Vegetables
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.
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