Italian sprouting broccoli is a gardener’s dream and rapidly gaining in popularity. This delicious and versatile vegetable bridges the gap between summer and winter harvests, growing tender, flavourful spears you can steam, sauté, add to stir-fries, or make into soups. A must-have for any home garden, these broccoli seeds grow quickly in well-cultivated soil and are ideal for smaller spaces, so you can grow them even if all you have is a patio or a balcony.

With its long cropping period, Italian sprouting broccoli rewards your efforts with multiple harvests of nutrient-rich spears that are packed with flavour. Sow in spring for a crop that fills the gap between your summer favourites and hearty winter staples.

While you’re here, explore more of vegetable seeds for harvesting in the cooler months, like spinach seeds, silverbeet seeds, and pea seeds to grow alongside your Italian sprouting broccoli this year.

How to Sow Seeds

Method: Sow Italian sprouting broccoli seeds 6mm (1/4in) deep in seed trays or punnets, and keep the soil moist as they grow.
Thinning: Once seedlings emerge, thin the sprouts to the strongest plant in each clump.
Transplanting: Transplant the seedlings to their final position when they are large enough to handle, spacing the plants 60cm (2ft) apart.
Growing notes: Plant them firmly and water them well to help them settle in. These broccoli seeds can also be sown directly into the ground in small clumps if you prefer. Heads are ready to harvest around nine weeks from transplant, but you can snip tender side shoots and florets before then.

Growing Needs

Soil: Nutrient-rich soil
Water: Sow Italian sprouting broccoli seeds 6mm (1/4in) deep in seed trays or punnets, and keep the soil moist as they grow

Plant Characteristics

Harvest: Heads are ready to harvest around nine weeks from transplant, but you can snip tender side shoots and florets before then
Uses: This delicious and versatile vegetable bridges the gap between summer and winter harvests, growing tender, flavourful spears you can steam, sauté, add to stir-fries, or make into soups
Suitable for pots: Yes