Back
Vegetable
Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
A cool-season brassica planted in late summer and autumn in Adelaide for heads through winter. Rich soil and steady feeding give big heads. Pick the main head while buds are tight, then keep harvesting the side shoots for weeks.
- SunFull sun
- Spacing45 cm apart
- First pick10–14 weeks
- FrostFrost hardy
- HeatStruggles in heat
- Sow depth10 mm
When to plant where you live
Checking your area…
Add broccoli to my gardenVarieties (4)
- Broccolini (hybrid)Long tender stems with small florets; quick, keeps producing
- Di CiccoItalian heirloom; smaller main head and lots of side shoots for home gardens
- Green Sprouting (Calabrese)Medium head then many side shoots; long picking season
- Purple SproutingVery cold hardy, crops late winter to spring; slower but productive
Neighbours
Grows well with
Keep away from
From seed to plate
Plant
45 cm apart, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun.
Water
Regular deep water.
Feed
Compost and a nitrogen feed.
Pick, from about 10 weeks
Cut the central head while buds are tight; side shoots follow.
Good to know
- Plant seedlings from late summer so heads mature in cool weather
- Feed with compost at planting and liquid fertiliser every 2 to 3 weeks
- Plant deeply and firm in; brassicas need a solid footing
Common problems
- Cabbage white caterpillars and cabbage mothcover with fine insect mesh from planting; hand pick; use a Bt-based registered product following label directions if needed
- Aphids in the headshose off, encourage beneficial insects; harvest promptly
- Heads go loose and flowerharvest earlier; heat and dry soil speed bolting
- Club root (stunted, swollen roots)rotate brassicas over at least 3 years; lime acidic soil
If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.
Guides
Where this information comes from
- Australian seed company regional sowing charts (temperate zone) (germination, low confidence)
- UC Master Gardener Program (UC ANR): soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination (germination, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
- ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, low confidence)
- ABC Gardening Australia plant finder: Broccoli (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
- SBS Food: How to grow brassicas (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
- Sustainable Gardening Australia: planting guides (sowing window, low confidence)
Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.