Crops › Broccoli
How to grow Broccoli
in the UK
Sow March to May, harvest July to November. About 90 days from seed to plate.
Broccoli, now there's a cracking veg for the plot, isn't it? It's a proper rewarding Brassica to grow, giving you loads of heads and side shoots for months on end. You can't beat that fresh taste straight from the allotment, honestly.
Sowing
Right, so for broccoli, you're looking at sowing from March right through to May, depending on the variety and when you want to harvest. I usually start mine in a seed tray on the windowsill or in the cold frame, just a centimetre deep, and then prick 'em out when they're big enough to handle. You can sow successionally every few weeks, you know, just to keep those harvests coming from July right up to November. Some folks sow direct, but I like to give them a bit of a head start, especially up here in the North East before the last frost in mid to late May.
Growing on
Once your little plants have got a few true leaves, you'll want to prick 'em out into individual pots. Get 'em hardened off proper, outside for a bit each day, before planting them out on the plot after the risk of frost has passed. Give them plenty of space, about 45cm between each plant, so they can really get established and grow into strong plants.
Looking after it
Broccoli plants are quite thirsty, especially when the heads are forming, so keep 'em well watered. To be honest, the biggest thing to remember is to net them as soon as they're planted out, otherwise, the birds will have a feast, and the cabbage white butterflies will get their grimy little paws on them. I always plant a few onions or beetroot nearby too, they seem to get along just fine.
What goes wrong
Ah, the usual suspects for brassicas, eh? Cabbage white butterflies are a proper nuisance, they lay their eggs and then you've got caterpillars munching through your leaves. Keep an eye out for aphids too, those tiny green blighters can really weaken a plant. Netting helps a lot, like I say, and checking under the leaves regularly can catch problems early.
Harvest
You'll be chuffed when those first central heads start to form, usually about 90 days after sowing. Cut the main head first, but don't pull the whole plant up! You'll get loads of lovely side shoots after that, giving you a continuous harvest. It's cracking fresh, of course, but if you've got a proper glut, it blanches and freezes a treat for later.
Me, I always sow a few extra, just in case the slugs get a couple, or one of the little bairns decides to "help" with the weeding.
Dates for your plot
Type the first half of your postcode and the plant-out advice shifts to your area's typical frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Green Magic F1 This is a cracking early variety that comes ready in a flash. It's perfect if you're keen to get your first broccoli harvest quickly from the plot. | No club votes yet |
| Belstar F1 A really reliable maincrop variety that gives you lovely big central heads. This one's a good solid choice for a decent yield right through the summer. | No club votes yet |
| Marathon F1 If you want broccoli later in the year, this late variety is the business. It keeps going when others have packed up, extending your harvest well into autumn. | No club votes yet |
| Purple Sprouting This classic overwinters beautifully, giving you those lovely purple spears in early spring. It's a proper staple for anyone wanting an early harvest after winter. | No club votes yet 1 growing it |
| Tenderstem You know these long, thin stems you see in the shops? This one's just like that, really tender and quick to cook. Great for stir-fries and a bit different from the usual big heads. | No club votes yet |
| Romanesco Now this one looks proper fancy with its amazing fractal heads, a real show stopper. It's a heritage variety that's worth the effort for something a bit special. | No club votes yet |
| Cardinal F1 This maincrop variety gives you beautiful red-purple sprouting spears. It's a bit different from the usual green and looks grand on the plate. | No club votes yet |
| Tender and True A lovely heritage white sprouting variety that's known for its sweet flavour. If you fancy something a bit more traditional and tasty, this is a good 'un. | No club votes yet |
| Nine Star Perennial Fancy a broccoli that comes back year after year? This heritage perennial white type does just that, giving you a continuous harvest without resowing. | No club votes yet |
| Wok Broc F1 This early variety is super leafy and grows really quickly, perfect for a speedy harvest. It's ideal if you're always after something fresh for your stir-fries. | No club votes yet |
| Summer Blaze F1 A cracking maincrop purple variety that's ready for a summer harvest, adding some colour to your plate. It's a robust choice for a good seasonal yield. | No club votes yet |
| Apollo This is an early purple sprouting variety, giving you those lovely coloured spears ahead of many others. It's a great choice for getting a head start on your purple broccoli. | No club votes yet |
| Winter Purple As the name suggests, this one is very hardy and cold-tolerant, perfect for winter harvests. If you want proper fresh veg when it's chilly, this is the one to go for. | No club votes yet |
| White Star A lovely maincrop white sprouting variety that's known for being especially tender. It's a solid choice if you prefer the milder flavour of white broccoli. | No club votes yet |
| Redhead This early variety gives you beautiful red-purple spears, coming ready quite quickly. It's brilliant for adding a splash of colour and an early harvest to your meals. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Broccoli seeds
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Cook the harvest
This is a broccoli salad that earns the name — generous blanched-then-charred broccoli tossed with crispy smoked bacon lardons, crunchy golden sourdough crumbs and a punchy wholegrain mustard and cider vinegar dressing. It works as a substantial lunch or as a side dish bold enough to steal the show at the table. Everything is warm when it hits the plate, which is exactly how it should be.
30 min · easyThis is a southern Italian classic that knows exactly what it is — simple, bold, and completely satisfying. The trick is cooking the broccoli directly in the pasta water so it breaks down into a rough sauce that coats every piece of pasta. Generous olive oil, dried chilli, and anchovy paste (optional, but do it) bring everything together in under 30 minutes.
28 min · easySilky white miso dressing, toasted sesame seeds and slow-roasted broccoli over short-grain rice make this one of those bowls that looks simple and tastes deeply satisfying. Roasting the broccoli at high heat draws out its sweetness and gives it a slight chew — a completely different vegetable from the boiled version. A soft-boiled egg on top turns it into a proper meal.
50 min · mediumCharred, slightly crispy broccoli florets piled into warm corn tortillas with smoky black beans, a sharp quick-pickled onion and a lime crema. This is a proper weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes and tastes like you put in far more effort than you did. The broccoli is the real substance here — roasted hard in a hot pan so the edges go dark and nutty.
28 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Questions people ask
When do you sow Broccoli in the UK?
Sow Broccoli from March to May.
How long does Broccoli take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 90 days, with the harvest July to November.
Which Broccoli varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Green Magic F1, Belstar F1, Marathon F1, Purple Sprouting and more.
Track your Broccoli from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.