How to grow Broccoli (Purple Sprouting)

Brassica oleracea Italica Group

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

Tender purple spears in late winter and spring, when little else is growing. Plants are big and need a long season.

At a glance: Sow mid April to mid May, harvest from early February.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow indoors

Plant

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Mid April – mid May · around the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Indoors
Sow in modules or small pots of seed compost under cover.
7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Late April
Check Germination
Seedlings should appear in 7–14 days. If sown outdoors, thin to 60 cm apart when big enough to handle.
14–21 days after “Check Germination” · Early May – mid May
Pot On Seedlings
Move seedlings into 9 cm pots (or keep in modules) when they have their first true leaves.
Mid May · 5 weeks after the last spring frost
Harden Off
Stand plants outside by day for 7–10 days before planting out.
Late May – late June · 6 weeks after the last spring frost
Plant Out
Plant out 60 cm apart and water in well.
0–3 days after “Plant Out” · Late May – early June
Net Against Pests
Cover with fine insect mesh or netting straight after planting to keep off pigeons, cabbage white caterpillars and flea beetles.
90–120 days after “Net Against Pests” · Late August – late September
Stake Tall Plants
Stake plants in autumn so winter winds do not rock them loose.
286–307 days after “Check Germination” · Early February – late February
Start Harvesting
Snap off spears when 10–15 cm long, before the flowers open; keep picking.
60–90 days after “Start Harvesting” · Early April – early May
Finish and Clear
Clear the remains to the compost heap once cropping ends.