Planting configurations and densities for cauliflower and broccoli

Page last updated: Wednesday, 16 November 2022 - 9:41am

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Increasing efficiency of vegetable brassica production is crucial to maintaining competitiveness.

Planting crops at a higher density is one way of increasing efficiency. This can make more efficient use of available land, increase yield per hectare, increase the number of curds or heads within a crop which reach market specifications, and increase economic returns.

Cauliflower and broccoli are generally grown at a density of 29 000 plants per hectare. However, trial work in Manjimup and Perth has shown planting density can be increased without detrimental impact on yield or quality.  The results discussed below. The ideal planting density and configuration for your farm will depend on soil type, crop and variety grown, cropping rotation and market requirements for your product.

Row configuration

Planting density can be increased by reducing the within-row spacing, however there is a limit to how close plants can be placed before they become crowded. Planting density can also be increased by reducing the between-row spacing, that is increasing the number of rows per bed. This allows for increased and more even light interception and utilisation of resources such as growing area and soil nutrients.

Broccoli and cauliflower can be planted in two, three or four-row configurations. In two-row plantings seedlings are planted in line. In three and four-row configurations plants are offset from each other and shown below.

Three diagrams of broccoli being grown in two, three and four rows per bed

Soil type

A two or three-row configuration has been found most suitable for sandy soils. Four-row configurations are not suitable due to lower water and nutrient-holding capacity. The higher the density of the crop the greater the competition for water and nutrients between plants.

Two, three or four-row configuration is recommended on loam soils. These have higher water and nutrient-holding capacity. Compared with sand, crops on loam are able to achieve heavier and larger curds or heads at higher densities.

Cauliflower

On sandy soil the recommended planting density for cauliflower is 32 000 to 39 000 plants per hectare. In a three-row configuration this is achieved with a between-row spacing of 45cm and spacing within rows of 45 to 55cm. See Table 1 for more information on the different spacings used to reach certain planting densities.

Average curd weight tends to decrease with increasing density, while there is little change in curd size. Curd weights generally met market specifications for export and domestic markets when planted at 39 000 plants per hectare. However, at this density the percentage of curds under 500g increased, on average, by 6% compared to crops grown with 29 000 plants per hectare.

On loam soils the most suitable planting density for cauliflower was found to be 39 000 plants per hectare in a three or four-row configuration. Average curd weight generally decreased with increasing density.

Increasing density from 29 000 to 39 000 resulted in a higher percentage of curds weighing less than 500g but the percentage in the 0.9 to 1.1kg range was similar. Above 39 000 plants per hectare, average curd size was reduced by 12%.

Table 1 Different planting densities achieved from row and spacing configurations
Plant density (No/ha) Number of rows per bed Within-row spacing (cm)
29 000 2 40
39 000 2 30

47 000

2 25
51 000 2 23
29 000 3 60
32 000 3 55
35 000 3 50
39 000 3 45
44 000 3 40
50 000 3 35
59 000 3 30
29 000 4 80
34 000 4 70
39 000 4 60
47 000 4 50
52 000 4 45

Densities in this table and throughout this information have been rounded to the nearest thousand and were calculated based on a 1.7m centre-to-centre bed width with no land for spray runs and head ways taken into account.

Broccoli

Broccoli can be grown at higher density than cauliflower as it is naturally more competitive and has lower nutrient and water demands.

On sandy soil the recommended density is up to 47 000 plants per hectare in a two-row configuration. Increasing the density increased the number of marketable heads and total yield for a given area. In some crops, higher densities to 47 000 did not impact on average head weight.

In other crops higher densities did lead to lower average weight, with the percentage of heads weighing more than 500g decreasing while the percentage weighing less than 300g increased, yet the number of marketable heads remained similar.

On loam soil the recommended density is 39 000 to 52 000 plants per hectare in a two, three or four-row configuration. Average head weight decreased with higher density but most heads were still within marketable range at the recommended densities.

Average head weight was smaller but at increased planting density the total number of marketable heads harvested per hectare was greater. The highest percentages of heads in the 300-500g range were in crops with densities of 44 000 to 52 000 plants per hectare.

Variety

Varieties vary markedly in their response to changes in plant density. Large leaf and frame varieties need more space and may not be able to reach their full yield potential at higher densities due to increased inter-plant competition, especially some cauliflower varieties.

Rotation

If cauliflower and broccoli are grown in rotation with other vegetables such as lettuce, then three and four-row planting configurations can be an advantage. The same machinery can be used for multiple crops giving greater return on capital investment.

Market requirements

Altering planting density can control the size of cauliflower curds and broccoli heads. In trials the average curd or head weights at all recommended densities met size requirements for export and domestic markets, although higher density plantings tended to produce more smaller curds or heads.

Consumer preference towards smaller cauliflower curds and broccoli heads has increased in recent years due to reduced family size and moves towards convenience foods. Production systems which use higher planting densities to produce more smaller heads or curds are likely to suit this trend towards smaller product size.

Management changes

Fertiliser and irrigation regimes may need to change if planting densities are changed. With increased density more water and nutrients are needed to maintain good plant growth. When planting more densely, soil moisture levels and plant condition should be monitored carefully to ensure plants do not become stressed.

Pest and disease pressure could increase in the competitive environment within high density plantings and crops will need to be monitored closely. This is particularly true for crops grown in winter where wet conditions and reduced air flow in high density plantings may lead to a higher incidence of fungal diseases.

Consistent monitoring for pests and diseases should be part of standard crop management. Pest control may be also more difficult in higher density plantings with closer spacing making it more difficult to achieve good spray coverage.

Crops planted at higher densities can be more difficult to move through for operations such as insect monitoring, manual covering of cauliflower curds and manual harvesting. Closer spacing can also impact on ease of cultivation. These factors need to be considered before you alter your crop row configuration and/or density.

Acknowledgement

Horticulture Innovation Australia, utilising the National Vegetable Levy, funded this work through project VG04008.

Planting configurations and densities for cauliflower and broccoli

Author

Alison Mathews