Sprouting Broccoli is a short term perennial producing small, cauliflower like heads. Delicious, extremely hardy and prolific, sprouting Broccoli is grown for the harvest of its tasty side shoots. After cutting the single central head, small curds will sprout forth from late winter onwards. Keep cutting the side shoots with 4-6in /10-15cm of stem and do not let any flower otherwise the plant will run to seed and become exhausted. This is an ideal winter and early spring vegetable.There are several cultivars available that can be green, white, or purple. Heirloom and organic varieties are available.

Ideal Site- This is a good crop to grow in raised beds. Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained fertile preferably alkaline soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3. Sprouting Broccoli prefers a rich firm soil but can succeed in any reasonable soil. Prior to planting prepare the site with a medium-fertility soil improver.

Cultivation- sow sprouting broccoli in a seedbed outdoors from March to May. Plant out in June. Do not let the seedlings get overcrowded or they will soon become leggy and will not make good plants. If your seedlings do get leggy, it is possible to plant them rather deeper into the soil - the buried stems will soon form roots and the plant will be better supported.

Thin to 6in/15cm, then transplant into a rich firm soil in early autumn. Leave 36in/90cm between plants. Each plant produces between 6 and 8 heads to harvest in the spring.