Growing Broccoli

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S              
        T T T          

(Best months for growing Broccoli in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Easy to grow. 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. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 35 - 50 cm apart
  • Harvest in 10-16 weeks. Cut flowerhead off with a knife..
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile, oregano)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chilli, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

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05 Sep 08, dennis gibson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
what to plant after broccoli
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17 Jan 18, Doug (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi All, I live in Bundaberg & planted tomatoes as a beginner & they went berserk with lots of fruit. I am considering trying broccoli as my next attempt. My garden used to be an old sandpit, with the sand removed i filled it with garden soil & ginger compost. I intend to make it a bit deeper than the 200mm as is, but am open to whether or not I need too for broccoli. Also if anyone can tell me what pests i may get up here to be aware of. Many Blessings to all growers,
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15 Sep 08, Alex (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My brocolli is about ready to harvest - how low should I cut it to encourage another head to grow?
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16 Sep 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Alex, Cut it across the stem just above the first leaves. The plant will then send out side shoots.
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16 Sep 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Jen, you will be able to collect seeds but if you have planted F1 hybrid seedlings they may not reproduce.
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17 Sep 08, Manuel (Australia - temperate climate)
My broccoli have gone from juvenile heads to spreading out and flowering in a week. What have I done wrong?
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17 Sep 08, Liz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Manuel, broccoli do start 'flowering' quite quickly, particularly in warm, dry weather. Try to pick them regularly so that they have to produce new heads for you.
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17 Sep 08, Kim Flood (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted 8 Broccoli seedings for weeks ago. They are now 40cm high and have bolted and gone to seed. They got very small florets (but not edible) before going to seed. What have I done wrong. Do I pull them out, cut the tops off or let them go to seed and collect the seeds. Please help.
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18 Sep 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Kim, those seedlings probably got stressed (by heat/lack of water) - maybe before you planted them. I would pull them out and try some new seedlings, watering daily for the first week after planting and providing plenty of mulch around them.
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20 Sep 08, Jen (Australia - temperate climate)
Liz, thanks a lot. I don't know if my seedlings were F1 hybrid, and unfortunately, bought them from a large impersonal hardware company which probably wouldn't want to discuss it, but i'll try! :) Currently something is eating my seedlings .. I have them in 2 pots and 1 is surviving better than the other. I have tried placing some twigs of rosemary around them, I go out early mornings to look for the culprit - until today I couldn't find them, but this morning i yielded 1 green grub and 1 fat snail! any clues on natural protection? I don't want to use pesticide if I can help it. cheers, Jen.
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What is the name of the broccoli with a tight head please We live just north of Auckland.

- Jos

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