Brassica oleracea italica
HEIGHT x WIDTH: 40cm x 40cm.
DISTANCE APART: 40cm
WHEN TO HARVEST: Once the head is between 10 and 12cm wide and the flower buds are deep green and tightly packed, use a knife to cut the stem about 10cm below it at an angle.
HOW MUCH WATER: Water every day unless it rains.
WHERE TO PLANT: Full sun
CAN I GROW THEM IN A POT? Yes. Fill a large pot that is 50cm deep with premium potting mix, plant the seedlings and water them well. Make sure that the container gets plenty of sunlight.
CAN I GROW THEM IN A GARDEN BED? Yes, choose a spot that gets 6 hours of sun. Mix lots of compost or animal manure into the soil, plant the seedlings and water well. Spread some mulch such as pea straw or lucerne hay over the soil.
BEST BUDDY PLANTS: Broccoli is best buddies with onions, leeks, celery and most herbs.
OTHER ‘SMARTY PLANT’ TIPS:
- When you get your seedlings home, let them sit in a shallow tray of water which has had a tablespoon of seaweed solution added for an hour or two. This will get them ready for transplanting.
- After planting, water the seedlings with a very soft hose or a watering can several times a day until they settle in.
- Water daily and apply a liquid fertiliser every fortnight.
- After harvesting the head of broccoli, leave the rest of the plant in the ground as small florets will keep growing from the remaining stem and these can be harvested later on.
There’s more information at the Smarty Plants website.