Hot summer days may be slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the growing season has to! Fall crops are a staple in the Midwest, which helps farmers and gardeners prolong the short growing season in Northern Illinois. Cool season crops like broccoli are commonly grown in the Spring and Fall seasons in Illinois but may be considered unmarketable due to heat spikes which cause flower bolting, broccoli head deformation, and bitter tasting heads. Broccolini is a resilient alternative to broccoli because it is less likely to bolt and flower in hot weather and shares a similar flavor profile to traditional broccoli (Ruen et al. 2024). 

What is broccolini?

Broccolini is a popular emerging crop alternative to broccoli, due to its ability to withstand warmer temperatures compared to broccoli. Broccolini is a cross between European broccoli (broccoli found in most U.S. stores) and Chinese broccoli, also known as gai Ian or Chinese kale (Ruen et al. 2024).  Consumers may see broccolini marketed as “mini broccoli”, “sprouting broccoli”, or “baby broccoli”, at their local farmers markets, grocery stores, and fine dining restaurants. Flavor profiles for broccolini are similar to broccoli, which makes this a new, yet familiar vegetable to grow for farmers and gardeners.

Compared to broccoli, broccolini has the ability to grow multiple shoots per plant, which makes it harvestable multiple times throughout the season (Salamanca 2022). This allows growers the opportunity to have fewer production concerns with broccoli and may provide a resilient and fun alternative to bring to farmers markets. 

Midwest varieties

Listed below are a few common varieties broccolini that were trialed in the Midwest with very similar growing conditions to Northern Illinois. Broccolini can be grown in several different colors, purple and green being the most popular, and can provide different flavor profiles. For more information about growing broccoli and broccolini in Illinois, check out this article by University of Illinois Extension. 

*Variety requires a 50-degree Fahrenheit vernalization period to promote bud formation.

Think ahead to spring

Although it is too late in the season to plant open-field broccolini in Northern Illinois, broccolini can be planted in high tunnels and greenhouses for season extension in fall 2024. Open-field plantings of broccolini should wait until early Spring or late Summer for optimal yields and favorable weather conditions. Are you thinking about growing broccolini next year? Seeds can be purchased from most reputable seed suppliers, but make sure to purchase quickly as this crop is a hot seller! 

For more information, check out the University of Illinois Extension’s Local Food and Small Farms YouTube Channel for growing tips and other horticultural advice. 

References

Salamanca, L. 2022. University of Minnesota Extension, Fruit and Vegetable News: Broccolini Variety Trial Results. https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/2022/11/broccolini-variety-trial-results.html [Accessed 17 September 2024].

Ruen, C., Lang, K., Nleya, T. South Dakota State University Extension, Horticulture Research: Broccolini Performance in Three Established Clover Living Mulches in Eastern South Dakota.https://extension.sdstate.edu/broccolini-performance-three-established-clover-living-mulches-eastern-south-dakota [Accessed 17 September 2024]