In recent years broccoli has had a resurgence in popularity - praised for its high vitamin content and anti-cancer agents.
There are three types - white and purple sprouting and calabrese. The sprouting types are hardy and overwintered for harvest in spring, filling the gap between sprouts and spring cabbage, whereas calabrese is harvested in the autumn.
Sow thinly 13mm (0.5in) deep in a seed bed in rows 15cm (6in) apart. Thin the seedlings to 7.5cm (3in) apart. The main sowing time is April and May, although you can sow in March in mild regions and in June for late cultivars.
Seeds can also be sown indoors in module trays.
Calabrese is best sown where it is to crop.
When the young broccoli plants are 10-15cm (4-6in) high transplant to their growing positions, leaving 45cm (18in) between broccoli plants. Before lifting the plants water them well and water well again after transplanting.
Thin directly-sown calabrese to 30cm (1ft) apart..
Water well in dry weather and conserve soil moisture with a mulch. Occasional summer feeding with a liquid fertiliser will improve results.
Birds can be a problem, so net the plants when the heads are being produced.
Cut when the flower shoots (spears) are well formed but before the individual flowers begin to open. Cut the central spear first. This is followed by a series of sideshoots, which can be picked regularly over four to six weeks.
