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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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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25 Jul 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You have left it too late. You pick before they flower.
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26 Jul 18, Edna Brady (Australia - temperate climate)
Eat them anyway,they are still nice in meals, flowers and all...They sometimes just get a bit tough!
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14 May 18, declan kearney (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
is broccoli a vegetable that will grow with low maintence
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15 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Unless you live in a very bug and disease free area, most plants need regular attention. If grown in good soil and watered every few days broccoli will grow very well as long as you have no grubs. If you have grubs (from moths) - the plants may look great one day and a few days later the heart of the plant could be eaten out. That is the end of that crop/plant.
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01 Apr 18, Heather curtis (Canada - Zone 3a Temperate Short Summer climate)
It is the beginning of April, can I plant my seeds for Broccoli now.
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23 Feb 18, Marjorie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, one of my broccoli plants have a head already and we had cut the head off. Should I remove the plant now? thanks!
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26 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can let it develop small side shoots. Depends when you want to replant that area with new seeds/plants.
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15 Feb 18, Mike L (Australia - arid climate)
I am going to try planting broccoli in late Feb, its extremely hot here at the moment 42C. I just want to start early and plant every two weeks or so , semi commercial. Once spring comes, the diamond back moth comes out of the drying crops and is almost impossible to control. Any comments? any pointers?
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Showing 71 - 80 of 315 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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