How to grow Broccoli in Australia
Grow broccoli in full sun in firm, rich, well-drained soil limed if acidic, and plant it out into cool conditions for the best heads. Water deeply and consistently, never letting it dry out.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 45 cm
- Time to harvest: 90 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to May | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to June | One more sowing month than SEQ. Colder winters suit brassicas. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | February to July | Cool winters extend harvest; June plantings successful for winter harvest. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | February to June | Seed indoors Feb to Apr, transplant Apr to Jun. Longer season than SEQ; tolerates cold winters. |
| Adelaide & SA | February to July | Sow Feb to Jul. Feb to Mar sowings beat winter and give the biggest heads; later sowings harvest in spring. Summer sowings fail in the heat. |
| Perth & WA | February to September | Start trays from mid Feb in bright shade out of afternoon sun, transplant Mar to May. Direct sow Mar to Sep; fails in summer heat. |
| Tasmania | September to January | Sow Sep for a summer crop and Nov to Jan for the main autumn-winter harvest. Tasmania grows superb broccoli. |
| Canberra & ACT | November to January | Sow Nov to Jan, transplant Jan to Mar for autumn and winter heads. COGS timing for Canberra. |
| North Queensland | May to July | Dry season only. Broccoli very marginal in tropics; sow May to Jul with shade cloth mandatory. |
| Darwin & Top End | May to July | Dry season only. Broccoli very marginal in tropics; sow May to Jul with shade cloth mandatory. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
- Tomato
- Strawberry
- Climbing beans
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Cut the central head while the buds are tight, firm and deep green, before any yellow flowers open. Cut on an angle and side shoots will keep producing smaller heads.
Storage
Fridge unwrapped in the crisper, up to 5 days. Blanch and freeze well.