Growing Broccoli

Growing Broccoli from seed. Broccoli is an edible green plant in the cabbage family whose large flowering head, stalk and small associated leaves are eaten as a vegetable. Broccoli is classified in the Italica cultivar group of the species Brassica oleracea.

Broccoli Types

• Sprouting Broccoli such as Calabrese.
• Chinese broccoli (Kai lan/gai lan).
• Broccolini.
• Broccoli raab (rapini).
• Romanesco broccoli.

Growing Broccoli from Seed

• Sow the Broccoli seeds in trays and keep them well watered after sowing.
• Plant seedlings out as soon as they are large enough to comfortably handle. Typically, after 6 weeks.
• Space plants an average of 50 cm apart. Always water plants well after planting.
• Always plant Broccoli in a sunny spot where they get at least 6 hours of sun a day.

Maintaining Broccoli Plants

• Mulch around your Broccoli plants will ensure favorable soil temperatures and keep them nice and moist.
• When watering Broccoli make sure to water the plants deeply and around the base of the plant. Avoid getting water on the heads of your plants, this will attract pests.
• Half way through their growing season fertilize your Broccoli with a Nitrogen rich fertilizer to encourage healthy growth.
• A final top dressing with compost when your Broccoli heads are about 3 cm in diameter goes a long way in the final development of the heads.