🥦 How to Grow Broccoli from Seed
Native to the eastern Mediterranean, broccoli has migrated throughout the world to become a major vegetable of choice for home gardeners. It is highly nutritious, loaded with vitamins A and C, folic acid, and iron. Since broccoli matures fairly quickly and makes its best growth in cooler weather, both early spring and late autumn crops are possible.
- Sow Indoors Late March to early April
- Transplant Outdoors Late April to early May
- Plant Spacing 45 cm apart
- Row Spacing 90 cm apart
- Sun Requirement Full Sun ☀️
🧭 Step-by-Step Culture Guide
1. 🗺️ Site Selection
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Environment: Broccoli thrives in a warm, sunny site with deep, organic, and well-drained soil.
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Protection: Avoid windy sites, as plants can catch the wind as they grow.
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Coverage: One packet sows approximately 20 m of row when thinned or spaced properly.
2. 🌱 Sowing & Transplanting
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Early Crops: Start seeds indoors in a clean, soilless growing mix from late March to early April.
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Moving Outdoors: Set out your hardened-off transplants in late April and early May, when the weather is still cool.
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Spacing: Space seedlings 45 cm apart in rows spaced 90 cm apart.
3. 💦 Crop Maintenance
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Feeding: Apply a balanced vegetable fertilizer to keep these heavy feeders growing steadily.
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Care: Keep the soil well weeded and evenly watered.
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Support: Broccoli can become top-heavy as the heavy central heads form; be prepared to stake taller varieties to prevent them from tipping over.
4. ✂️ Harvesting for Continuous Yield
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Timing: Harvest the main central head when the buds are tight and compact, well before any yellow flowering occurs.
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Technique: Cut the centre stalk at a sharp angle below the main head. Avoid damaging the side shoots located lower down on the stem.
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Extended Harvest: Cutting at an angle prevents water from pooling on the open stem and encourages the side shoots to develop smaller, secondary heads, greatly prolonging your harvest season. Yellow flowering signals the end of head production.