Broccoli 'Purple Sprouting'

Where to Plant
Plant Purple Sprouting Broccoli in a sunny position with fertile, firm, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Before planting, remove weeds and work in plenty of well-rotted garden compost or manure to improve the soil. Brassicas grow best in firm ground, so avoid freshly dug, loose soil where possible, as plants can become unstable as they grow.

Planting
Space plants around 45–60cm apart, with 60–75cm between rows. They develop into substantial plants, so giving them plenty of room allows each one to grow strongly and improves airflow around the leaves. Plant firmly, pressing the soil well around the roots, then water thoroughly to help them establish.

Watering & Feeding
Keep newly planted broccoli well watered while it establishes. Once growing strongly, water during dry spells and pay particular attention as the crop begins to develop, as consistent moisture helps support healthy growth and good-quality spears. A mulch of well-rotted compost or organic matter will help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

This is a hungry crop. If the soil has been well prepared with organic matter, plants will already have a good start, but a balanced vegetable fertiliser can be applied during the growing season to support strong, healthy growth. Avoid overfeeding with high-nitrogen fertilisers, which can encourage excessive leafy growth.

Supporting Your Plants
Plants can become large and top-heavy, particularly in exposed gardens. Firm planting helps keep them stable, but taller plants may benefit from staking as they grow. Use a sturdy cane and tie the main stem loosely with soft garden twine to reduce wind rock, which can loosen the roots.

Winter Care
This hardy brassica is grown to stand through winter before cropping in late winter and spring. Established plants generally don't need frost protection, but check them after severe weather and gently firm the soil around any loosened by frost or strong winds. Remove yellowing or damaged leaves to keep plants tidy and maintain good airflow.

Pests & Problems
Protect plants with insect-proof mesh or suitable netting to reduce damage from cabbage white butterflies, cabbage root fly and pigeons. Put protection in place early and secure the edges carefully so pests can't get underneath, while leaving enough room for the plants to grow.

Check regularly for aphids and caterpillars, particularly on the undersides of leaves, and deal with small infestations before they become established. Keep the area weed free to reduce competition for water and nutrients and make problems easier to spot.

Good Companions
Grow alongside onions, garlic, beetroot and aromatic herbs such as thyme, sage and rosemary. Calendula and nasturtiums are useful additions nearby, bringing extra colour while attracting pollinators and other beneficial insects into the vegetable garden.

Plan Your Brassica Bed
Growing broccoli alongside other brassicas such as cabbage, cauliflower and kale can make your vegetable plot easier to manage. Keeping these crops together makes it simpler to cover the whole area with suitable netting or insect-proof mesh and helps you keep track of where brassicas have been grown from one year to the next.

Crop Rotation
Avoid planting broccoli or other brassicas in the same area year after year. Moving them to a different part of your vegetable garden as part of a three- to four-year crop rotation helps reduce the build-up of soil-borne problems such as clubroot.

Reducing the Risk of Clubroot
Clubroot causes swollen, distorted roots and can leave plants stunted or prone to wilting. Once present in the soil it can persist for many years, so prevention is particularly important. Good drainage and sensible crop rotation can help reduce the risk, and avoid moving soil from an affected brassica bed into areas where you plan to grow future crops.

When to Harvest
Harvest when the purple heads are well formed but still tightly closed, before the small flower buds begin to open. Cut the central spear first once it's ready, which encourages the plant to produce more side shoots for further harvests.

Keep Picking
Check plants regularly once cropping begins and pick the side shoots while they're young and tender. Frequent harvesting encourages more spears to develop and helps you make the most of each plant over its cropping period.

How to Pick
Use a sharp knife or secateurs to cut each spear with around 10–15cm of tender stem, along with any young leaves attached. Avoid damaging the lower shoots and leaves, as these will continue supporting the plant and producing further spears.

Best Time to Harvest
Pick in the morning when the spears are fresh and crisp, particularly if you plan to store them rather than cook them straight away.

Top Tip
Don't wait for every spear to be ready at once. Harvest little and often as the shoots reach the right size and the plants will keep giving you fresh spears over several weeks.

Flavour
Purple Sprouting Broccoli has a sweet, fresh flavour with tender spears that are especially welcome after the colder months.

Best Enjoyed
Steam, stir-fry or roast the spears whole. The tender stems and young leaves are edible too, so very little needs to go to waste.

Storage
For the best flavour and texture, eat as soon as possible after harvesting. If needed, keep freshly picked spears in the fridge for a few days.

Freezing
Purple Sprouting Broccoli freezes well. Blanch the spears for 2–3 minutes, cool quickly in iced water, drain thoroughly and freeze in portions.

Top Tip
Use the whole tender spear rather than cutting off the stalk. The stems are often just as delicious as the florets when harvested young.

Plug Plants
Supplied as healthy young plants with well-developed roots, plug plants are ready to be planted straight into their final growing position or potted on if preferred. Water well on arrival and keep the compost evenly moist while they establish.

Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plants have been professionally grown on, making them larger, stronger and ready to plant straight into the garden. They establish quickly, giving you a useful head start towards your harvest.

9cm Potted Plants
Supplied in individual 9cm nursery pots, these well-established plants are ready to plant straight into vegetable gardens, raised beds or allotments. Simply plant, water thoroughly and keep the soil consistently moist while they settle in.

Upon Arrival
Remove your plants from their packaging as soon as they arrive and give them a thorough watering. If you can't plant them immediately, keep them in a cool, sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and drying winds, ensuring the compost remains moist until you're ready to plant.