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Annual Biennial

Brassica oleracea (Italica Group) 'Red Fire'
  • RHS AGM

broccoli (purple sprouting) 'Red Fire'

A British bred, hardy annual vegetable grown for its exceptional yields of high quality, medium sized dark purple spears with an excellent flavour and texture. Over-winters well and easy to pick

Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Sand
Loam
Clay
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring
Summer Green
Autumn Purple Green
Winter Purple Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Brassicaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus

Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, well compacted, non-acid soil in full sun. Sow indoors between April-June and transplant out in June. Harvest between October and March. See broccoli cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage whitefly, cabbage root fly, cabbage caterpillar, cutworms, slugs and snails, flea beetle, swede midge

Diseases

May be susceptible to black rot, club root, downy mildew, leaf spot

Get involved

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