Purple sprouting broccoli
A hardy and highly rewarding brassica, delivering delicious purple spears in late winter and early spring when other fresh veg is scarce. Worth the wait!
Purple sprouting broccoli seeds
£2.29 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Indoors: April – May. Outdoors: May – June.
Plant out
July – August, when seedlings are robust and have 4-5 true leaves.
Harvest
February – May (the following year)
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 6-8 hours a day
Water
Consistent moisture, especially during establishment and dry spells. Crucial for good growth.
Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained, pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing
60-75cm between plants – they get large!
Containers
Not recommended due to large size and long growing season.
Indoors
Starting indoors gives better establishment and protection from early pests.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Enrich soil with compost. Feed with a balanced liquid feed every few weeks after planting, switching to a high-potash feed in late autumn/early winter.
Pruning
Remove yellowing lower leaves. Harvest spears regularly to encourage more production.
Harvesting
Snip spears with a few inches of stem when they are tightly formed and before flowers open. Regular harvesting promotes more shoots.
Storage
Store in the fridge for up to a week. Blanches well for freezing.
Good companions: Marigolds, Mint, Rosemary, Nasturtiums, Onions