Baby broccoli: sowing and growing
This sprouting broccoli fits in one square and crops sooner than ordinary broccoli: first the main head, then side shoots over a longer period.
What is Baby broccoli?
I am a big fan of broccoli, but not usually of growing it myself. Ordinary broccoli needs to be sown early, the plants become enormous and you eventually harvest one head in autumn.
Baby broccoli is a cross between sprouting broccoli and Chinese broccoli, or kailan.
You can harvest it sooner than ordinary broccoli, with the first main head ready after about 12 weeks. The plant then continues producing side shoots that you can harvest for a long time.
Its flavour is also milder and sweeter than the broccoli usually sold in shops.
Baby broccoli is a cross between sprouting broccoli and Chinese broccoli, or kailan.
You can harvest it sooner than ordinary broccoli, with the first main head ready after about 12 weeks. The plant then continues producing side shoots that you can harvest for a long time.
Its flavour is also milder and sweeter than the broccoli usually sold in shops.
Vitamins and minerals in Baby broccoli
Baby broccoli is a nutritious vegetable that provides fibre, plant protein, vitamins and minerals while being low in calories.
It makes a healthy addition to a varied diet, whether you use the main head, tender side shoots, stems or leaves.
It makes a healthy addition to a varied diet, whether you use the main head, tender side shoots, stems or leaves.
More about Makkelijke Moestuin Baby broccoli seeds
Baby broccoli is very easy to grow: sow, let it grow and harvest. One plant fits in a square. It tolerates cold and grows best in cool weather, as heat can make the leaves taste slightly bitter.
Protect the plants from slugs and butterfly caterpillars, which love them. The plants are very tough, however, and can survive considerable feeding damage.
Protect the plants from slugs and butterfly caterpillars, which love them. The plants are very tough, however, and can survive considerable feeding damage.
- Variety: Montebello F1
- Family: brassica
- Plants per square: 1
- Height: 40 to 60 cm, in the back row or just in front of the trellis
- Sowing time: March to July
- Sowing depth: 1 cm
- Germination: 7 to 14 days at 10 to 25°C
- Time to harvest: from 12 weeks
- Sunlight: sun or partial shade
- Packet contents: 10 seeds, enough for five squares
What do you need to grow Baby broccoli?
Besides the seeds, you will need:
- one 30 x 30 cm square
- Makkelijke Moestuinmix or MM coconut mix
- a place with at least four hours of sunlight each day
How do you sow and grow Baby broccoli?
Baby broccoli is included in the free Makkelijke Moestuin app. Use it and you will get step-by-step guidance from seed to harvest.
Every vegetable goes through several stages, which we call levels.
The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and regularly asks you to check whether your plants are ready for the next one.
You do not need to know how to grow Baby broccoli successfully before you start.
Every vegetable goes through several stages, which we call levels.
The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and regularly asks you to check whether your plants are ready for the next one.
You do not need to know how to grow Baby broccoli successfully before you start.
Level 1: Sow Baby broccoli
Loosen and moisten the mix in a square in the third or back row, then sow as follows:
- make one hole in the centre, no deeper than 1 cm
- put two seeds in the hole
- gently close the hole
Depending on the weather and time of year, small seedlings will appear after 5 to 12 days.
Levels 2 and 3: Baby broccoli seedlings and thinning
As soon as the first seedling emerges, you know things are going well. The other seed will often follow soon.
A few days later, it is time for the next level. Keep the strongest seedling and ruthlessly cut the other away. It can be difficult to do, but it is necessary for the remaining plant to grow well.
A few days later, it is time for the next level. Keep the strongest seedling and ruthlessly cut the other away. It can be difficult to do, but it is necessary for the remaining plant to grow well.
Level 4: Caring for your Baby broccoli plant
After about three weeks, the seedling has become a small plant:
Keep caring for the plant: water it regularly and remove weeds, yellow leaves and dry leaves straight away.
Protect broccoli carefully from slugs, which love small brassica plants.
During butterfly season, almost everyone encounters the main enemy of brassicas: the cabbage white butterfly.
This charming white butterfly lays eggs on or under the leaves. They hatch into caterpillars that happily eat large holes in the plant.
Read more about cabbage whites and caterpillars here.
Fortunately, Baby broccoli is quite tough. Even after considerable damage, it will usually recover.
During butterfly season, almost everyone encounters the main enemy of brassicas: the cabbage white butterfly.
This charming white butterfly lays eggs on or under the leaves. They hatch into caterpillars that happily eat large holes in the plant.
Read more about cabbage whites and caterpillars here.
Fortunately, Baby broccoli is quite tough. Even after considerable damage, it will usually recover.
Level 5: Add support
The plant now grows quickly and, especially at first, may have trouble staying upright.
Give it some support if necessary, for example with a bamboo cane:
Give it some support if necessary, for example with a bamboo cane:
Level 6: Add plant food and watch for the first flower buds
Three weeks later, the plant is already much larger:
Look at the plant from above and you will see the beginning of your first harvest: the flower head.
The plant needs plenty of nutrients at this stage. Sprinkle two tablespoons of extra MM plant food around its base. This helps it produce plenty of new side shoots after the first harvest.
Levels 7 and 8: Harvesting Baby broccoli
Around 12 weeks after sowing, you can harvest the first main head. This one is the largest, measuring around 10 to 20 cm.
A broccoli head is a cluster of flower buds, so harvest it before the buds open.
Use a sharp knife to cut the main stem just below the head. Make the cut as smooth as possible to reduce the risk of the stem rotting.
A broccoli head is a cluster of flower buds, so harvest it before the buds open.
Use a sharp knife to cut the main stem just below the head. Make the cut as smooth as possible to reduce the risk of the stem rotting.
A few weeks later, side shoots appear with smaller flower heads. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10 to 15 cm long and, again, before they flower. Cut them close to the main stem. The shoots themselves are edible too.
Keep harvesting the side shoots and the plant will continue producing new ones well into October.
Keep harvesting the side shoots and the plant will continue producing new ones well into October.
How do you use Baby broccoli?
Use the first main head just like ordinary broccoli: boil it, steam it, stir-fry it, make soup, add it raw to green smoothies and more.
The side shoots are entirely edible too, including the small heads, stems and leaves. You can boil or steam them, but I like them best briefly stir-fried.
The side shoots are entirely edible too, including the small heads, stems and leaves. You can boil or steam them, but I like them best briefly stir-fried.
The plant keeps growing throughout the season and becomes quite large, so do not let it take up too much space.
Cut away some of the lower leaves if necessary. That will not harm it.
Cut away some of the lower leaves if necessary. That will not harm it.
Level 9: Harvest into October
Harvest the side shoots regularly: the more often you pick them, the more the plant produces.
You can keep the plant for a long time and, with a little luck, harvest well into October or even later.
Groenbietje shared this photograph with us in the community, although I cannot say whether the plant is outdoors or in a greenhouse:
You can keep the plant for a long time and, with a little luck, harvest well into October or even later.
Groenbietje shared this photograph with us in the community, although I cannot say whether the plant is outdoors or in a greenhouse:
So, what is stopping you from growing Baby broccoli?
It is an easy vegetable, gives you a long harvest and tastes delicious. With our materials and the app, it is almost impossible to fail.
Good luck!
