Broccoli & Brussel Sprouts Seeds

In recent years broccoli has been praised for its high vitamin content and anti-cancer agents making it one of the most popular modern vegetables. There are two types of broccoli - sprouting and traditional head forming varieties. Both Broccoli and Brussel sprouts enjoy cool growing conditions, so in most areas they are best planted in late Summer or early Autumn for fruiting in the Spring, but in the coolest areas they can be planted in Spring.

Broccoli is a cool-season crop that thrives in temperatures between 15-21°C and mature plants can withstand cold temperatures down to -4°C. However, you need to plan the planting time well in Australasia - if you plant them too late and the plants mature in very warm weather - you may end up with lots of lush leaves but very few heads.

So get your seeds sown in seed trays and punnets through February-March, and keep them away from Summer heat until the seedlings are ready to be transplanted in the garden. 

Here are our tips on how to grow broccoli seeds:

Sow 5mm (¼”) deep in seed trays or punnets and keep moist but not too wet. Seedlings emerge in 6-10 days. Transplant to final position when they are 10cm (4”) tall with 2 to 4 leaves, and after the Summer heat has subsided.

Broccoli prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. Plant firmly 60cm (24”) apart each way and water in well. Add compost and well-rotted manure into the garden prior to transplanting; broccoli needs friable, moisture-holding soil. Fertilise fortnightly with a half strength liquid fertiliser.

Cut the centre heads when they are well formed, just before the flower heads are open. As spears are cut, others will appear in a few weeks.