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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27 Sep 08, Kirsty (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone tried growing broccolini? Unfortunately we went on holiday during it's optimum harvest time and now it is going to seed. Should i try cutting it back or ripping it out(after collecting the seeds)? Can I eat the leaves?
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23 Sep 08, Ben (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am new to planting broccoli and have recently cut the main head off one of the broccoli plants. I have several side shoots off the same plant, do they get as big as the main head?. The reason i ask is i dont want to leave them too long and let them go to flower.
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22 Sep 08, Alex (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
hello, first time broccoli planter. Planted in June. Lovely, big healthy looking plants but still no florettes. What have I done wrong??
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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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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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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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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, 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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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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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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GREEN CATERPILLARS; these are from the white cabbage butterflies. The best organic method to this problem is to make lightweight frames of chicken wire. The butterlies are too large to get through and land on the leaves to lay their eggs.

- Peter

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