Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Want to extend your vegetable garden into the colder months? Then look no further than the mighty purple sprouting broccoli! This hardy brassica is a real workhorse, giving you delicious and nutritious spears when most other garden goodies are still snoozing. It's super easy to grow and rarely gets sick, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

The Lowdown on Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Purple sprouting broccoli is your go-to for a tasty winter and spring harvest. This brassica is tough as nails, rarely bothered by pests or diseases, and will happily sit in your garden for a few years if you let it! It loves a sunny spot but will tolerate a bit of shade, and prefers well-drained, firm soil that's been boosted with some lovely well-rotted organic matter. Usually, you'll start it from seed, either directly in the ground or in little modules ready for transplanting later.

Getting Started with Purple Sprouting Broccoli

So, how do you get your hands on some of this purple goodness? Here’s the simple breakdown:

• Sowing: Aim to sow your seeds between April and June. You can either sow them directly into the soil or start them in modules. Modules are great as the young plants are less likely to be munched on by slugs. Pop one seed in each module and keep them watered.
• Transplanting: When your seedlings are about 10-15cm tall (that’s 4-6 inches), they're ready to move to their final spot in the garden. Plant them firmly, spacing them about 60cm (2ft) apart, with 75cm (2.5ft) between the rows. Give them a good water and don't forget to protect them from pesky pigeons and cabbage white butterflies with some netting.

Looking After Your Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Once your purple sprouting broccoli is in the ground, it’s relatively low maintenance, but here are a few tips:

• Watering: Keep them watered, especially when it's dry.
• Weeding: Hoe around the plants regularly to keep the weeds down.
• Mulching: A good layer of mulch will help keep the moisture in and the weeds out.
• Feeding: Give them a feed with a general-purpose fertiliser in the spring.
• Support: If your plants start getting tall and leggy, bamboo canes can help keep them upright.
• Harvesting: Here's the best bit! Once those delicious spears appear, harvest them regularly! This encourages the plant to produce even more.

Common Issues and How to Tackle Them

Purple sprouting broccoli is generally trouble-free but watch out for these potential issues:

• Cabbage white butterflies: These guys love to lay eggs on the leaves, resulting in hungry caterpillars. Either net your plants or pick off the eggs and caterpillars by hand.
• Pigeons: These birds are a big fan of your broccoli, especially in the winter. Net your plants, or use a bird scarer to keep them away.

Harvesting Your Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Harvesting is a joy with purple sprouting broccoli. Pick the spears when they are young, tender and still tightly closed. Start with the central spear, which will encourage the side shoots to grow. Harvest these regularly over the coming weeks. If you want a longer harvest, leave some smaller spears; they will develop over several weeks. Remember, don't leave them too long, or they'll become tough and bitter. Harvest from late winter into spring, depending on when you sowed the seeds and the weather.

So there you have it! Growing purple sprouting broccoli is easy and rewarding. You'll get fresh homegrown veggies in the depths of winter and into spring, and you’ll be the envy of all your gardening friends. Get planting!