When to sow Broccoli (Calabrese) in the UK
Broccoli (Calabrese) is sown to the calendar rather than to the frost, so the window is much the same wherever you garden in the UK.
Sowing and harvest dates by region
Broccoli (Calabrese) is grown to the calendar rather than to the frost, so the same dates apply across the whole UK and every region below reads the same. Where a plant's timings do follow the frost, Plot shifts them from the Midlands and Lowland Wales baseline using Met Office average frost dates.
| Where you are | Sow indoors | Sow outdoors | Plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Coast and Cornwall | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| South Coast and Channel | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Greater London (Urban Heat Island) | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| South East and Home Counties | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| East Anglia | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Midlands and Lowland Wales | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Wales and West Coast | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Northern England | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Scotland Lowlands and Central Belt | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Scotland Highlands and Islands | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Northern Ireland | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
| Channel Islands and Isle of Man | early March to mid April | mid April to late May | late April to mid June | early July to mid October |
Growing notes
Doesn't transplant well once warm weather arrives, so sow after April direct in its final position; cut the central head before flowers open, then side-shoots keep cropping for weeks.
At a glance
- Spacing
- 30 cm between plants
- Row spacing
- 45 cm
- Plants per m²
- 6
- Days to maturity
- 100 days
- Yield per plant
- 0.4 kg
- Sun
- Full sun
- Frost tender
- No
- Grows in a container
- Yes, 30 litres or more
- Minimum soil depth
- 30 cm
- Balcony rating
- 2 out of 5
What usually goes wrong
- club root
- cabbage white caterpillars
- pigeons
- bolting in heat
Companion planting
Grows well near
Keep away from
Related guides
Timings cross-checked against RHS guidance for broccoli (calabrese).