Sprouting broccoli suits a cool Scottish summer and fills the hungry gap, with fresh spears from winter into spring when little else is ready. The choice is between hardy winter types and an earlier crop.

Quick answer

Red Fire or Cardinal for the hungry gap: both are hardy, Red Fire cropping October to March and Cardinal from spring. Claret for a heavy crop, and Mendocino for an early crop from July.

What Scotland means for the choice

Broccoli is usually most successful in cooler summers, since hot weather can make the buds develop too early, which suits Scotland. Traditional varieties are slow-growing and hardy, sown in spring or early summer, forming large plants up to 90cm tall and wide that crop in winter and the following spring, and they can take eight months. Purple varieties tend to be hardier and more productive than white. Mendocino and Red Fire want non-acid soil, and much of Scotland's soil is naturally acidic, so test it and lime if needed. This is sprouting broccoli, not calabrese, the single-headed type sold in shops. The broccoli growing guide covers sowing, spacing and pests.

A purple sprouting broccoli plant with many small spears on long stems next to a calabrese plant with one large single green head
Sprouting broccoli (left) is picked a few spears at a time. Calabrese (right) is cut once.
VarietyHardinessHarvestKnown for
Red FireH5The RHS's H1a–H7 scale for how much cold a plant can survive outdoors, H1a being tender indoor-only and H7 hardy anywhere in the UK. Full definition →October to MarchVery upright plants; over-winters well; easy to pick
CardinalH5Spring to early summerVery hardy; large, deep-purple spears over a long period
ClaretH4Late spring to early summerExtremely vigorous, heavy-cropping; many side shoots
MendocinoH5July to the following MayEarly maincropThe main, usually latest-sown and longest-growing type of a crop, grown for bulk and storage rather than an early harvest. Full definition →; August planting gives a March–April harvest
Red AdmiralH4Autumn to springVigorous; uniform spears with good flavour

All except Red Admiral hold the RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGMThe RHS's Award of Garden Merit: a UK-wide trials award for reliable performance, not a Scotland-specific recommendation. Full definition →). H5 is hardy through most of the UK in a severe winter, and H4 through most of it but not the harshest.

Red Fire and Cardinal: for the hungry gap

Red Fire is a British-bred variety with exceptional yields of medium-sized, dark purple spears of excellent flavour. It over-winters well, is easy to pick and is harvested between October and March. Cardinal is a very hardy, purple sprouting variety to 60cm, with medium to large dark purple spears from spring into early summer.

Claret, Mendocino and Red Admiral

Claret is vigorous and heavy-cropping, with tender shoots and many side shoots that lengthen the harvest, but it's H4, so site it in shelter if you can. Mendocino is an excellent early maincrop with strong yields of uniform purple spears. Sow in April to June, transplant in June or July and harvest from July to the following May, or plant in August for a March–April harvest. Red Admiral doesn't hold the AGM, but it's an upright, branching plant with high-quality spears of good flavour from autumn to spring.

Which one for your situation

  • A hungry-gap harvest in late winter and early spring: Red Fire or Cardinal.
  • A heavy crop, in a sheltered spot: Claret.
  • An early crop from July: Mendocino.
  • Spears from autumn: Red Admiral.

Broccoli is a brassicaThe cabbage family: cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, swede, turnip and more, sharing the same pests, diseases and rotation rules. Full definition →, so rotate it with its relatives, and watch for clubroot, caterpillars and pigeons.

Common questions

Is purple sprouting broccoli the same as supermarket broccoli?

No. Supermarket broccoli is calabrese, with one large green head. Sprouting broccoli produces small clusters of usually purple buds on long, leafy stems, picked repeatedly for up to two months.

Which broccoli suits a Scottish winter?

Red Fire, which over-winters well and is harvested October to March. Cardinal is also very hardy, and crops from spring.

Can I grow broccoli for a summer harvest?

Yes. Mendocino is an early maincrop, sown April to June, transplanted June to July and harvested from July.

Sources

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