How to Grow Purple Broccoli in the Garden: Complete Guide

Hello Agrohuerters, today more and more vegetables are being consumed, which years ago were hardly known. An example of this among others are parsnip, rhubarb, black garlic or purple broccoli.

what is purple broccoli

Today we are going to talk about purple broccoli and everything you need to know about it. Purple broccoli is also known as purple asparagus broccoli. It belongs to the cruciferous family, which is the same as Italian or green broccoli (the one we commonly consume) or cauliflower.

It is a vegetable that comes from the United Kingdom, where it is known as “ purple sprouting broccoli ”, in this country it is very common to find it in supermarkets. Now it wants to gain a foothold in the other cuisines of the world, and why can’t we also include it in our organic garden.

How to grow purple broccoli

To grow purple broccoli, follow these steps:

Sowing

It can be done in seedbeds, the seed is placed in the substrate, it is buried a few millimeters and then it is watered. Once the plant has grown about 10 cm and we have it inside the house even until the transplant, care must be taken to give light to the small plant, because otherwise the stem will grow much and very fine, which due to the heat it receives inside the house and the lack of sun.

Once the plant has reached about 20 cm, it can be transplanted into the final container. The optimal distance between plants is about 60 cm, because when they are adults they will have a considerable size, and between rows of plants it is recommended to leave about 75 cm.

If you want to have it in a gardener, it is recommended that it be of a large size, being important that it has a depth of approximately 60 cm. Sowing is done in the spring.

I usually

It needs a soil that is very rich in nutrients, so before transplanting or sowing it, the substrate or soil must be fertilized. This type of plant does very well in general with green manures. The pH that it needs for its good growth is between 6.5 -7, slightly acidic to neutral. It is recommended that the soil is not very clayey, but rather loose and that it has good drainage.

Climate

Purple broccoli is very important to be located in a place where it is exposed to the sun, it is one of the greatest demands that this plant has. It is necessary to protect it from the wind, since it damages it a lot. Its natural climate is that of the United Kingdom, where the winters are very cold and the summers cool, and in general the rains are very abundant throughout the year. But some varieties may be better adapted to somewhat warmer climates.

Irrigation

It is necessary to maintain a certain humidity in the substrate or soil, therefore on very hot days it will be necessary to water more than once a day. It is important not to waterlog the soil. Padding or mulching can be placed to keep moisture in the soil.

Harvest

If we have sown in spring, the harvest will be obtained at the end of winter and beginning of the following spring, this also depends on the varieties that have been cultivated. The shoots must be collected before flowering, it is recommended that they are about 15 cm long. If they are cut regularly, it will encourage the appearance of new shoots. If the buds that are blooming are not removed, the plant will stop producing new buds.

Broccoli pests and diseases

Purple broccoli tends to suffer from the same diseases and pests as cabbage. Special care must be taken with the cabbage fly, because it is especially susceptible to this pest.

Properties of purple broccoli

It is high in vitamin B and C, it is a great source of calcium and iron. It is highly recommended in diets with low calorie content.

As far as its flavor is concerned, I personally have not tried it yet, but they say it is very mild and reminiscent of broccoli but the texture is more similar to that of asparagus. There are numerous recipes that can be made with this vegetable, in addition to taking it in the simplest ways, such as grilled or cooked. Of course it is very decorative both for the kitchen and in the garden.

In general, purple broccoli is still a fairly unknown plant in our country, perhaps over time its consumption will increase. Agrohuerters you can tell us in the comments if you already knew this type of broccoli or what you think.

Regards and until next time!