Purple sprouting broccoli asks for almost a full year in the ground for a harvest that lands right when little else is ready.
Purple sprouting broccoli occupies its bed for the better part of a year, sown in spring to crop the following winter and early spring — a long-term commitment that rewards patience with an extended harvest. Picking the central spear first encourages a flush of smaller side shoots, which is where most of the total crop comes from.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in April | Sow in May | ||||||||||
| Plant | Plant in June | |||||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in February | Harvest in March | Harvest in April | |||||||||
| Protect | Protect in October | Protect in November |
Care details
- Harvest February – April
Pick the central spear first to encourage side shoots, then keep cutting every few days.
- Sow April – May
Sow in modules or a seedbed.
- Plant In June
Plant out into its final spot.
- Protect October – November
Stake or net against wind rock and pigeons — it sits in the ground a long time before cropping.
Growing tips & common problems
- Stake or net firmly — it stands through a whole winter of wind before cropping, and a rocked plant suffers.
- Pick the central spear first; this encourages a longer-lasting flush of smaller side shoots afterwards.
- Harvest while buds are tight — once they start opening into small yellow flowers, the flavour turns bitter.
Grows well with
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