VerdurasCrucíferasPrincipiante

Brócoli de Brotes

Brassica oleracea var. italica

De un vistazo

Luz solarSol completo (6-8h+)

Necesidad de aguaMedia (humedad uniforme)

Tolerancia a heladasRústica (soporta heladas)

Días hasta madurez180 días

Espaciado de plantas60cm (24″)

Zonas de rusticidadZone 5–9

DificultadPrincipiante

Rendimiento esperado1-2 kg

El brócoli de brotes o sprouting (Brassica oleracea var. italica) difiere del brócoli de cabeza única al producir múltiples brotes laterales pequeños durante un periodo prolongado en lugar de una sola inflorescencia grande. Especialmente popular en el Reino Unido con la variedad Purple Sprouting, es una verdura de invierno y primavera que proporciona cosechas durante semanas cuando poco más crece en el huerto.

Calendario de plantación y cosecha

Ene

Feb

Mar

Abr

May

Jun

Jul

Ago

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dic

SiembraCosechaMes actual180 días hasta la madurez

Etapas de crecimiento

De la semilla a la cosecha

Siembra

Las semillas germinan con facilidad en condiciones frescas, produciendo plántulas firmes con cotiledones redondeados en 7-14 días. El brócoli de brotes suele sembrarse a finales de primavera o a comienzos del verano para cosecharlo al final del invierno y en primavera siguiente; este ciclo largo es lo que lo hace único entre las brassicas.

💡 Consejo de cuidado

Siembra las semillas a 1 cm de profundidad en módulos o bandejas de semillero con un sustrato de calidad para siembra. Mantén temperaturas de 15-20 °C para una germinación óptima. Evita sembrar demasiado pronto: de mediados de abril a mediados de junio es lo ideal para la mayoría de los climas templados.

Young sprouting broccoli seedling with broad blue-green cotyledon leaves

Sprouting broccoli seedlings develop sturdy stems early, hinting at the robust plant to come

Calendario de cuidado mensual

Qué hacer cada mes para tu Brócoli de Brotes

Mayo

Mes actual

Sow seeds for next year's crop from mid-May onwards. Sow in modules or a nursery bed, 1 cm deep. Remove spent plants from the garden once they finish producing, chop up the woody stems, and add to the compost heap. Prepare the bed for the next crop.

¿Sabías que?

Datos fascinantes sobre Brócoli de Brotes

Sprouting broccoli occupies the garden longer than almost any other vegetable — up to 11 months from sowing to final harvest — making it the ultimate test of gardening patience, but those first sweet spears in February make every month of waiting worthwhile.

Siembre en interiores o semillero en primavera-verano (mayo-julio), 8-10 semanas antes del trasplante. Plante a 1 cm de profundidad a 18-22 °C para germinación en 5-10 días. Las plántulas necesitan buena iluminación para no ahilarse.

Trasplante en verano, espaciando 60-75 cm entre plantas y 75-90 cm entre filas, ya que las plantas son grandes y necesitan mucho espacio. Las plantas crecen durante el otoño y el invierno, necesitando un periodo de frío para formar los brotes florales en primavera. Riegue regularmente y aplique tutores, ya que los tallos son altos.

Fertilice con abono rico en nitrógeno durante el otoño para promover un crecimiento vegetativo fuerte antes del invierno. Aplique acolchado para proteger las raíces del frío extremo. Los brotes aparecen a finales de invierno y se cosechan durante 6-8 semanas.

Row of tall sprouting broccoli plants in a well-tended vegetable garden

Sprouting broccoli plants grow 60-90 cm tall and need staking in exposed or windy sites

Sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) traces its ancestry to wild cabbage plants growing along the rocky Mediterranean coastline, particularly in southern Italy, where selective breeding by Roman and pre-Roman farmers gradually developed various headed and sprouting forms. The Romans cultivated an early form of sprouting broccoli and valued it highly — the naturalist Pliny the Elder described it in the 1st century AD. Italian gardeners refined sprouting broccoli varieties throughout the Middle Ages, developing both purple and white forms that produced numerous small flowering shoots rather than a single large head.

Sprouting broccoli arrived in Britain by the early 18th century, with records of its cultivation appearing in gardening literature from the 1720s. It became a valued winter and early spring vegetable in British kitchen gardens because it filled the notorious 'hungry gap' — the period from late February to April when stored winter vegetables were exhausted and new spring crops had not yet matured. For over 200 years, sprouting broccoli was simply called 'broccoli' in British English, and it remains more popular than calabrese (heading broccoli) in many British allotments and kitchen gardens today.

The 20th century saw calabrese (large-headed broccoli) overtake sprouting broccoli in commercial importance due to its shorter growing season and easier mechanical harvesting. However, sprouting broccoli has experienced a dramatic revival since the 1990s, driven by recognition of its superior flavour, its value as a seasonal delicacy, and growing interest in heritage and heirloom vegetables. Modern cultivars like Early Purple Sprouting and Red Fire have been bred for improved cold-hardiness, disease resistance, and more concentrated harvest periods, making sprouting broccoli more reliable and accessible to home gardeners than ever before.

Siembre en semillero en mayo-julio a 1 cm de profundidad. Germinación en 5-10 días a 18-22 °C. Trasplante cuando tengan 4-6 hojas verdaderas, enterrando hasta las primeras hojas para estabilidad. El cultivo tarda 9-12 meses desde siembra hasta cosecha.

Suelos fértiles, profundos y firmes con pH 6,5-7,5. Enmiende con compost y cal si es necesario. Fertilice con nitrógeno en otoño para promover crecimiento antes del invierno. Las plantas son grandes y necesitan nutrición abundante.

Ideal (zonas 5-9)Invernadero / protección necesariaNo recomendado

Verifica Tu Zona

Verifica si Brócoli de Brotes es adecuado para tu ubicación.

7°C – 20°C

45°F – 68°F

0°C15°C30°C45°C

Sprouting broccoli is a cool-season brassica that thrives in mild temperatures of 7-20°C (45-68°F). Established plants are remarkably cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures down to -12°C (10°F) without damage. Light frosts actually improve flavour by triggering sugar production in the spears. Growth slows below 5°C (41°F) but the plant survives. Temperatures above 25°C (77°F) during spear production cause premature bolting and bitter-tasting florets. The plant performs best in climates with cool, mild winters and gradual spring warming.

Problemas comunes que afectan a Brócoli de Brotes y cómo prevenirlos y tratarlos de forma orgánica.

Las plantas necesitan mucho espacio y tiempo (9-12 meses de siembra a cosecha). Los vientos fuertes pueden volcar las plantas altas; use tutores. La paloma torcaz puede devastar el cultivo en invierno si no está protegido con malla. El espigado prematuro ocurre si el periodo de frío es insuficiente.

Brócoli de Brotes

Crece bien con

Mantener alejado de

Crece bien junto a cebollas, apio y hierbas aromáticas como romero y salvia que repelen plagas de brassicas. Las capuchinas atraen pulgones lejos del brócoli. Evite plantar junto a fresas y tomates.

1Timing is everything with sprouting broccoli. Sow too early and plants bolt before winter; sow too late and they will not be large enough to survive cold weather. Mid-April to mid-June is the reliable sowing window for most temperate climates, aiming for transplants in the ground by mid-July.
2Firm soil is critical for all brassicas. After transplanting, press the soil firmly around each plant with your boot — if you can pull a leaf and the plant lifts out, it is not firm enough. Loose soil leads to wind-rock, which damages roots and kills plants in winter.
3Net against pigeons from the moment you transplant. Wood pigeons can strip a sprouting broccoli plant to bare stems in a single afternoon. Use 50mm mesh netting supported on hoops high enough that birds cannot press through to reach the leaves.
4Stake every plant by late summer. Sprouting broccoli grows tall and top-heavy, and autumn gales can snap stems or rock the root system loose. A sturdy 90 cm cane per plant, secured with soft twine, prevents catastrophic losses.
5Feed generously through summer and early autumn with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser like pelleted chicken manure or blood meal every 3-4 weeks. The plant needs to build substantial reserves before winter to fuel spring spear production. Stop feeding by late October.
6Always cut the central spear first, even if side shoots appear simultaneously. Removing the dominant central growing point triggers a hormonal response that stimulates profuse branching, dramatically increasing total yield over the harvest period.
7Harvest spears in the morning when they are cool and turgid. Use a sharp knife to cut stems 10-15 cm long, just above a leaf joint. Never rip or tear spears as this damages the plant and creates entry points for disease.
8Grow both early and late varieties to extend the harvest window from February through April. Early Purple Sprouting produces from late February, while late varieties like Claret or Cardinal carry the harvest into late April and beyond.

Coseche los brotes cuando midan 10-15 cm de largo con las flores aún cerradas y compactas, cortando con un cuchillo afilado dejando algunos centímetros de tallo. Coseche primero el brote central y luego los laterales durante las siguientes 6-8 semanas. No deje que las flores se abran.

Purple sprouting broccoli spears with small florets emerging from leaf axils

The prized spears emerge from side shoots in late winter, each topped with a cluster of tiny florets

Los brotes frescos se conservan en refrigerador 3-5 días en bolsa perforada. Para conservación, escalde 2-3 minutos, enfríe en agua helada y congele en bolsas herméticas hasta 12 meses. Se pueden encurtir en vinagre.

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Información nutricional

Por porción de 100g

Calorías

Vitamina C89mg (99% DV)

Vitamina A623 IU (12% DV)

Potasio316mg (9% DV)

Fibra2.6g (10% DV)

Beneficios para la salud

Exceptionally rich in vitamin C — 100g of sprouting broccoli provides nearly 100% of the daily value, making it one of the best vegetable sources of this essential antioxidant
Contains sulforaphane, a powerful phytochemical produced when the plant tissue is cut or chewed, which has been extensively studied for its potential anti-cancer properties
Good source of vitamin K, essential for blood clotting and bone health — 100g provides roughly 100 micrograms, meeting the daily requirement for most adults
Rich in folate (B9), providing approximately 16% of the daily value per 100g, supporting cell division and DNA synthesis
Contains iron (0.7mg per 100g) alongside vitamin C which dramatically enhances non-heme iron absorption — an important combination for plant-based diets
Purple sprouting varieties contain anthocyanins, the same powerful antioxidant pigments found in blueberries and red cabbage, providing additional anti-inflammatory benefits

💰 ¿Por qué cultivar tus propios?

Sprouting broccoli commands premium prices at farmers markets and specialty grocers, typically $6-10 per bunch during its short late-winter season. A single plant grown from a $2-3 pack of seeds can produce the equivalent of 6-10 market bunches over its harvest period, representing $35-100 in value. Growing 4-6 plants provides abundant harvests for a family throughout the hungry gap when other fresh garden produce is scarce, reducing reliance on expensive imported vegetables during the leanest months.

Recetas rápidas

Recetas sencillas con Brócoli de Brotes frescos

Garlic and Chilli Sprouting Broccoli

10 min

The simplest and most celebrated way to serve sprouting broccoli — quickly sauteed in olive oil with sliced garlic and a kick of red chilli. The tender spears need only minutes of cooking to bring out their sweet, nutty flavour.

Charred Sprouting Broccoli with Lemon and Almonds

20 min

High-heat roasting transforms sprouting broccoli into something extraordinary — the tips crisp up and caramelise while the stems stay tender. Toasted almonds add crunch and lemon zest brings brightness.

Sprouting Broccoli and Anchovy Orecchiette

25 min

A rustic Italian-inspired pasta dish where melted anchovies create a savoury umami base that perfectly complements the sweet brassica spears. The floret tips break apart into the sauce, coating every piece of pasta.

Sauteed purple sprouting broccoli with garlic and chilli flakes on a white plate

Simply sauteed with garlic and olive oil — the classic way to enjoy the first spears of spring

Calculadora de Rendimiento y Espaciado

Vea cuántas plantas de Brócoli de Brotes caben en su cama de jardín basándose en el espaciado recomendado de 60cm.

Brócoli de Brotes plantas en una cama de 4×4 ft

2 columnas × 2 filas a 60cm de espaciado

Variedades populares

Algunas de las variedades de brócoli de brotes más populares para jardineros caseros, cada una con características únicas.

Purple Sprouting Early

Variedad clásica británica con brotes morados tiernos. Madura de enero a marzo. Sabor dulce y ligeramente a nuez.

Purple Sprouting Late

Madura de marzo a mayo, extendiendo la temporada. Brotes morados abundantes y sabor excelente.

White Sprouting

Variedad con brotes blancos más suaves en sabor que los morados. Madura en primavera. Menos común pero delicada.

Santee F1

Variedad moderna con brotes morados más uniformes y precoces. Buena resistencia a enfermedades. Cosecha desde diciembre.

Los brotes de brócoli son exquisitos al vapor con mantequilla y limón, salteados con ajo y aceite de oliva, o gratinados con queso. Son más dulces y tiernos que el brócoli de cabeza. Se añaden a pasta, risottos y quiches. Los brotes morados pierden su color al cocinar.

¿Cuándo debo plantar Brócoli de Brotes?

Planta Brócoli de Brotes en Julio, Agosto, Septiembre. Toma aproximadamente 180 días para madurar, con cosecha típicamente en Febrero, Marzo, Abril.

¿Cuáles son buenas plantas acompañantes para Brócoli de Brotes?

Brócoli de Brotes crece bien junto a Apio, Cebolla, Eneldo. El cultivo acompañante puede mejorar el crecimiento, sabor y control natural de plagas.

¿En qué zonas de rusticidad puede crecer Brócoli de Brotes?

Brócoli de Brotes prospera en zonas de rusticidad USDA 5 a 9. Con protección de invernadero, puede cultivarse en zonas 3 a 10.

¿Cuánto sol necesita Brócoli de Brotes?

Brócoli de Brotes requiere Sol completo (6-8h+). Esto significa al menos 6-8 horas de luz solar directa diaria.

¿A qué distancia debo espaciar Brócoli de Brotes?

Espacia las plantas de Brócoli de Brotes a 60cm (24 pulgadas) para crecimiento óptimo y circulación de aire.

¿Qué plagas y enfermedades afectan a Brócoli de Brotes?

Los problemas comunes incluyen Oruga de la col (Pieris brassicae), Hernia de crucíferas (Plasmodiophora brassicae), Pulgón ceroso de la col (Brevicoryne brassicae). La prevención a través de buenas prácticas de jardinería como rotación de cultivos, espaciado adecuado y cultivo acompañante es el mejor enfoque. Consulta la sección de plagas y enfermedades para más detalles.

¿Cómo almaceno Brócoli de Brotes después de la cosecha?

¿Cuáles son las mejores variedades de Brócoli de Brotes para cultivar?

Las variedades populares incluyen Purple Sprouting Early, Purple Sprouting Late, White Sprouting, Santee F1. Cada una tiene características únicas adaptadas a diferentes condiciones de cultivo y preferencias culinarias. Consulta la sección de variedades para descripciones detalladas.

¿Qué suelo necesita Brócoli de Brotes?

Why does sprouting broccoli take so long to grow?

Sprouting broccoli requires a long vegetative growth phase followed by a cold period (vernalisation) before it will produce flowering spears. The plant needs to reach a substantial size by autumn, then experience several weeks of temperatures below 10°C (50°F) to trigger the switch from leaf to flower production. This is not a design flaw — it is an evolutionary adaptation that ensures the plant flowers in early spring when pollinators are active. The long wait is rewarded by harvests during the 'hungry gap' when little else is available fresh from the garden.

What is the difference between purple and white sprouting broccoli?

Purple sprouting broccoli produces violet-tinged spears coloured by anthocyanin pigments, while white sprouting broccoli produces pale green to cream-coloured spears. Purple varieties are generally hardier, more vigorous, and more commonly grown. White sprouting broccoli has a slightly milder, more delicate flavour but is less cold-tolerant and can be harder to find as seed. Both types turn green when cooked. Purple varieties offer the additional nutritional benefit of anthocyanin antioxidants.

Can I grow sprouting broccoli in a warm climate?

Sprouting broccoli requires a period of cold temperatures (vernalisation) below 10°C (50°F) for several weeks to trigger spear production. In warm climates without reliable cold winters (USDA zones 9 and above), the plant may never produce spears and will eventually bolt to flower erratically. If you live in a mild climate, try growing it as a late autumn-sown crop that matures through the coolest months, or choose calabrese (heading broccoli) instead, which does not require vernalisation.

My sprouting broccoli flowered yellow before I could harvest — what happened?

The spears opened into flowers because they were not harvested promptly. Sprouting broccoli spears are clusters of unopened flower buds, and in warm spring weather they can open rapidly — sometimes within 24-48 hours of reaching harvestable size. Check plants every 2-3 days during the harvest season. If any spears show yellow petals, cut them immediately to prevent the plant from diverting energy to seed production and stopping new spear growth. A few open flowers are still edible and taste sweet.

How do I protect sprouting broccoli from caterpillars?

Cabbage white butterfly caterpillars are the most common pest. The most effective prevention is fine mesh netting (Enviromesh or insect netting with less than 7mm holes) placed over plants from transplanting onwards to prevent butterflies from laying eggs. If caterpillars are already present, hand-pick them regularly — check the undersides of leaves where they hide and feed. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray is an organic biological control that targets caterpillars without harming beneficial insects.

Can I grow sprouting broccoli in containers?

It is possible but challenging due to the plant's size and long growing season. Use a container of at least 30 litres (8 gallons) per plant with drainage holes, filled with rich compost-based potting mix. Position in full sun and water consistently — containers dry out faster than garden soil. The main challenges are the plant's height (60-90 cm) and top-heavy nature requiring staking, and the need for regular feeding over many months. Dwarf varieties are not widely available, so expect a large plant that occupies the container for 9-11 months.