When to plant Broccolini in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Raise broccolini as seedlings and transplant, sowing from September to November for spring or January to April for an autumn and winter crop. Seed strikes quickly, in 5–10 days at 5 mm deep, and the plants are ready to cut in 60–90 days. Set hardened-off seedlings 30–40 cm apart in rows 40–50 cm apart. A cross between broccoli and Chinese kale, broccolini produces slim, sweet stems with small florets over an extended picking window. In temperate gardens around Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth the cool-weather autumn sowings give the steadiest, mildest-flavoured crop.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to April.
Growing notes
Broccolini is a generous, cut-and-come-again brassica that suits the mild temperate calendar. Autumn sowings from January to April are the pick of the season, maturing into cool weather that keeps the stems sweet and slows any tendency to bolt. Spring sowings crop faster but risk running into early summer heat around Perth and inland Adelaide, which pushes plants to flower prematurely.
Cabbage white butterfly is the standout problem. Broccolini is a prime target, so net the bed with fine exclusion mesh from transplanting and keep it on until harvest — caterpillars quickly reduce the tender shoots to lace. The netting doubles as protection against cabbage aphids, which cluster in the florets and are almost impossible to rinse out.
Grow it hard and fast on rich, moist soil. Broccolini is hungry: dig in compost before planting, mulch well, and give a fortnightly liquid feed to keep the stems slim and tender rather than woody. Uneven watering is the other common fault, producing tough, hollow stems, so keep moisture steady. Harvest the main stem when the buds are still tight; this triggers a flush of side shoots you can pick every few days for a month or more. The more you cut, the longer it crops.
Broccolini at a glance
| Sowing depth | 5 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 30-40 cm |
| Row spacing | 40-50 cm |
| Germination | 5-10 days |
| Days to maturity | 60-90 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Plant Seedlings |
Common questions
- When should I sow broccolini in Perth?
- Sow from January to April for an autumn and winter crop that matures in cool, mild weather, or September to November for spring. In Perth the autumn window is best, as spring plantings often run into early heat and bolt. Raise seedlings and transplant them out once hardened off.
- How long does broccolini take to grow from seedling?
- Broccolini is ready to start cutting in about 60–90 days from sowing, with seed germinating in 5–10 days. Harvest the central stem first, then pick the side shoots that follow over the next month. Regular picking extends the crop.
- Do I need to net my broccolini?
- Yes. Broccolini is a favourite of the cabbage white butterfly, so cover it with fine exclusion netting from transplanting to keep moths from laying eggs. Netting also blocks cabbage aphids that hide in the florets and are hard to wash out.
- Why are my broccolini stems tough and woody?
- Woody stems come from heat stress, uneven watering or letting the buds open before cutting. Keep the soil evenly moist and mulched, feed regularly, and harvest while the florets are still tight and green. Autumn crops in cool weather are naturally more tender.
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