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Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
T	S	T							S	S	T

(Best months for planting Broccoli in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings.

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 10-16 weeks. Cut flowerhead off with a knife.
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 35-50cm

Keep well-watered as seedlings. If left without water they will bolt to seed and be inedible. The plants should grow to develop plenty of large healthy leaves, then the green flowerheads follow, which are cut for eating. Leave the plant growing after cutting the main flowerhead, and get additional crops from the sideshoots which will develop.

Watch for cabbage white butterflies and remove the eggs and caterpillars as soon as possible.

There are two main types of broccoli. The purple sprouting is hardier. The heading varieties cope well with warmer weather.

Once a plant opens its yellow flowers then it is generally past eating as the flavour gets a bit overpowering and the plant gets very woody. Harvest them sooner rather than later.

'Broccolini' is a variety grown for the edible stalks. Grow fast with plenty of water and food, and pick as soon as possible.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Broccoli

The stem (peeled), leaves, and flowerhead are all edible.

Steam for best flavour. Peel large stalks, slice and steam.
Goes well with blue cheese sauce.

Your comments and tips

02 Jun 10 Leslie J Stout (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I have a question:Would anyone know if you can you get sick from eating Broccoli to late when it is about to flower,cheers Les

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02 Jun 10 Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Hi Les, I haven't heard of anyone getting sick, but the flavour is not so good when broccoli is about to flower. It is very strong and (to me) unpleasant.

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09 May 10 Lucy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Dogs are great like that. I love my dog but she does get in the way of my gardening. I put a strip of gaffa tape over the top of the jar that I embed in the soil, that way my dog can't stick her snout in. I only fill the jar up half way too. I've always been very anti-poison, but because of Tassie's bumper winter rainfall and summer heat the slugs are terrible this year, so I stuck some bait in a takeaway container with a hole cut out in the side. That way the dog can't get to it and the soil isn't contaminated either. Mind you the slugs still exist, it just slows them down a little...

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30 May 10 Diana (Australia - temperate climate)

I experimented with lemon or orange peelings last year and it helped with the snail and slug problem. I put the peelings inside a container near the veggie bed in the afternoon. Early next morning, many snail and slug in the container. Easy method to dispose them.

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22 Apr 10 mankimbo (Australia - temperate climate)

For slugs & snails a small jar buried to its top in the ground half filled with lite beer works best.You can then use the reamins as fertilzer for the bed. If you can't be bothered grinding up soap you can buy Lux Flakes that everyone used to wash their baby clothes in which you can then mix up with boiling water and dilute with cold water. Throw in some garlic, lemon and chilli, marinate over night, strain and water. You can't go wrong (hopefully).

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05 May 10 (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Only problem is the dog drinking/eating the beer/slug/snail mix. Clearly too tasty!

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21 Mar 10 brian slane (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

does anyone know a good insecticide to apply to broccoli, cabbage etc. I would appreciate any suggestions. I have noted the one with the toilet soao. Thank you

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05 May 10 Derek (Australia - tropical climate)

I use eco oil, it works fine.

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16 Mar 10 Holly Weston (Australia - temperate climate)

Here is a really simple safe and terrific solution for those nasty caterpillars that eat broccoli. Just grate some ordinary toilet soap into a saucepan, about 1 tablespoon into a litre of water, heat it and stir until its dissolved and spray it thoroughly onto the broccoli. It may have to be sprayed again after rain. It works incredibly well in my garden and I never have a problem.

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15 May 10 Steve (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Are you sure the broccoli will still be safe and tasty to eat after spraying with soap?

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