PURPLE SPROUTING BROCCOLI (CERTIFIED ORGANIC)

A cool-season perennial broccoli, grown for its tender purple shoots, flavorful leaves, and edible yellow flowers. An abundant spring harvest from an autumn planting.

Description

Purple Sprouting Broccoli is a hardy variety designed to be sown in summer, overwinter in the garden, and provide a generous harvest from April. Its purple shoots have a sweet, slightly nutty flavor, and both its leaves and flowers are entirely edible.

It fills the "hungry gap" in spring when fresh vegetables are scarce, bringing color, texture, and nutrition to the vegetable garden.

Where to grow Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Suited to zones 3 to 9, it prefers full sun, fertile, well-drained soil, and a location sheltered from winter winds. Ideal for spacious beds and well-ventilated gardens.

History & traditional uses

Developed in the UK for cool, maritime climates, this broccoli has long been appreciated for its reliability and spring productivity. Cultivated throughout Northern Europe, it is now gaining popularity in coastal regions of Canada. Rich in vitamins C and K, it is entirely edible.

Information for Canadian climate

• Zones 8-9: outdoor sowing in August for spring harvest.
• Zones 5-7: indoor sowing in mid-summer; transplanting in early autumn; winter mulching recommended.
• Zones 3-4: cultivation under protection or as a spring crop.

How to grow and harvest Purple Sprouting Broccoli

• Sowing: in summer, 0.5–1 cm deep; spacing of 45–60 cm.
• Watering: maintain constant moisture during autumn establishment.
• Harvesting: harvest purple shoots from early spring; leaves can be harvested at any time.
• Care: mulch in autumn; remove yellowed leaves; protect from extreme cold.

Tips for saving your seeds

• Allow plants to go to seed in the second year.
• Harvest brown, dry pods before they burst.
• Clean, dry, and store in a cool, dry place.
• Seeds viable for 4 to 5 years.

Organic certification

Certified Organic by: Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)