Broccoli is such a rewarding vegetable to grow. A cool-season brassica crop, it is best planted in the cooler spring or autumn months – they produce bigger and tastier heads when exposed to cooler temperatures.

Sow directly or start in seed trays to give yourself a head start for an earlier plant-out in spring. Broccoli is a heavy feeder, so be sure to prepare your soil well, with lots of compost and organic matter.

Broccoli is best harvested when the heads are firm and tight, before they begin to loosen up. Once they begin to loosen, they tend to open and flower quite quickly, rendering them inedible. Most varieties will produce a larger, central head that is usually followed by smaller side florets, giving you an extended harvest over a number of weeks.