Planting Out Broccoli

It’s getting to that time of year again, when you start to think about (gulp) next year’s harvest. It’s time to plant out over-wintering Brassicas like Broccoli, Kale and Winter Cabbage. The seedlings should be pretty sturdy before planting out and they’ll need protecting against Cabbage Whites still. But come the first frosts they should be strong little plants ready to bare the brunt of the Winter. In harsher climes or on exposed plots you might need to protect them all Winter long. Here in the sunshine state of Bath, UK :) I don’t need to do that. Last year my Broccoli stood through the snows and everything. Just remember to plant them quite firmly and even stake them if your plot is particularly windy.

Category: Over-Wintering     Tagged: , ,

8 Comments on “Planting Out Broccoli”

  1. Crikey I may have gone too early having planted mine out in late April, just after I pulled out the old ones. They are 3 foot high now! They are really hardy plants to get through the last winter we had and produce such a great crop.

  3. Hi Damo – not at all – you will just get your Broccoli earlier than I will.

  4. Karin – well the short answer is that I don’t. I will just be super vigilant and squash the eggs on the leaves as they appear. The butterflies should be gone in a month so I won’t have to do it for long. If I had more space I would net them but in my tiny garden nets just look ugly. imho.

  5. Yes, so important to think about those lean and hungry months next year around March.

  6. Last year I planted kale in November which survived the snow (under a protective fleece) and was very welcome in the spring so will be planting again this year. Missed out on the broccoli though, which I love, so thank you for this very timely reminder! I also recently sowed Romanesco cauliflowers (those lovely whirly green ones) which should be ready before Christmas.

  7. I’m so jealous. Your seedlings are really lush and healthy and mine have been munched by slugs so have holes in the leaves. The neighbours are worried about me as I spend late evenings out in the garden with a torch looking for the offenders and muttering to myself.

  8. save yourself from the neighbour’s chatter and chuck some silica sand about the place. slugs hate the stuff so stay away, its bio friendly (not pesticide), and it helps to break up the soil creating a better planting ground. it’s available from most builders merchants. alternatively use the old (though a little mean) trick of a bowl full of old fashioned beer (not lager) in the planting bed. slugs and snails are right little alcoholics so crawl into the bowl for a slurp, get drunk and drown!