Growing Broccoli

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

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

(Best months for growing Broccoli in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • 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 45°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 14 - 20 inches 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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23 Jan 09, SlickMick (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Val and Mary, Stand the flowerettes in salty water for a little while before cooking. This usually gets rid of the grub
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12 Jan 09, Mary Wright (Australia - temperate climate)
I too have problems with the green caterpillers, but, a spray made up of garlic, liquid soap and water seems to have done the trick. Also, planting marigolds in between plants.
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10 Jan 09, Val Thomson (Australia - temperate climate)
my brocolli heads are large and tight and its not until I cook that that the caterpillers appear. Is there a way to remove them before cooking.
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14 Dec 08, Anthony (Australia - temperate climate)
Just brought some marathon brocolli seedlings and am living in Perth, WA. Would this variety right for growing in a hot perth summer? Will be planting mid December.
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13 Dec 08, Adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Love dynamic lifter to bring on florets
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09 Dec 08, Joanna (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Ah yes - I have just discovered the same problem as belle. My broccoli was growing fine - and now I have discovered lots of green caterpillars all over them!! What can I do? I have tried pulling them off - but what is to say they wont come back? Will this stop me from getting heads/florets?
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27 Nov 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Peter, your broccoli seedlings should be fine. Broccoli usually do well when the plants produce plenty of leaf. They produce flower heads later in the growth cycle.
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26 Nov 08, peter smythe (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Hobart, Tasmania. I put about 10 broccoli seedlings in about late August/early September. At the moment they have massive leaves but no heads/florets. Did I plant them too early? Should I pull all of them out?
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14 Nov 08, peter smythe (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted about 10 lots of Broccoli seedlings in late August/early September. At the moment they have huge leaves but no centre heads. Should I pull them all out or wait a while?
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09 Nov 08, stuart (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We came out this morning to find our beautiful mature broccoli heads chewed off !!!. I can only think possums but we live in a suburban area, any ideas please help....
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Showing 271 - 280 of 313 comments
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I have fabulous success with broccoli year after year. I have a couple of tips that help prevent/delay bolting and a question. Tips: Keep broccoli moist. Never let it dry, especially during warmer weather. To retain moisture and drastically reduce weeds, use a heavy mulch. I use hay and I add a layer as soon as the bottom layer starts to break down. One bale of hay will mulch about 100' sq and costs about five bucks. I grow my broccoli with collards, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots and onions during the cooler weather and with whatever survives, pops up or I get around to planting (cause we have 5 growing seasons here). Now the question: Although I can grow broccoli that's so green it's blue, is 4' tall and 6' around and produces side shoots for three months...my husband HATES the variety! I'm aware of the difference in the flavor of this particular variety (Waltham 29). It has an extremely dense taste, similar to asparagus, which I love, but Eddie refuses to eat it so it's pointless to grow it! Any suggestions on a heading variety (heat tolerant) that's more like the market variety? I collect my seed, so I try to find heirlooms, open pollenated.

- Deanna

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