Growing Broccoli From Seed to Harvest

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.