for a harvest beginning in October/November and continuing through the cool season. This variety handles moderate summer warmth well, allowing for earlier planting than many others.
Location/Sun: Choose a spot that receives full, direct sun.
Soil & Potting: ‘Green Belt’ is a hungry Brassica. Plant in deep, fertile soil that is rich in well-rotted compost. Good drainage is essential.
Spacing: Give it plenty of room! Space plants about 50-60 cm apart to allow the large leaves to fully develop, which is essential for producing a quality head.
Watering: Water consistently and deeply. The soil must be kept moist. Watering stress is the number one cause of small, poor-quality heads.
Fertiliser: This plant needs consistent feeding. Fertilise every 3-4 weeks with a high-nitrogen feed during the initial leaf-growth stage, switching to a balanced vegetable feed as the main head starts to form.
Harvesting Strategy:
1. Main Head: Harvest the central dome when it is large, firm, and before any yellow flowers appear. Cut the stem 10-15 cm below the head.
2. Side Shoots: Once the main head is removed, the plant will focus its energy on producing numerous side shoots. Continue to harvest these regularly. The more you pick, the more the plant will produce, often continuing throughout the mild Maltese winter.
Pest Control: Keep an eye out for caterpillars and aphids, especially as the heads form.
Why Buy Seedlings? Get the best of both worlds—a high-quality main head AND a long harvest of side shoots! Our robust ‘Green Belt’ F1 seedlings are vigorous and heat-tolerant, providing you with a reliable, continuous yield of premium broccoli throughout the Maltese cool season.
