Growing Broccoli

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

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

(Best months for growing Broccoli in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
25 May 15, Vickie (Australia - temperate climate)
I think I read that too much nitrogen in the soil can cause this. Sorry. I don't know how to fix it.
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02 May 15, Vickie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. I have had a lot of issues with cabbage moth and caterpillars in the past. I'm a lazy gardener, and would also like to use as few chemicals as possible. I have found dead bees in my garden before. Last year I bought a fine net to cover my crop, and it worked beautifully! The sun still gets through, but no bugs can get in. Well worth the investment, as it will last me several years. Bunnings sells a version, or you can get them online from Diggers. Look for the fine mesh netting, not the bird netting.
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24 Apr 15, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i have planted broccolini plants they are about 5-6weeks and they have very thin stems and they have already flowered yellow i am not to sure what to do please advise. cheers John
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19 Apr 15, (Australia - temperate climate)
Could you tell me whats eating the middle out of my broccalie and caulieflowers thanks
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12 Apr 15, Yu xing (Australia - temperate climate)
Tip is that you need 70 millimeters of water for Broccoli!
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14 Mar 15, Angela (Australia - temperate climate)
Please help. I live near Maitland NSW and was wondering what is the best brocoli plant to plant. Hardy.
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18 Jul 15, Natalie Bedford (Australia - temperate climate)
Your better of with the purple broccoli but I'd also give the green a go just to see. But the purple is more hardy.
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06 Jan 15, Isiaka (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I an actually in Lagos, Nigeria. The weather here is tropical humid and we have rain from February to November. Please when is the best time to plant Broccoli and cauliflower in my area? And do I start start indoor or outdoor? Thanks
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26 Jan 15, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi there Isiaka, I am in a cool growing are but this website gives guides to several different growing climates so I just changed the climate to Tropical and there it suggest to sow seeds in April and transplant seedlings in May June and July... you should have a look at the tropical location growing chart it may give you some info that suits your location. Happy gardening Jen
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12 Dec 14, Natasha (Australia - temperate climate)
Snails and bugs have eaten the leaves off my cauliflower and broccoli :( is there anyway I can revive them? Or do I just rip them out and start over? I live in Victoria and have put down copper tape to stop the snails, please not I do not want to use any chemicals as I would like to grow organic :)
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Showing 91 - 100 of 248 comments
See comments for all plants

You can grow anything after anything as long as you prepare the soil well for the next crop. People talk about crop rotation, it doesn't have to happen that way, It grew big and leafy because you over fertilised. It probably bolted and flowered because you were growing it into hotter weather. It says here you can plant Sept to Nov. Depending on you temperatures I wouldn't be planting that time of the year unless you have quite cool weather into Xmas. General rule you plant winter harvesting crops late summer early autumn and summer harvesting crops after the cool/cold winter.

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