Winter Sprouting Broccoli as an Alternative Tunnel Crop in New England

Winter Sprouting Broccoli as an Alternative Tunnel Crop in New England

Summary

Eight farmers met with project planners either in person or via telephone to share results from the preliminary 2008-9 winter sprouting broccoli (WSB) trial and to plan on-farm and University of New Hampshire (UNH) research for 2009-10. Experiments were established at UNH and trial plantings were established at five grower-cooperator’s sites in Fall 2009. All five on-farm and the UNH plantings are on schedule to be harvested in March-April 2010. Two presentations on the projects’ progress have taken place (New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, to 110 growers, December 2009, and Northeast American Society of Horticultural Science Meeting, January 2010, to 40 research/extension professionals). One twilight meeting is being planned for April 2010 in Durham NH, and a display is being prepared for UNH Greenhouse Open House in March 2010, which usually attracts several hundred members of the general public.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Our overall goals are 1) Cooperating growers guide UNH research on production of winter sprouting broccoli, 2) Cooperating growers evaluate WSB varieties and production methods, and provide yield and market data, 3) UNH researchers evaluate planting date, rowcover treatment and variety effects on yields of WSB, and 4) UNH researchers and cooperating growers share results with other growers, extension professionals, and the general public.
Our specific milestones:
April 2009: Assess 2008-9 cooperating grower experiences.
May-June 2009: Meet with current and new grower-cooperators to refine research objectives for 2009-2010.
July 2009: Order seeds and supplies for season. Conclude experimental design.
September -October 2009: Distribute transplants to cooperators, transplant seedlings.
November-December 2009: Apply row cover.
February 2010: Check-in with grower-collaborators.
March-May 2010: Harvest, take data.
April 2010: Hold Winter Broccoli Twilight Meeting and Inservice for extension educators
May-June 2010: Interpret and analyze results from 2009-2010. Update and publish Winter Broccoli Fact Sheet. Prepare and submit scientific publication .
July 2010: Poster and/or oral presentation at national conference of the ASHS.
February 2011: Brassica School, grower-cooperators present results.

Accomplishments/Milestones

We have met all stated objectives and milestones through February 2010. However, there was one challenge. Of the six farmer-collaborators identified initially, three were unable to plant the crop: one stopped farming, one moved their operation, and the third did not participate in the project for unknown reasons. Despite these setbacks, we were approached by two additional growers that were very eager to participate in the project, so we have proceeded with five very interested grower collaborators. This seems to be a challenge that is inherent to on-farm research, and the lesson we have learned is to cover our bases with many cooperators and to maintain good communication so that we can revise plans as situations change.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Aside from our grower-cooperators, we have been contacted by at least six growers that are interested in WSB and our results, and we know that these growers are also experimenting with the crop, in parallel with the partnership proposal. While the potential contributions are significant (increased variety of local vegetables in March-April), these contributions have not yet been realized as growers have not yet adopted this crop.

Collaborators: