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.

Written by Yemi · Last reviewed August 2026

Waiting this month

First sprouts in 7–14 days

Difficulty

Out of season right now. The next sowing window opens in March.

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Harvest

This month: Sep

Plan ahead for this crop

•Check growing conditions
•Prepare for next stage

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

2cm

Spacing

60cm

Germination

7–14days

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.

Recommended Varieties

'Claret' F1 holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit, a vigorous late-cropping hybrid that needs fewer plants for the same yield. 'Rudolph' doesn't hold an AGM but is genuinely one of the earliest PSB varieties around, cropping from November when little else is ready. For organic growing, The Organic Gardening Catalogue lists 'Purple Sprouting Early' as an open-pollinated organic alternative to the F1 'Claret', though it crops in March-April rather than 'Rudolph's characteristic November start.

Planting Out Guide

Best spaces, conditions and how to plant out

Plant Spacing

60–75cm

Best Grown In

Open ground, large raised beds

Conditions

Full sun. Firm, fertile soil. Add lime if acidic. Long-season crop: plant in summer, harvest the following spring.

Grower's Note

Firm, well-consolidated soil prevents rocking in winter winds. Stake tall plants in exposed positions. Net against pigeons and cabbage whites.

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

Plant these nearby for natural pest control, better yields, and healthier soil.

Marigold

Repels Pests

Marigold's strong scent confuses pest insects, and its roots help suppress soil nematodes that trouble Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Nasturtium

Repels Pests

Nasturtium acts as a sacrificial trap crop, drawing aphids and cabbage white caterpillars away from your Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Thyme

Repels Pests

Thyme's strong scent helps confuse cabbage moth and other pests searching for Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Sage

Repels Pests

Sage's strong scent deters cabbage moth and carrot fly from finding Purple Sprouting Broccoli.

Chives

Repels Pests

Chives' oniony scent masks the smell pests use to find Purple Sprouting Broccoli, and can help reduce fungal spotting too.

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 egg clusters and caterpillars by hand

Pigeons strip plants bare in winter: netting is essential and should be in place before the first cold snap attracts hungry birds

Clubroot distorts roots and kills plants in acidic soil: lime the bed in winter to raise pH above 7 if clubroot has been a problem before

Flea beetle peppers young leaves with small shot-holes, worse in hot, dry spells when seedlings are slow to grow away from the vulnerable stage: cover with fine mesh from sowing and keep well watered so plants outgrow the damage quickly

Pests & Problems

Full guide

Cabbage White Butterfly

Yellow eggs on leaf undersides

Apr–Oct

Clubroot

Wilting in warm weather despite watering

May–Oct

Mealy Cabbage Aphid

Grey-green colonies in tight clusters

Jun–Sep

What You'll Need

Equipment for growing purple sprouting broccoli

Organic Seeds: Just Seed

Certified organic, open-pollinated

Fine Mesh Netting

2m × 5m insect barrier

Organic Liquid Seaweed

Shropshire Seaweed: soil & plant feed

Slug Nematodes: Gardening Naturally

Biological slug control, safe for pets & wildlife

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Grown Organically

Every method in this guide works with natural systems: no synthetic chemicals, no shortcuts.

Read our approach

Common Questions

About growing Purple Sprouting Broccoli in the UK

Why does purple sprouting broccoli take so long to grow?

PSB is a long-season crop: sow in spring, plant out in early summer, and harvest the following February to April. This long development is necessary for the plant to vernalise (experience cold), which triggers the formation of the purple sprouts.

When is purple sprouting broccoli ready to harvest?

Harvest PSB when the purple florets are tight and compact: before any yellow flowers open. Cut the central head first to encourage side shoots to develop. Pick side shoots regularly to extend the harvest over 6–8 weeks.

Why are there caterpillars all over my broccoli?

Cabbage white caterpillars are the most common broccoli pest. Net plants from planting out to prevent butterflies laying eggs. Check undersides of leaves weekly and remove eggs and caterpillars by hand.

Does purple sprouting broccoli need staking?

Tall plants in exposed positions should be staked in autumn before winter winds arrive. Push a stout cane alongside the main stem and tie in loosely. Firm soil around the base is the most important measure. Loose soil causes rocking and poor roots.

Written from real growing experience, not just research. Read the story behind Pelham Gardens.

Member guides

There's more to growing Purple Sprouting Broccoli than this guide covers.

A Garden Journal to log what worked, a personalised sowing planner in My Garden, and monthly reminders timed to the calendar.

See what's included