Growing Broccoli

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

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

(Best months for growing Broccoli in USA - Zone 8b 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 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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15 Sep 18, C (Australia - temperate climate)
Broccoli variety for warmer weather, Melbourne spring
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16 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Look up some seed selling websites and pick the one you want to grow.
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29 Aug 18, hayden (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
i live in hanmer springs, i have grown broccoli under greenhouse to protect from harsh frosts we get here. they have grown all through winter and i harvested the heads few weeks ago, and have been eating the side shoots ever since. june july they stopped growing hibernated, but last month has seen warmish temps so evrything has shot away. greenhouses are great.
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16 Aug 18, KOBAMO NTWAETSILE (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
greetings farmers. I need advice on how and when to produce broccoli vegetable in Botswana. the good responsive type for our climate condition. thanks in advance
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27 Jul 18, Ann (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
First time of growing broccoli we had brought from nursery and planted they have just not long got a head and have notice that there is little ones on the plant also from what I have been reading through that doesn't usually happen til after the main head has been cut but for some reason it is just wondering if this has happened to anybody else
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30 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - temperate climate)
My broccoli last year/this year were like that. My plants were way too big (too much Nitrogen) - all leaf and very little heads. Try planting after a crop that has used the N and if you have to, add a bit of fertiliser when the plants are half grown. A small amount.
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01 Aug 18, Ann (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thanks for that I do put seasol on them every couple weeks as I have a few different things growing in the same area so it all gets done
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10 Aug 18, (Australia - tropical climate)
If you prepare your ground before hand and have added compost/manure/fertiliser then the plants won't need any more feed while growing.
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24 Jul 18, Steve (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I'm growing broccolini, they are shooting but they're changing into yellow flowers. what should I do? this is my first time ever that I'm trying growing them. Thanks
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25 Jul 18, Frank (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You should have picked them before they flowered.
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Showing 61 - 70 of 313 comments
See comments for all plants

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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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