How to grow Broccolini in Australia
Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan (Chinese broccoli), bred in Japan by the Sakata Seed Company. Instead of one big head it gives many long, slender, sweet stems with small florets, picked over weeks. It is grown just like broccoli, in firm, rich soil in the cool months, and it is quicker to start cropping.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Broccolini in Australia
At a glance
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. |
Not to be confused with: Gai lan (Chinese broccoli), one of broccolini's parents, which has thicker stems and larger leaves, and sprouting broccoli.
Where to plant
Grow broccolini in full sun in firm, rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Like other brassicas it prefers soil close to neutral, so add dolomite or garden lime to acid soil a few weeks before planting. Rotate it with crops outside the cabbage family to keep clubroot away.
It crops best in cool weather and bolts once the heat returns, though it copes with warmth a little better than broccoli.
- South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers and Sydney: sow from March to August.
- Melbourne: sow in trays from February to April and transplant from April to June.
- Adelaide: sow from February to July; early sowings give the longest picking.
- Perth: start trays from mid February in bright shade and transplant from March to May, or sow direct from March to August.
- Canberra and Hobart: sow from late spring to early summer (November to January) for autumn and winter picking; Hobart can also sow in September.
- North Queensland and Darwin: dry season only, from about April or May to July, with shade cloth.
Choosing a variety
- Inspiration and Atlantis are hybrid varieties sold for home gardens.
- Broccolini is a trade name; similar types are sold as tenderstem or baby broccoli.
How to plant
- Sow seed about 1 cm deep in punnets or direct, and keep moist.
- Plant out seedlings at four to six weeks, about 30 to 40 cm apart, firming the soil around them.
- Water in and mulch.
- Cover with fine insect netting to keep cabbage white butterflies and moths off.
Watering and feeding
Water deeply and regularly so the soil never dries out; dry or hot conditions make plants bolt and stems turn tough.
Dig in compost before planting and give a nitrogen-rich liquid feed every two or three weeks to keep side shoots coming.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep netting on until harvest.
- Keep picking: every stem you cut encourages more side shoots.
- Check under leaves for caterpillars, aphids and whitefly.
Harvesting
Cut the small central crown as soon as it forms, which encourages side shoots. Within a week or so, side shoots about 15 to 18 cm long grow from the stem. Pick them while the heads are tight and firm, cutting each stem just above a leaf. Pick every few days and the plant keeps producing for weeks.
The yellow or white flowers that open on missed stems are edible too, but the stems toughen once they flower. Broccolini keeps a few days in the fridge.
Growing in pots
Broccolini can grow in a pot at least 35 cm wide and deep, one plant per pot, in a rich potting mix. Water often and feed regularly.
Companion planting
Broccolini shares the companions of broccoli: herbs and flowers that bring in helpful insects, and low crops that use different space.
Good companions
- Dill Its flowers feed tiny parasitic wasps and hoverflies that attack caterpillars and aphids.
- Chamomile A low flowering herb that brings in hoverflies.
- Nasturtium A sacrificial plant that draws aphids and cabbage white butterflies away from the crop.
- Celery Shares the same cool season and rich, moist soil.
- Onion Narrow plants that fit between the brassicas.
- Beetroot A root crop that uses different space in the bed.
- Rosemary An aromatic herb traditionally grown near brassicas; plant it at the bed edge.
- Sage Another aromatic herb traditionally grown near brassicas.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to broccolini.
- Tomato A warm-season crop with different timing and feeding needs.
- Strawberry Traditionally kept away from the cabbage family.
- Climbing beans Tall summer climbers that shade low winter crops.
Pests and diseases
Caterpillars are the main pest, as on all brassicas. Netting from planting is the most reliable control.
Pests to watch for
- Cabbage moth Holes chewed in leaves and green caterpillars on the stems, from cabbage white butterfly, cabbage moth and diamondback moth. Net plants.
- Aphids Grey, waxy colonies under leaves and on the shoots.
- Whitefly Tiny white insects that fly up from under the leaves in warm weather.
Diseases to watch for
- Clubroot Plants wilt on warm days and the roots are swollen and distorted. Lime acid soil and rotate brassica beds.
- Downy mildew Yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with grey-white fuzz underneath in cool, damp weather.
- Black rot Yellow, V-shaped patches from the leaf edges with blackened veins, worst in warm, wet weather.
Common questions
Is broccolini the same as baby broccoli?
Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan, bred by Sakata in Japan. It is often sold as baby broccoli or tenderstem, but it is not immature broccoli; it naturally grows long, thin stems with small heads.
How do you harvest broccolini so it keeps growing?
Cut the small central crown early, then pick the side shoots every few days while their heads are tight. Each cut encourages more shoots.
How long does broccolini take to grow?
You can usually start picking about ten weeks after sowing, and keep picking for weeks after that.
When should I plant broccolini?
In most areas, sow from late summer to winter for picking through the cool months. In Canberra and Hobart, sow from late spring to early summer. Pick your region at the top of the page for the months.
Why has my broccolini gone to flower?
Warm weather, dry soil or stems left unpicked. Pick every few days, keep the soil moist and sow so the plants crop in cool weather.
Can you eat broccolini leaves?
Yes. The young leaves can be cooked like other brassica greens, though most people pick the stems and florets.
Sources we checked: MOFGA: Broccolini, what's in a name; The American Gardener: Homegrown harvest, broccolini; Gardening Australia: Bountiful Brassicas; ABC Organic Gardener: Bountiful broccoli.