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

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 60-90 days
• 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

20 Sep 09 Sumudi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi, I growing Broccoli for the first time. Out of 10 well grown plants, I had only one plant forming a flowhead. I am wondering why the others didn't form flowheads. Also does the plants produce seeds that can be used next year?

07 Oct 09 Megan (Australia - temperate climate)

I am growing broccoli for the first time and have planted seedlings in soil which is about 60% soil, 40% compost. The plants are growing well, although the leaves have begun to turn a rather bright blue. Does anyone know what causes this or if I have a problem?

12 Oct 09 Jenny (Australia - temperate climate)

I have left 1 broccoli plant which the yellow flowers are out. Is it possible to get seeds for re planting next year?

25 Oct 09 Bron (Australia - temperate climate)

Keeping the plant after it has bolted (gone to flower, then seed) is a great way to keep growing the vege without having to buy more seed :D Just wait till the seed pods dry. I grew my first lot last season (can't believe I took so long to start!) and how much sweeter is homegrown than even organic bought!

06 Nov 09 Bruce (Australia - temperate climate)

i have grown a variety of broccli "geen dragon" all plants had lovely heads but were very small (30 to 40 mm diameter)while waiting for the heads to get bigger they just went spindely & yellow. appreciate any ideas.

16 Nov 09 Jan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have four baby broccoli plants but the leaves have been eaten away by a caterpillar (I think), Does this mean I won't get any heads?

10 Dec 09 (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I have grown brocolli successfully this year for the first time and we have had many meals with them, but now they are flowering and I don't know whether to pull them out or leave them to go to seed. Will they self seed and come up again next year?

17 Feb 10 Jacqueline (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I planted broccolini's last week and they seemed to be doing really well until this morning. I was greeted with just stems this morning, everything has been eaten off all of them but the stems! Help! Can the plants be salvaged and what could be the culprit?

04 Mar 10 Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Snails and white cabbage butterfly (green) caterpillars will skeletonise plants almost overnight. Caterpillars have just eaten all my baby kale when they were "unsupervised" for a couple of days..

07 Mar 10 richa (Australia - temperate climate)

I tried growing broccoli and cauli.Last season they grow well but no vegetable came out.what did i do wrong?i used cow manure and blood and bone.Please also tell me name of the chemical free pesticide for vegetable and herb .