How to grow Broccoli Sprouts in Australia
Broccoli sprouts are broccoli seeds germinated in a jar and eaten after a few days, when they have two tiny leaves on a short white stem. They need no soil, no garden and no season, just clean seed, clean water and rinsing twice a day. Grown a little longer in a tray of mix, they become broccoli microgreens. Like all raw sprouts, they carry a food safety risk worth understanding.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Broccoli Sprouts in Australia
At a glance
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | All year | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | All year | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | All year | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | All year | |
| Adelaide & SA | All year | |
| Perth & WA | All year | |
| Tasmania | All year | |
| Canberra & ACT | All year | |
| North Queensland | All year | |
| Darwin & Top End | All year |
Where to plant
Grow sprouts indoors on the kitchen bench, at room temperature and out of direct sun, which can overheat the jar. Good drainage and air flow between rinses are what stop sprouts going mouldy or slimy.
Buy clean seed sold specifically for sprouting from a reliable supplier, rather than ordinary garden seed packets. Seed labelled organic is not necessarily free of harmful bacteria.
How to sprout broccoli seeds
- Wash your hands and the jar well. Put about 2 tablespoons of sprouting seed in a large jar, cover with water, swish and drain a couple of times.
- Fill the jar about half full of fresh water and soak the seeds for 8 to 12 hours.
- Drain, rinse a couple of times, then leave the jar tipped at about 45 degrees, mouth down, so all the water drains away.
- Rinse and drain again twice a day, every day, with clean drinking water.
- The seeds sprout within a day or two. Most broccoli sprouts are ready in about four to five days, when they have two small leaves. Put them in indirect light for the last day to green the leaves.
- Give a final rinse, drain very well, and store them in the fridge.
Rinsing
Rinse with clean drinking water at least twice a day, more often in hot weather, and always drain thoroughly. Sprouts sitting in water spoil quickly. No fertiliser is needed; the seed holds everything the sprout needs.
Harvesting
Eat sprouts when they are about 2 to 4 cm long with two leaves, usually four to five days from soaking. Rinse them, drain well and keep them covered in the fridge. Use them within a few days, and throw out any that smell musty, look slimy or have turned dark.
Using it
- Use sprouts in salads, sandwiches, wraps and on top of soups or stir-fries just before serving.
- Cooking sprouts thoroughly kills bacteria. If you belong to a group at higher risk of food poisoning, cook sprouts or do not eat them.
Growing microgreens instead
For microgreens, scatter seed thickly over a shallow tray of moist seed-raising mix, keep it moist and in good light, and cut the seedlings above the mix with scissors when they are a few centimetres tall, usually in 7 to 14 days. Microgreens are grown in light and are cut above the growing mix, so the roots and seed husks are left behind.
Varieties
- Broccoli Sprouting Seed
Pests and diseases
The real risks with sprouts are mould and harmful bacteria rather than pests. The warm, moist conditions that sprout seeds also suit bacteria.
Broccoli Sprouts is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Damping off In trays of microgreens, seedlings collapse at the base in patches. Use fresh mix, do not overwater and give good air flow.
- Mould Fuzzy grey or white growth, a musty smell or slimy sprouts. Throw the batch out, clean the jar and rinse and drain more often next time. Fine white root hairs on healthy sprouts are normal.
Common questions
Are home-grown sprouts safe to eat raw?
Raw sprouts have been linked to food poisoning from bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, which can be on the seed and grow in the warm, moist sprouting jar. The NSW Food Authority advises that even very hygienic home sprouting cannot guarantee sprouts are free of bacteria. Use seed sold for sprouting, keep everything clean, and cook sprouts if you are in a higher-risk group.
Who should avoid raw sprouts?
The NSW Food Authority advises people at higher risk of food poisoning, including pregnant women, young children, older people with certain health conditions and anyone with low immunity, not to eat raw or lightly cooked sprouts. Cooking them thoroughly kills the bacteria.
How long do broccoli sprouts take to grow?
About four to five days from soaking. The seeds sprout within a day or two and are ready when they have two small leaves.
Why are my sprouts going mouldy?
Usually too little drainage or air flow, or water left sitting in the jar. Rinse twice a day, drain thoroughly by tipping the jar mouth down, and keep it out of direct sun. Throw out any batch that smells musty or looks slimy.
What is the difference between broccoli sprouts and microgreens?
Sprouts are germinated seeds eaten whole, root and all, after a few days in a jar. Microgreens are grown in a tray of mix in good light for one to two weeks and cut above the mix.
Can I use ordinary broccoli seed for sprouting?
It is best not to. Buy clean seed sold specifically for sprouting from a reliable supplier. Ordinary garden seed packets are produced for sowing, not for eating raw.
Sources we checked: NSW Food Authority: Sprouts; Food Safety Information Council: Bean and seed sprouts; University of California ANR: Growing seed sprouts at home (publication 8151); CSU Extension, Pueblo County: Growing sprouts and microgreens at home.