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
  • Nearly ready for harvest
  • Early stage
  • Side shoot regrowth after main head cut

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

31 Mar 23, marco (Australia - tropical climate)
one of my plants flowers so i pulled it out .space ...the others are looking good !! i have noticed the lush green look has a glowing yellow look in the leaves .any tips .
08 Feb 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my broccoli did seed and they grew wild in the garden .Today replant in a new area .so we see how they go ....just thought i reply to my post to let u know what can happen ..i live on the gold coast queensland .
03 Sep 22, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
hi i live on the gold coast qld .my plants have been planted late in the season .they do not produce much so i let them grow for the seeds .they have the seed pods going on .if i let them grow and seeds drop .will they grow next season or do i have to collect the seeds for the next season .
30 Sep 22, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
If you let the pods drop and they split, the seed may germinate in the next few weeks. Best to collect the dried pods before they fall and collect/store the seed for when you want to use them. Keep in mind, seed will not germinate true to type if the parent plant is a hybrid.
29 Sep 22, (Australia - tropical climate)
Broccoli seeds need to be planted very shallow to germinate - 2-3 times their diameter. Very hard to control that if you leave on the ground, Are the plants heirloom or hybrid. Hybrid don't grow true to type.
28 Feb 21, Richard (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, how soon should I net my broccoli if at all? Thank you
01 Mar 21, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Any time after planting. Rain is the starting point of insects and grubs so keep an eye on them after rain. I would net after the last weeding you are going to do.
15 Feb 21, Wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I plant broccoli in the same bed as tomatoes after I have removed the used tomato plants. Also my Broccoli grew big and leafy but the fruit itself bolted and flowered immediately???? They were very well watered and a mild summer here?
16 Feb 21, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
You can grow anything after anything as long as you prepare the soil well for the next crop. People talk about crop rotation, it doesn't have to happen that way, It grew big and leafy because you over fertilised. It probably bolted and flowered because you were growing it into hotter weather. It says here you can plant Sept to Nov. Depending on you temperatures I wouldn't be planting that time of the year unless you have quite cool weather into Xmas. General rule you plant winter harvesting crops late summer early autumn and summer harvesting crops after the cool/cold winter.
31 Aug 20, Jimmy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I had 5 purple broccoli plants planted in April from seedlings that have grown really well but have failed to develop any heads at all. What went wrong?
Showing 1 - 10 of 248 comments

I heard tomato foliage helps deter pests from broccoli. I spread tomato leaves amongst my broccoli plus stalks of rosemary for good measure, plus I had added fresh compost to the soil and mulch heavily with alfalfa. These are the healthiest broccoli I've ever grown and no bugs. Question: are the bugs eating the broccoli, or are the bugs eating something else that's on the broccoli?

- Barbara in Lane Cove

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