Will Broccoli Grow Back Next Year? A Complete Guide

Broccoli, or sprouting broccoli, is a delicious, nutritious and easy-to-grow member of the cabbage family. It forms multiple small clusters of purple or white

A bud is a small, undeveloped shoot that contains the potential for new growth. Buds are typically found on stems, where they can be apical (found at the tip) or axillary (found between leaf axils) and may develop into leaves, shoots or flowers.

buds for harvesting from summer onwards. Winter varieties provide especially valuable harvests right through to spring.

Broccoli plants produce small clusters of buds for several months if harvested regularly

First, it’s worth defining what broccoli is, as it’s often confused with its close relative calabrese. In a gardening context, broccoli (or sprouting broccoli) is a plant that produces small clusters of usually purple buds on the tips of long, leafy stems. Calabrese, on the other hand, produces a large central green head (that’s confusingly often called broccoli in supermarkets and recipes). Broccoli (Brassica oleracea (Italica Group)) produces repeated harvests for up to two months – it’s traditionally a winter/early spring crop, but newer varieties offer harvests from summer onwards, depending on the sowing time. The more compact, faster-growing summer varieties are best for smaller plots, while the more traditional winter and spring cropping varieties form large plants, up to 90cm (3ft) tall and wide, and can take eight months or more to mature. They provide a valuable crop at an otherwise lean time of year and you don’t need many plants to enjoy ample pickings. Sprouting broccoli can also be expensive to buy, so is well worth growing. Broccoli is a brassica, so should be grown with its other cabbage relatives in crop rotations. It’s susceptible to the usual issues that affect brassicas – see Problems below. Although broccoli is usually quite a slow crop, it can also be grown as microgreens on a sunny windowsill. Seeds will produce sprouts in about two weeks. The tasty, nutritious

A seedling is a young plant grown from seed.

seedlings can be added to salads and sandwiches.

Did you know you can grow broccoli like a shrub and have garden fresh veggies year-round? Here’s how

My lazy gardening tendencies generally work against me, leaving far too many weeds and more lost vegetables than I care to admit. But, once in a while, they work in my favor.

The discovery that broccoli, as well as some close relatives like cauliflower and a few cabbages, can be grown like perennial shrubs and provide you with garden fresh food nearly year-round is one of those lucky discoveries I can chalk up to that aversion to garden work.

As I write this in early February of 2024, I have one patch of broccoli that began as two seedlings in the spring of 2020 still going strong, producing alternating crops of large heads and small shoots every four weeks or so.

It turns out, a number of members of the brassica family — which includes broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbages, and mustards — are actually shrubs that grow for years in their native Mediterranean habitat. While centuries of human cultivation and hybridization have made most vegetable garden varieties annuals or biennials, some can easily be coaxed to return to their wild, bushy ways.

What and where to buy

Broccoli seeds are widely available from garden centres and online gardening retailers. Young plants are available in spring and early summer from similar sources, but the choice of varieties will be more limited. You can also buy seeds specifically for growing as microgreens.

Very hardy and crops over a long period. Produces large, deep-purple spears with good flavour. The

Very upright plants that crop in late winter and early spring. Easy to pick, medium sized, dark purple spears. The

Extremely vigorous, heavy-cropping variety with large tender shoots. Produces many side-shoots, for a long harvest. The

Broccoli grows best in fertile, well-drained soil, in sun or very light shade. It forms quite tall plants, so choose a sheltered spot where they won’t be buffeted by strong winds. Avoid soil that gets waterlogged, especially during winter if growing an overwintering variety. If your soil is very acidic, apply lime the winter before sowing, to raise the pH and deter club root disease. Broccoli prefers a soil pH of 6 to 7. You can carry out a simple pH test to find out the pH level of your soil. Before sowing or planting, weed thoroughly and dig in two bucketfuls of well-rotted manure orgarden compost per square metre/yard. Ideally do this several months beforehand, to allow the ground to settle. If done just before planting, firm the soil well by treading it down using shuffling steps, then rake smooth.

Alternatively, if youre practicing no-dig, mulch the soil with organic matter ahead of sowing or planting directly into the mulch.

Broccoli seeds can be sown from February to July – indoors from February or outdoors from April. Sow small batches several weeks apart to provide regular pickings over a long season. Broccoli seeds can also be sown throughout the year and placed on a sunny windowsill to grow into microgreens.

From February, you can start sowing broccoli in a greenhouse or on a sunny windowsill. You can continue sowing batches indoors through to June, or start sowing outdoors (see below) from April. Sowing indoors is useful if you want an early harvest, as it gives plants a head start. It’s also beneficial if you have club root disease in your soil, as you can ensure the plants have a well-developed root system before being moved into the ground, so they should be less severely affected. It’s best to use a modular seedtray, to minimise root disturbance when transplanting later. Fill it with peat-free seed compost, water to dampen thoroughly, then sow two seeds per module, 2cm (¾in) deep. Broccoli seeds should germinate within two weeks without additional heat. Thin out the seedlings, removing the smaller or weaker one, to leave one per module. When the young plants are 10–15cm (4–6in) tall with a good root system, move them outdoors – see Planting, below.

Sow broccoli seeds outdoors from April to July – either in a seedbed (for transplanting later – see Planting below) or straight into their final position if you have space. Prepare the ground as explained above, then make a shallow drill about 2cm (¾in) deep and water along the base.

If sowing in a seedbed, sow seeds about 7.5cm (3in) apart – or thin out to this distance once seedlings appear. If sowing in their final position, sow three seeds every 60–80cm (24–31in), depending on the variety, then thin out each cluster to one strong seedling as soon as they are large enough to handle. Protect young plants from slugs and snails, especially in damp weather. For more sowing tips, see our guides below.

Related RHS Guides

Sowing veg outdoorsSow outdoors – step by step

Broccoli is very quick and easy to grow as microgreens on a sunny windowsill. Sow the seeds at any time of year into a small seedtray of damp peat-free seed compost. Water regularly, and in a couple of weeks or less, the tasty fresh green sprouts will be ready to add to salads and other dishes. 5

It’s best to cover broccoli with fine-mesh netting at all times, to protect the crop from pigeons and various insects. Weed between young plants regularly, water during dry spells and support taller plants with sturdy canes.

Water broccoli seedlings and young plants during dry spells to ensure they establish well. After that, you should only need to water during prolonged dry weather. See our water-saving tips below.

Related RHS Guides

Vegetables: wateringCollecting rainwater

Mulch with a thick layer of organic matter, such as garden compost, to help retain moisture and deter weed germination.

If your soil is poor, you can apply an organic high-nitrogen fertiliser when broccoli plants are about 20cm (8in) tall.

Keep the soil free of weeds, so young broccoli plants don’t get overwhelmed by vigorous weeds or outcompeted for water or sunlight.

Broccoli plants generally grow to 60–90cm (2–3ft) tall and usually need support, especially in exposed locations. If these top-heavy plants are buffeted around by the wind, this can loosen the roots and hinder growth. So, before any autumn gales arrive, pile soil up around the base of the stem to increase stability and/or insert a sturdy cane and tie in the main stem, to keep it upright.

I FINALLY Figured Out How to Grow Broccoli & Cauliflower

FAQ

How many times will a broccoli plant produce?

You can harvest your broccoli around two to three times over a period of around three months depending on which varietal you choose to grow.

Can I leave broccoli in the ground over winter?

Once the plant is mature this crop is simple to care for and a small row of sprouting broccoli plants will keep a family going in tasty florets during winter and into spring. Enjoy more Kitchen Garden Magazine reading every month.

What is the lifespan of a broccoli plant?

The lifespan of a broccoli plant, from germination to maturity, is generally around 3 to 5 months. After harvesting the main head, the plant can continue to produce smaller side shoots for several weeks.

Will broccoli regrow the next year?

Cut and repeat

As long as you don’t allow the plants to produce flowers, they will continue to grow for years, producing fresh broccoli for you to harvest every 4 to 6 weeks!

Does Broccoli regrow after being harvested?

Broccoli is a member of the brassica family, which also includes cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables are known for their ability to regrow after being harvested. Broccoli can regrow from the stem and from the side shoots that develop after the main head is cut.

Can you grow Broccoli all year?

You can’t grow broccoli all year, as it is a cool season crop, but you can choose to plant your seeds or plug plants at different times of the year, as above, to harvest broccoli for many months on end.

Does Broccoli grow after flowering?

The main head of broccoli will not grow after flowering – but the side shoots will grow if you cut off the main head. Remember that the flavor of the broccoli head will become bitter if yellow flowers start to form. Remember that a broccoli plant wants to form flowers and produce seeds to reproduce (this is known as “broccoli going to seed”).

How long does Broccoli regrowth take?

The regrowth timeline for broccoli can vary, but typically, you can expect new shoots and side heads to emerge within 1-3 weeks after cutting the central head. However, it’s important to note that the exact timing depends on factors like variety, environmental conditions, and plant care practices.

Does Broccoli make up for the long growing season?

What does make up for the long growing season is the foliage of the broccoli plant. Broccoli leaves cover 100% of your daily Vitamin C needs in a cup size serving. Broccoli greens also provide a healthy dose of fiber, B vitamins, calcium, iron, beta carotene, and a host of other vitamins and minerals.

Do broccoli florets regrow?

Yes, broccoli florets will regrow a few times during the growing season, given the conditions are favorable and the cuts you make while harvesting are fairly clean and not too traumatic to the plant. However, it’s not like leafy greens, herbs, and peppers.