Other Production Problems

Blind cauliflower plant
Blind Cauliflower Plant (gourmetgardening.co.uk)

Bracts in Broccoli
Bracts in Broccoli (Emmalea Ernest)

Brown Bead in Broccoli
Brown Bead in Broccoli (Walter Reeves)

Buttoning on Broccoli
Buttoning on Broccoli (gardenerspath.com)

Tip Burn on Cabbage (D. Langston, University of Georgia)
Tip Burn on Cabbage (D. Langston, University of Georgia)

Split Cabbage Head (www.gardenplansireland.com)
Split Cabbage Head (www.gardenplansireland.com)

Hollow Stem in Cauliflower (University of Massachusetts-Amherst)
Hollow Stem in Cauliflower (University of Massachusetts-Amherst)

Yellow Beads on Broccoli (University of California)
Yellow Beads on Broccoli (University of California)

Blindness (Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower)

Plants fail to form flower head, curd, or head. Leaves tend to be large, dark-colored, and leathery; the apical bud may divide multiple times. It is likely to be induced by cold temperatures after transplanting, injury by insects, or some other posttransplanting stress event.

Bracts (leaves) in Heads (Broccoli or Cauliflower)

High temperatures and/or low soil moisture during early head formation can result in leaves growing within the heads of broccoli and cauliflower. Maintaining uniform soil water conditions while reducing heat stress helps minimize the problem.

Brown Bead (Broccoli)

Brown bead occurs when individual flower buds abort (die/dry out) under hot, dry conditions. The problem may be associated with calcium distribution in the plant combined with rapid plant growth. Periods of cool, wet followed by hot, dry conditions alter plant growth and calcium uptake, which triggers the condition. Varieties vary greatly in their expression of the problem. Maintaining uniform growth conditions helps minimize brown bead.

Internal Browning or Tip-Burn (Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage)

Internal leaves in the head or sprouts discolor, break down, and rot. The problem is more severe on large, over-mature heads or sprouts (those near the bottom of the stalk). The disorder is associated with a lack of calcium in the developing head/sprouts brought on by stress (heat, water, nutrients). Crops on sandy soils are more susceptible than those on heavier soils.

Premature Head Formation (Buttoning in Broccoli and Cauliflower)

Small heads form before plants grow enough leaves to develop a marketable head. Buttoning occurs when transplants are exposed to stress (heat/cold, water) after planting in the field. Early varieties and older, larger transplants (more than eight leaves) are more susceptible. Low fertility, micronutrient deficiencies, water stress, warm weather (more than 85-degree days and 75-degree nights), diseases, and insects can also cause buttoning.

Head Splitting (Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts)

Mature heads split if rain or heavy irrigations follow a dry spell. Rapid influx of water results in pressure buildup in the heads, resulting in splitting. Early varieties split if not harvested on time.

Hollow Stem (Broccoli and Cauliflower) 

Plants with leaf curling or rolling, brown curds or flower buds, and a hollow stem with brown discolorations may be deficient in boron. Use soil and tissue tests to determine boron concentrations. Sometimes, stems are hollow without any discoloration. When plants are fertilized excessively (N), they grow rapidly,and the stem core splits, causing a hollow cavity. More moderate N nutrition or split N applications will maintain uniform growth, minimizing the problem.

Yellow Beads (Broccoli)

Yellowing of floral buds can signal over-maturity in the field. Broccoli heads are true flower tissue, so if they are not harvested at the correct time, the flowers continue to develop and may open. In storage, high temperatures after harvest or ethylene exposure can also induce Brassicas yellowing or browning of individual flower buds.