Leafy & brassicas
Broccoli
Flower heads picked before their buds open.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · Oct-Mar
Core months: January, February, March, October, November, December
Temperate
Sow · Sep-Apr
Core months: January, February, March, April, September, October, November, December
Subtropical
Sow · Mar-Jun
Core months: March, April, May, June
Possible / shoulder months: February, July
Tropical
Sow · Mar-Jun
Core months: March, April, May, June
Arid
Sow · Feb-Jul
Core months: February, March, April, May, June, July
Getting started
Start seed in trays or a seedbed, then move sturdy seedlings into their growing positions. Direct sowing is also possible where conditions suit.
The right conditions
Give plants a sunny site, fertile soil and reliable moisture. Variety matters: heading broccoli and sprouting types do not all develop on the same schedule.
As it grows
Keep growth steady with watering in dry weather and adequate space. Check leaves for caterpillars and damage. Avoid letting young plants become crowded or dry out.
Ready to harvest
Cut heads or shoots while the buds are tightly closed, before yellow flowers open. Many types produce smaller side shoots after the first head is cut.
Plant guidance: Desk-reviewed against linked sources; not field-tested. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.