Various brassica seedlings chilling out together, including purple sprouting broccoli For me, here in London we’re in the milder south of the UK and we have the urban microclimate, so spring is generally earlier at some point in March. The timing will depend on your area and when you would like them to crop. Purple sprouting broccoli is sown in spring between March – June. Growing leafy plants in the first year before flowering and setting seed in the second, unless you eat it first! (Purple sprouting broccoli that is, don’t eat foxgloves, they’re poisonous). Purple sprouting broccoli is a biennial plant like its relative wallflowers, Erysimum cheiri, and non-relative foxgloves, Digitalis purpurea. The bit we eat is actually a fat set of flower buds ready to burst. ![]() Purple sprouting broccoli is a mainstay on my London based allotment – I love it!Īs a fan of the sweet taste of broccoli stems, I love them and I look forward eagerly to their main season in late-winter through to early-spring. In fact, sprouting broccoli is an entirely distinct cultivar in the Brassica family, closely related but those long spear like shoots have been bred by humans intentionally. In the supermarkets you can readily buy the green types and I had – wrongly – assumed these were just normal broccoli, picked younger or something. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.It wasn’t until I started growing my own vegetables I even clocked that purple sprouting broccoli existed. Broccoli seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. The majority of broccoli cultivars can withstand frost, making them an ideal crop for colder conditions. They can still perform well in partial shade during the hot summer months. Broccoli is a cold-hardy vegetable, the best results are with spring and fall crops. The popularity of the vegetable had spread to most of Europe by the 1700s and was cultivated in America beginning in the 1800s. Native to the northern Mediterranean, broccoli was first cultivated in 600 BCE in ancient Roman times. Fertile soil and regular feeding throughout the season will contribute to a faster growth rate, and ultimately improve the quality of the final product. Allow space for the florets to grow tall and wide.īroccoli can take anywhere from 50 to 90 days until harvest, depending on the variety. When ready to transplant, put them in their permanent places 30-60 cm apart. Slowly acclimate the young plants to the sun and outdoor elements. But make sure to progressively harden them off first. After all, the sooner they make it to the garden, the quicker they can get established. Broccoli is quite hardy and will tolerate cold temperatures without a problem. ![]() Transplant into a small pot if the flats are outgrown, but don’t be afraid to transplant into the garden 2-4 weeks before the last frost. Thin out sprouts when they start crowding, up to 30 cm. When sprouts show their first true leaves, apply a weak dose of liquid fertilizer, like fish emulsion or compost tea. Put the seeds in a warm place and provide plenty of light once the sprouts germinate.īroccoli needs lots of nutrients to grow strong and produce hefty heads. Bottom water, but don’t let the trays sit in standing water. A shallow depth of 1 cm is perfect for the small seeds. Plant a few rows per flat, a couple seeds every 10 cm. Use a seedling flat and a high-quality seed starting mix. ![]() Start broccoli seeds indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. It is a nutritional powerhouse that requires attention and space, but the fresh florets are worth every bit of effort. Broccoli is a cold-hardy crop that does very well with spring and fall plantings.
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