edenhana

Broccoli

A cool-season brassica that rewards regular feeding; keep an eye out for cabbage white caterpillars year-round.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
45cm
Harvest
Ready in 80-110 days
Difficulty
intermediate
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
1 main head plus side shoots per plant
Cost to grow
~$8 NZD
Grocery value
~$35 NZD
Companion plants
Celery, Rosemary, Sage, Beetroot, Potatoes, Onions
Plants to avoid nearby
Oregano, Strawberries
Common diseases
Clubroot, Black rot
Common pests
Cabbage white butterfly caterpillar, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: January-September. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: February-April and July-September. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast and Christchurch / Canterbury: January-February and August-September. In Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: January-February and August.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Often started as seedlings or sown direct in a cool-season slot to suit its long 80-110 day harvest window
    • Avoid acidic or poorly drained soil from the outset, since clubroot can affect roots throughout the crop's life

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Protect young transplants with netting against cabbage white butterfly, whose caterpillars can strip soft leaves quickly
    • Aphids can also colonise new growth

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Rewards regular feeding while it builds its leafy framework ahead of heading
    • Clubroot can stunt growth in acidic or poorly drained soil; black rot may show as yellowing wedges on leaf edges

  4. Head formation

    • Cabbage white caterpillars and aphids remain the main risks as the main head forms; keep netting in place
    • Black rot can also affect developing heads in wet weather, showing as blackened veins on nearby leaves

  5. Harvest80-110 days for the main head

    • Cut the main head while buds are still tight, then side shoots follow for continued picking
    • Keep checking side shoots for cabbage white caterpillars and aphids as they develop after the main cut

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