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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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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19 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I tried to grow broccoli from seed last year - 1st, late Feb and then from Aug. Both times I ended up with craggy big plants and no head developed. I won't try the spring time planting again. It takes about 4-5 weeks to go from seed to good transplantable seedlings. A lot of time and effort - too much shade you have tall leggy seedlings. A lot of attention to watering and fertilizing also. I use to buy good seedlings from nursery and had good success that way. That is my plan in the future for broccoli and cabbage and even maybe lettuce. A real pain trying to grow these from seeds.
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16 Feb 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
The guide here is just that a guide but it says plant seeds April and transplant May to Jul. You can try seeds undercover to start with and plant out when it cools off a bit. Good luck.
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16 Feb 18, Darren (Australia - arid climate)
Hi Mike, I live on the edge of arid and temperate, and was thinking about planting broccoli in late Feb as well. I would suggest sowing the seeds under cover if possible, and planting the seedlings out in early March. Even then, depending on your circumstances, you still might need to put shadecloth over them. Can't help with the moth, other than spraying with eco oil if you see any caterpillars in the winter months.
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08 Dec 17, Kenneth Chagunda (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
what type of pesticides are used on the plants and what type of fertilizer should be applied too.thanks
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Showing 71 - 80 of 311 comments
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Putting the leaves over the broccoli head won't achieve anything. It is natural with caulies. If the heads are not growing and turning yellow and you have small plants then I would say you didn't fertilise them enough. The heads should fully develop in about 7-10 days.

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