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(Best months for planting Broccoli in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

• Easy to grow.
• Harvest in 60-90 days
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 30°C.
• Space plants: 35-50cm

Keep well-watered as seedlings. If left without water they will bolt to seed and be inedible. The plants should grow to develop plenty of large healthy leaves, then the green flowerheads follow, which are cut for eating. Leave the plant growing after cutting the main flowerhead, and get additional crops from the sideshoots which will develop.

Watch for cabbage white butterflies and remove the eggs and caterpillars as soon as possible.

There are two main types of broccoli. The purple sprouting is hardier. The heading varieties cope well with warmer weather.

Once a plant opens its yellow flowers then it is generally past eating as the flavour gets a bit overpowering and the plant gets very woody. Harvest them sooner rather than later.

'Broccolini' is a variety grown for the edible stalks. Grow fast with plenty of water and food, and pick as soon as possible.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Broccoli

The stem (peeled), leaves, and flowerhead are all edible.

Steam for best flavour. Peel large stalks, slice and steam.
Goes well with blue cheese sauce.

Your comments and tips

26 Feb 10 George (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Why is it that I can never get any heads on my broccoli? They grow well but go straight to seed and never even look like forming a head. Same for brussel sprouts too?

05 Apr 10 emily (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

hi, first time at this, mine are in round big pots and are inside in the conservatry where it is very warm, they grew very fast, all of a sudden they have drooping and im not sure if ive waterd to much or not enough or if too hot, what should i do??

15 Jan 11 sue (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I'm growing them for the first time this year, mine just bolted to flower and now have a magnificent yellow flower head (one plant) the others don't have anything recognisable as the edible 'tree' shape head you get in the veggie shop! Help! Should I cut the flowers off and let other shoots develop? What about the ones that haven't?

15 Jan 11 Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)

Sue, you can cut off the yellow head as it has developed too far. You might get a few side shoots but the hot weather has started so early in some parts of NZ that without plenty of water and some shade, broccoli will go to seed very quickly. Have a look at broccoli on our companion site www.gardenate.com - there are some pictures which might help.

29 Jan 11 Joy (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Have just constructed raised garden beds. I want to know if I plant broccoli in March will I avoid most bugs (caterpillars etc) because the weather will become cooler?

01 Feb 11 Ewout Aarsen (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)

Re growing in broccoli in March, I have had lots of success growing brassicas during the winter months, so go for it, you will have a lot less hassles with bugs and diseases, and you will be able to spread out your harvesting.

18 Mar 11 Mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)

We planted broccoli in the first week of January. No flowers or heads on plants yet. Quite a few holes in the leaves from White butterly and we have had some small grey coloured insects a bit like aphids on a couple of them. Are they going to come to anything or is it too late?

28 Aug 11 nathan (New Zealand - temperate climate)

i have planted around 5000 broccoli will the many rossellas eat them ??

25 Sep 11 Stuart (New Zealand - temperate climate)

I planted broccoli outdoors in a sunny well drained soil and the plants grew like there is no tomorrow but no heads on any of the plants?? Were they planted too late??

09 Dec 11 Hester (New Zealand - temperate climate)

My broccoli plants leaves are being eaten by insects, exc. What can I do to prevent this?