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Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Main head plus weeks of side shoots — one plant keeps giving.
Sun
Full sun
Water
3 cm / week
Soil
Rich, firm, pH 6.5–7.5
Spacing
45 cm apart
Days to harvest
80–100 days
Hardiness
Zones 3–10
Seasonal Calendar
S
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SH
H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Sow in modules
Start indoors, transplant when 4 true leaves show.
- 2
Plant firm
Brassicas hate loose soil — tread around each transplant.
- 3
Net against pests
Butterfly and pigeon netting from day one saves the crop.
- 4
Harvest
Cut central head when buds are tight and green. Side shoots follow for weeks.
Common problems
Cabbage white caterpillars
Fine mesh netting is the only reliable defense.
Head bolting to flower
Harvest as soon as head is firm — heat forces flowering fast.
Good neighbors
BeetOnionChamomileDill
Field tips
- “Purple sprouting broccoli, sown in summer, gives an amazing spring crop.”
- “Boil the peeled stems — they're the sweetest part.”