How To Sow & Grow Brassicas

Growing brassicas in the UK can be a lot of fun, they are very hardy and many can be grown over the Winter to give you a delicious early, home-grown crop but don't forget to hang a scarecrow to keep the pigeons away.

Spring Sprouting Broccoli

Sow in seed trays April-May. Pot on seedlings before planting out. Set out when hardened off and large enough to handle, 2 feet (60 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Harvest from February-May the following year.

Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Sow indoors February to March, outside March to June. Lightly cover the sown seed and keep damp. Pot on seedlings before planting out. Set out when hardened off and large enough to handle. Plant 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Harvest June to October. Reaches approximately 3 feet (90 cm) tall by 2 feet (60 cm) wide.

Brussels Sprouts

Sow April to May thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart, or sow into trays or modules. Sow ¾"(2 cm) deep.
Set out when large enough 2 feet (60 cm) by 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Plant firmly, and in windy areas consider staking.
Use netting to protect against pigeons, and to combat the dreaded Cabbage White butterfly, inspect your crop regularly, spray with our BioFriend Plant Defence or use a physical barrier such as insect netting.

Cabbage

For Early Cropping

Sow under protection in trays February to March. Set out when large enough, and fully hardened off, 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 24" (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately June-September.

For Main Cropping

Sow from March to May thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough 24" (60 cm) apart in rows 24" (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately August-October.

For Winter Cropping

Sow May to June thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough 24" (60 cm) apart in rows 24" (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately November-March.

For Over-wintering

Sow August to September thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 24" (60 cm) apart under protection - greenhouse, polytunnel or cloche. Harvest approximately February (as spring greens)-May.

Do not overfeed winter crops as this makes them more susceptible to frost damage. Use netting to protect against pigeons. To combat the dreaded Cabbage White butterfly, inspect your crop regularly, spray with our BioFriend Plant Defence or use a physical barrier such as insect netting.

Calabrese (Broccoli)

Sow in seed trays from early March until July. Pot on seedlings before planting out. Set out, when hardened off and large enough to handle, 2 feet (60 cm) apart in rows 2½ ft (60 cm) apart. Harvest from June-November.

Cauliflower

For Early Cropping

Sow under protection in trays February to March. Set out when large enough, and fully hardened off, 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately June-September.

For Main Cropping

Sow from March to May thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough to handle 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately August-October.

For Winter Cropping

Sow May to June thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough to handle 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart. Harvest approximately December-March.

For Over-Wintering

Sow August to September thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots. Set out when large enough 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm) apart under protection- greenhouse, polytunnel or cloche. Harvest approximately May-June.

Bend leaves over the developing head to protect from sun during the summer and frost in the winter. Do not overfeed winter crops as this makes them more susceptible to frost damage. Use netting to protect against pigeons. To combat the dreaded Cabbage White butterfly, inspect your crop regularly, spray with our BioFriend Plant Defence or use a physical barrier such as insect netting.

Cut-and-Come-Again Cauliflower

This cauliflower can be planted out any time of year unless the ground is frozen. Plant 3 feet (90 cm) apart in a rich soil. The principal cropping season is early spring. It can take up to 10 months before plants produce fully rounded caulis - the 'sprouting' they produce meantime can of course be eaten! Trim back the plant a little with shears after cropping to encourage new growth once the plants start getting huge! (i.e. cut off about 18" (45 cm) of foliage). To suppress weed growth and to encourage good root growth mulch with good organic compost. Do not overfeed winter crops as this makes them more susceptible to frost damage. Use netting to protect against pigeons. To combat the dreaded Cabbage White butterfly, inspect your crop regularly, spray with our BioFriend Plant Defence or use a physical barrier such as insect netting.

Chinese Broccoli (Kai-lan)

Sow thinly April - September in drills ¾" (2 cm) deep in rows 12" (30 cm) apart, or sprinkle thinly in containers. For use as a cut-and-come-again leaf crop thin to 4" (10 cm) apart. For eating 'whole' thin to 12" (30 cm), and remember to eat the thinnings! For overwintering crops sow under protection, in the same manner, from August-mid October.

Kale

Sow ¾" (2 cm) deep in modules or small pots from March-June. When large enough to handle plant out 2 feet (60 cm) apart in rows 2 feet (60 cm), unless you are planning to grow as a cut-and-come-again crop in which case you can plant as close as 4" (10 cm) apart in the row. Harvest in late autumn-early spring.

Kohl Rabi

The best crops are achieved in alkaline soils, so lime ground before sowing/planting if necessary. Avoid sowing or planting outside until temperature is above 50°F (10°C) to prevent bolting. Ensure plants are kept well watered as if they dry out they can become woody.

For Early Crops

Sow in modules or small pots 1" (2.5 cm) deep in March-April, germinate and grow on under protection. Plant out when large enough to handle 9" (23 cm) in rows 12" (30 cm) apart.

For Later Crops

When ground has warmed up sow thinly in rows 12" (30 cm) apart and ½" (1 cm) deep. Thin to 9" (23 cm) apart when large enough to handle.

Savoy Cabbage

Sow from April to May thinly in rows 6" (15 cm) apart. Sow in ½" (1 cm) deep drills. Thin to one seedling per 3" (7.5 cm) or transplant into suitable pots.
Set out when large enough 18" (45 cm) apart in rows 18" (45 cm) apart. Harvest approximately November-February. Savoy cabbages grow well in a rich soil, but too rich a soil or overfeeding will make them less hardy and more susceptible to frost damage. Use netting to protect against pigeons, and to combat the dreaded Cabbage White butterfly, inspect your crop regularly, spray with our BioFriend Plant Defence or use a physical barrier such as insect netting.

Walking Stick Cabbage

Also known as Giant Jersey Kale, this likes a sunny position in well-drained, fertile soil, though it will tolerate some shade. Sow during the spring, and plant out when large enough to handle, 4 feet (1.2 metres) x 2½ feet (75 cm) apart. It can reach 10 feet (3 metres) in height, though 4-5 feet (1.2-1.5 metres) is more normal. It flowers from May-August, and both flowers and leaves are edible.

Please note that all brassicas are suspectable to cabbage white butterflies. The 'friendlies' way to deal with this is to remove the caterpillars or insect-net the crop (but beware - the butterflies are very clever at laying their eggs through the nets!). You can also water the foliage with our BioFriend Plant Defence to deter them. And watch out for pigeons. We have found that hanging CDs or scarecrows with 'dangling bits' helps to frighten them off.