Summer broccoli Summer Purple is a special, attractive and colourful broccoli variety. It originates from England. This variety has been specially bred for summer and autumn cultivation. The small heads are purple and have dark green leaves and stems. The taste of this broccoli variety is very sweet and earthy. You can harvest this variety for a long time from June till October. It is a broccoli variety that doesn't produce a large head, but develops many small side shoots. This makes it a nice variety to grow in the vegetable garden. It can also be grown in the garden among the flowers. If you harvest this plant regularly, it will continue to produce side shoots. Never let the plants dry out. The colour of this variety turns green after cooking.
Broccoli is a very healthy and versatile vegetable. Broccoli contains vitamins C, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B11, A and E, as well as minerals such as manganese, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, zinc, iron, molybdenum and calcium. Broccoli also contains a lot of dietary fibre, the amino acid tryptophan and few calories and fat. You can boil, stir-fry, bake, roast, grill, deep-fry, steam or stew broccoli, or eat it raw as an appetiser, healthy snack or crudités. Try adding broccoli to soups, pasta sauces, pizzas and mixed vegetable dishes. Broccoli is delicious in combination with: cheese, garlic, pasta, onions, potatoes, olives, eggs, salmon, nuts, rice, basil, soy sauce, tuna, beef, pork, minced meat, oregano, apple, cod and vegetables such as: cauliflower, tomatoes, carrots, leeks, peppers, lettuce, courgettes, snow peas and green beans. Needs good, sturdy support. Hardy perennial. Height: 120 - 150 cm.
Outdoor sowing under glass: March - half June
Germination: 7 - 14 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 20 °C
Sowing depth: ½ - 1 cm
Outdoor planting: July - August
Distance between rows: 30 cm
Planting distance: 30 cm
Plant position: sunny - half shadow
Harvesting period: June - October
This are the sowing instructions for summer broccoli, also known as Baby Broccoli. Because broccoli is a type of cabbage, it needs good fertilisation, just like other types of cabbage. About 1 - 2 months before you want to sow, apply a generous amount of compost to the soil and dig it in well. Enrich the soil with some blood and bone meal 2 weeks before sowing.
Sowing outdoors under glass is possible from March to mid-June. Sow in separate pots filled with well-moistened potting soil. Sow thinly and cover the seeds with a small layer of soil. Broccoli is a light germinator. Place the pots in a warm, light spot. Keep the temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop, especially at night. Keep well moistened.
Plant the seedlings outdoors in the ground from early July to late August. Water regularly. Keep the soil around your plants free of weeds. Make sure the plants don't dry out and water them extra during dry periods. If necessary, fertilise your plants with cow manure or blood and bone meal. Provide sturdy support for the plants and tie them securely to prevent them from falling over in strong winds. Cover the plants well with netting to prevent birds from eating them. You can also make a cabbage collar around the young plants to prevent cabbage flies from laying their eggs at the base of the cabbage. The young larvae of this fly eat the roots of the plants. Snails can also cause damage.
Summer broccoli is a perennial and can be harvested in the year it is sown. From June till October. Broccoli can be stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for a few days. Replace old plants after about 5 years.
