Growing Purple Sprouting Broccoli
Purple-sprouting broccoli is extremely winter hardy, tolerating temperatures as low as -12°C. Sow in March to harvest in early winter, or from April to mid-June for harvesting from January to May. Like other brassicas, purple-sprouting broccoli thrives in a fairly heavy, alkaline soil.
Purple Sprouting broccoli is extremely winter tolerant, surviving temperatures -12 below zero and can be planted in March to harvest in early winter, or as we do, between April - June to harvest early spring.
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Sow your seeds in a pot with some good quality seed compost, keep moist but not wet and allow up to two weeks for shoots to appear.
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When seedlings produce their second set of leaves, separate and transplant to individual pots to plant in the ground later, or plant directly into weed free soil.
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Broccoli plants can grow quite large, up to a meter high and a foot or two wide so Allow around 2ft or 60cm between each plant, if space is limited, why not plant one in a large pot.
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Maintain by pruning lower and dead leaves throughout the year and water during dry periods.
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Harvest the small purple florets that appear as the plant begins to flower, once it flowers it becomes tough and inedible so harvest before it sprouts.
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