How to grow Italian Sprouting Broccoli

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Broccoli Italian Sprouting seeds yield an abundance of tender flavourful florist on long, slender stalks, making it a sought-after variety for its super delicious taste and extended harvesting period

Background

Sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica) is a type of broccoli that is grown not for its big single head, but for its abundant edible sprouts. A member of the mustard family, Sprouting Broccoli is derived from the wild mustards that grow prolifically around coastal Europe Native. Mustards have been cultivated for over 8000 years, with  The ancient romans cultivated it 1000s of years ago,The name Broccoli means “Bucktooth” in latin, most likely a colloquial term referring to the broccoli’s projecting shoots But it took a surprisingly long time to spread to the rest of the world. It wasn’t recorded in England until 1720, where it was known as Italian Asparagus, and it was first recorded in America another 100 years after that

Health Benefits

Turns out your parents were onto something all those years ago, Broccoli is good for you! It’s jam packed with vitamins, minerals and fibre! Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, that protects from chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's  Potassium, which regulates blood pressure protecting against heart disease and stroke. Folate, a B vitamin that is important for cell growth and development.  Dietary fibre, which we all know  is important for digestive health. 

Growing Tips and Tricks

Location: Sprouting broccoli likes to grow in  full sun and well-drained soil. So choose a spot that gets at least 6 hours of sunshine. They can be grown in the ground or  in containers Watering: Sprouting broccoli needs to be watered regularly, but be careful not to overwater. The soil should be moist, but not soggy.

Pests and Diseases

Leaves getting eaten? Sounds like cabbage moths! Ways to prevent this is with insect excluding mesh, making sure that you’re not growing over the warmer months and keeping your plants nice and healthy. Fluffy mass under the leaves, with discoloured spots on top? Sounds like downy mildew. You can treat it with an organic copper fungicide. Make sure that you allow plenty of space for light and airflow between plants and avoid too much overhead watering Harvest: Sprouting broccoli are ready to harvest around 60 days after planting. To harvest, begin with the central stem as this will encourage more sprouts to grow out the sides. Harvest stems when buds are formed but before they open into flower. Regular picking will extend your harvest!

Culinary Options

So much more versatile than traditional broccoli, the crisp tasty sprouts lend themselves to steaming, roasting, frying or even eating fresh, straight from the garden Here are some recipes that use sprouting broccoli: Fried up with some eggs and a piece of toasted sourdough as a delicious breakfast Fried with garlic, butter and lemon juice as a delicious side for a roast. Steamed, lightly dressed with some olive oil and dipped into hommus