When to Plant Broccoli in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Sow February to July. Right now in October it is out of season. The next sowing month is February.

Planting window
Autumn and early winter plantings are the most reliable, heading through the cool months. Late plantings run into spring heat and bolt.
Days to harvest
about 11 weeks
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours). Tolerates partial afternoon shade in warmer zones.
Water needs
Consistent deep watering 2-3 times weekly. Brassicas are shallow-rooted and stress...
Spacing
45cm apart, 60cm between rows
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Shop price
$6.50/kg average

Published · Last reviewed · By GardenBuddy.au
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Broccoli guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Broccoli

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Broccoli is a cool-season brassica that produces a large central head followed by smaller side-shoots over several weeks. It is one of the most nutritious vegetables available and grows well across most Australian zones during the cooler months. The key to success is timing (avoiding heat-induced bolting) and managing the ever-present Cabbage White Butterfly.

See what grows now in your own postcode

Planting Calendar for Subtropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- S S/T S/T S/T S/T T - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.2°C (optimal range: 10–30°C) ✓ Ready to plant

That figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 7:55 this morning, not a model.

What this month normally looks like

In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.

How to Grow Broccoli in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

Autumn and early winter plantings are the most reliable, heading through the cool months. Late plantings run into spring heat and bolt.

Soil
Rich, moisture-retentive loam with plenty of compost and well-rotted manure. Firm soil preferred. Brassicas dislike loose, fluffy beds.
pH Range
6.0-7.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours). Tolerates partial afternoon shade in warmer zones.
Spacing
45cm apart, 60cm between rows
Watering
Consistent deep watering 2-3 times weekly. Brassicas are shallow-rooted and stress quickly in dry conditions. Inconsistent watering causes hollow stems and poor head formation. Drip irrigation or...

Companion plants: Celery, Onion, Chamomile, Dill, Rosemary, Sage

Avoid planting near: Strawberry, Tomato, Capsicum, Other brassicas (rotation)

Grow before, grow after

Broccoli belongs with the brassicas, the leafy greens and brassicas turn of a four turn bed rotation.

Grow before it
Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
Grow after it
Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)

Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.

Subtropical Growing Tips for Broccoli

Recommended Varieties

  • Green Magic
  • De Cicco (side-shoot producer)
  • Belstar
  • Waltham 29
  • Purple Sprouting

Key Challenges

  • Warm autumn can cause bolting in early plantings
  • Cabbage White pressure very high
  • Humidity-driven diseases

Pro Tips

  • De Cicco and Purple Sprouting types give extended side-shoot harvests
  • Net every single plant from transplant day
  • Time main planting for harvest in June-August (coolest months)

Harvesting Broccoli

When ready: Central head should be 10-15cm diameter with tight, dark green buds. Harvest BEFORE any yellow flowers appear. Individual buds should be compact and firm, not swollen or loose.

How to harvest: Cut main head with 10-15cm of stem attached using a sharp knife, cutting at an angle to shed water from the cut surface. LEAVE THE PLANT IN THE GROUND - side shoots will develop from leaf axils and produce smaller broccoli heads for 4-8 weeks after main head harvest.

Where to next

What broccoli costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the subtropical zone this October: Lemongrass, Sweet Corn, Dwarf Beans (Bush) and Ginger.

The pest most likely to find your broccoli: Cabbage White Butterfly.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $6.50/kg (12-month range: $2.99–$7.90)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Broccoli

When do you plant broccoli in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does broccoli grow all year round in Brisbane?

No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Feb to Jul. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.