How to Grow Broccoli (2024)

Nutritious and delicious, Broccoli is a must grow in your vegie patch! This one little plant gives so much back - the heads, stems and tender leaves can all be cooked or thrown raw into your salads, giving you a variety of textures and flavours.  Most varieties of Broccoli can be sown in summer or autumn, depending on your climate. Check the seed packet of your chosen variety for the best sowing time for your area.

Step 1 - Sow Seeds

Broccoli does best when you raise your own seedlings in trays or punnets, rather than sowing seed directly into the vegie patch. Sow seed 6mm deep into trays or punnets of Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cuttings & Seeds, firm down and water gently. Keep the seedling tray or punnet in a sunny warm spot and keep moist. Seedlings will take 6 – 10 days to emerge.

Step 2 – Choose a Location & Improve the Soil

Step 3 – Plant Seedlings

Gently remove the Broccoli seedlings from their tray or punnet, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Dig small holes in the soil big enough to accommodate all the roots. Plant the seedlings so the roots are covered but not the stem. The final level of soil around the seedlings should be at the same depth as it was in their punnet or tray. Then water in well and keep the soil moist. Give each seedling 30-40cm of space to grow.

Step 4 – Early Broccoli Care

Snails and Slugs are one of the biggest dangers to young Broccoli seedlings, particularly during damp weather. You can protect seedlings with a light sprinkling of Yates Snail & Slug Bait. It's also beneficial to apply mulch, like sugarcane or pea straw, around the base of the plants. Mulch helps to keep the soil moist.

Step 5 – Broccoli Feeding

Broccoli grows best in the garden but can still grow well in pots.

Step 1 - Sow Seeds

Broccoli does best when you raise your own seedlings in trays or punnets, rather than sowing seed directly into large pots. Sow seed 6mm deep into trays or punnets of Yates Specialty Potting Mix Cuttings & Seeds, firm down and water gently. Keep the seedling tray or punnet in a sunny warm spot and keep moist. Seedlings will take 6 – 10 days to emerge.

Step 2 – Choose a Location & Use a Quality Potting Mix

Step 3 – Plant Seedlings

Gently remove the Broccoli seedlings from their tray or punnet, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Dig small holes in the potting mix big enough to accommodate all the roots. Plant the seedlings so the roots are covered but not the stem. The final level of soil around the seedlings should be at the same depth as it was in their punnet or tray. Then water in well and keep the potting mix moist. Give each Broccoli seedling 30 cm of space to grow. In a 30 cm diameter pot, there will be room for one broccoli plant.

Step 4 – Early Broccoli Care

Snails and Slugs are one of the biggest dangers to young Broccoli seedlings, particularly during damp weather. You can protect seedlings with a light sprinkling of Yates Snail & Slug Bait. It's also beneficial to apply mulch, like sugarcane or pea straw, around the base of the plants. Mulch helps to keep the soil moist.

Step 5 – Broccoli Feeding

When Should I Harvest Broccoli?

Broccoli is normally harvested 10-16 weeks after sowing. The Broccoli head should be tight and firm and be picked before the yellow flowers start to open. Removing the main central head can often encourage smaller side shoots to form. They’ll be ready for a second picking in a few weeks time.

What Should I Do With My Broccoli Plants Once They Have Finished?

Broccoli are not perennial plants. Once the main head has been picked, plus some side shoots if they develop, simply pull the plants out. They can be chopped up into small pieces and added to the compost bin.

What Can I Grow After Broccoli?

Broccoli and other brassica vegetables are susceptible to soil-borne diseases, such as Club Root. Club Root causes the plants to wilt rapidly on hot days. To help reduce the incidence of disease, it’s best to avoid planting members of the brassica plant family in the same spot year after year. A three year gap between brassica crops is ideal. After Broccoli, you can grow leafy vegetables like Silverbeet and Lettuce, legumes like Peas and Beans or root vegetables like Carrots, Beetroot and Radish.

Can You Grow Broccoli From a Stalk or Stem?

The short answer is no. Despite what you might have read, Broccoli won’t regrow successfully from Broccoli stalks or stems. It’s best to start new plants from seed. But don’t throw the stalks out – they’re delicious too!

Can You Grow Broccoli in Warm Areas?

Yes, you can grow broccoli in warm areas. However, it’s important to follow the recommended sowing times, which for warm areas is during autumn and winter.

Can You Grow Broccoli in a Pot?

Yes, you can! You’ll need a pot at least 30 cm in diameter. See How to Grow Broccoli in a Pot for more information.

Can You Grow Broccoli in Summer?

Yes, in temperate and cool areas you can grow Broccoli in summer. Follow the recommended sowing times for your climate and keep the plants well-watered.

Is There a Cut & Come Again Broccoli?

Broccoli that produces a central main head will often produce several smaller side florets after the main head is picked. There are also ‘sprouting’ varieties of Broccoli that produce multiple small slender florets over many weeks.

How Long Does it Take for Broccoli to Grow?

Depending on the variety, Broccoli takes 10 – 16 weeks to mature from sowing seed.

Which Broccoli Variety Grows More Than One Head?

Yates Broccoli Shogun Winter Harvest has a firm dome-shaped head that holds well in the garden. Side branches continue to produce after the central head is cut.

Why Are My Broccoli Plants Flowering/Going to Seed?

If the Broccoli head is not picked while it is still firm and tight, the yellow flowers within the head will open. Monitor Broccoli plants regularly as they approach maturity, so you don’t miss the best picking time. Broccoli plants may also open their flowers prematurely if they’re suffering from moisture and/or nutrient stress. Ensure your broccoli plants are kept well-watered and feed each week with Yates Thrive Natural Vegie & Herb Concentrate.

What Pests Attack Broccoli?

Broccoli can be prone to a few common pests, including Aphids, Caterpillars and Snails and Slugs.

How to Get Rid of Aphids on Broccoli

Aphids are tiny grey, green, brown, yellow or black sap-sucking insects that cluster on leaves and stems. They can damage the leaves, causing leaves to yellow and distort, and plant health will suffer. As soon as Aphids are noticed, dust the plants with Yates Tomato & Vegetable Dust. every 7-10 days.

How to Get Rid of Caterpillars on Broccoli

Broccoli can be attacked by several Caterpillars. They can chew through leaves and into the Broccoli head. One of the most common Caterpillars is the cabbage White Butterfly Caterpillar, which is smooth and green. As soon as caterpillars or their damage are noticed, dust the plants with Yates Tomato & Vegetable Dust. every 7-10 days.

How to Get Rid of Snail & Slugs on Broccoli

Snails and Slugs can devour young Broccoli seedlings entirely. They can also damage more mature leaves and eat into the Broccoli head. You can protect Broccoli with a light sprinkling of Yates Snail & Slug Bait around the plants.

Why Is My Broccoli Yellowing, Stunted & Wilted?

Aphids can cause Broccoli leaves to yellow, distort and wilt. As soon as Aphids are noticed, dust the plants with Yates Tomato & Vegetable Dust every 7-10 days.

Why Hasn't My Broccoli Grown Heads?

The two most common causes for Broccoli not producing heads is lack of water or nutrients. It’s important to keep the soil or potting mix consistently moist. And feed Broccoli plants each week with a vegetable fertiliser like Yates Thrive Natural Vegie & Herb Concentrate.

Why is My Broccoli Not Growing?

Slow growth could be a sign of lack of moisture and/or nutrients. Ensure the soil is kept moist and feed Broccoli plants every week with Yates Thrive Natural Vegie & Herb Concentrate  to promote healthy growth. It’s also important to grow Broccoli in a sunny position that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight and sow seed at the correct time of the year as per the seed pack directions.

Why Doesn’t My Broccoli Produce Good Florets?

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