How to grow Broccolini in Australia

Grow broccolini in full sun in firm, rich, well-drained soil, treating it much like broccoli. Water deeply and consistently and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.

At a glance

Difficulty: Intermediate
Sun: Full sun
Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
Spacing: 30 cm
Time to harvest: 70 days
Time to germinate: 7 days
Soil pH: 6 to 7
Frost tolerance: Half hardy

When to sow by region

Region	When to sow	Regional note
South East Queensland	March to August
Northern Rivers NSW	March to August
Sydney & Coastal NSW	March to August
Melbourne & Victoria	February to June	Sow Feb to Apr in trays and transplant Apr to Jun, as for broccoli. Cut the main spear early and side shoots keep coming through winter.
Adelaide & SA	February to July	Sow Feb to Jul. Early sowings give the longest picking; side shoots keep coming through winter. Summer sowings fail in the heat.
Perth & WA	February to August	Start trays from mid Feb in bright shade and transplant Mar to May. Sow direct Mar to Aug; it bolts once the heat returns.
Tasmania	September to January	Sow Sep and again Nov to Jan for autumn picking. Sprouting types crop for months in the cool.
Canberra & ACT	November to January	Sow Nov to Jan and transplant Jan to Mar for autumn and winter picking, as for broccoli. Side shoots keep coming in the cold.
North Queensland	April to July	Dry season only. Sow Apr to Jul with shade cloth, the same treatment as broccoli.
Darwin & Top End	May to July	Dry season May to Jul with shade cloth. SEQ Mar to Apr starts are too humid in Darwin.

Varieties

Inspiration F1
Atlantis

Companion planting

Good companions

Avoid planting near

Tomato
Strawberry
Climbing beans

Harvest and storage

Harvest tip

Cut the slender stems when buds are tight and flower heads are small. Cutting above a leaf joint encourages more side stems for repeated picking.

Storage

Fridge in a sealed bag, up to 5 days. Blanch and freeze well.