Purple Sprouting Broccoli

A long-season crop that earns its space. Sow in spring, harvest tender purple spears through late winter when almost nothing else is cropping.

Sprouting this month

First sprouts in 5–7 days

Sow

Mar – May

Plant Out

May – Jun

Harvest

Feb – Apr

Type

Both

Difficulty

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Apr

Start seeds indoors this week

•Fill tray with compost
•Sow seeds evenly
•Cover lightly with soil
•Water gently
•Place in warm light spot

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

1cm

Spacing

60cm

Germination

5–7days

Thinning

One plant per 60cm — crowded plants produce fewer spears and are more disease-prone

Grower's Note

Needs its full spacing. Mature plants become very large and top-heavy — stake before autumn winds arrive.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

1wks

Seeds germinate and first leaves emerge. Keep warm and moist.

Establishing

8wks

Root system develops and plant builds structure. Pot on if needed.

Maturing

30wks

Plant reaches full size and begins producing. Harvest at peak.

Total~39 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

MarigoldNasturtiumThymeSageChives

Climate Control

Today

—C

Humidity

—%

Water

Every 2–3 days

Sunlight

6+ hours direct sun

Watch Out For

! Cabbage white caterpillars strip leaves — check undersides weekly from late spring and remove eggs
! Pigeons strip plants bare in winter — netting is not optional
! Clubroot distorts roots and kills plants in acidic soil — lime the bed in winter if pH is below 7