When to Harvest Broccoli
Quick answer:
Cut broccoli while the buds are still tightly closed, before any yellow flowers show. Calabrese is ready from July to October, when the main head is 10–15 cm across. Sprouting broccoli is ready from summer through to March depending on the variety, when the spears are well formed but still in bud. With both types, harvest the central head or spear first and keep picking the side shoots that follow for up to two months.
Broccoli is one of the few vegetables where waiting too long costs you the crop. The heads and spears are clusters of flower buds, and once they open they turn tough and lose their flavour. The good news is that picking at the right time also makes the plant produce more.
Broccoli harvest times by type
Calabrese: ready about three to four months after sowing, usually from July to October.
Summer sprouting broccoli: newer varieties that start cropping from early summer.
Winter sprouting broccoli: traditional varieties sown in spring that crop from late winter into early spring. They can take eight months or more to get there.
With a few sowings of different types, you can be picking from June right through to March. For sowing times, see when to plant broccoli in the UK
How to tell broccoli is ready
Buds closed tight: the tiny buds should be firm and packed together, with no yellow petals showing.
Good size: calabrese heads are ready at 10–15 cm across. Sprouting broccoli spears are ready once they're well formed, usually finger-thick with a small cluster of buds at the tip.
Firm to the touch: a ready head feels dense rather than loose or open.
If the buds start to loosen and you can see a hint of yellow, cut straight away. In warm weather they can go from ready to flowering in a day or two.
How to harvest calabrese
Cut the main head with a sharp knife, taking a few centimetres of stem with it.
Leave the rest of the plant in the ground.
Over the next few weeks, smaller heads form on side shoots lower down the stem.
Cut these as they reach a usable size, again before the buds open.
Side shoots keep coming for up to about eight weeks after the first cut. The young, tender leaves are edible too.
How to pick sprouting broccoli
Start with the central spear at the top of the plant.
Cut or snap each spear at its base, taking about 10 cm of stem along with any small leaves. The stem and leaves are as good to eat as the buds.
Side spears then grow from the leaf joints lower down.
Pick these every few days as they form.
A single plant can keep producing spears for up to two months.
How often to pick
Check your plants every few days once they start cropping. The more often you pick, the more new shoots the plant sends out. Leaving spears or side heads to flower tells the plant it has done its job, and it slows down.
Harvesting broccoli in hot weather
Warm spells can make broccoli flower before the heads reach full size. If you see small clusters of buds forming early, pick them straight away rather than waiting for them to grow. Keeping plants watered in dry weather helps stop this happening.
For more detail, see how often to water broccoli
Harvesting broccoli in containers
Pot-grown calabrese is harvested in the same way: cut the main head first, then pick side shoots as they appear. Plants in pots dry out quickly, so keep watering between cuts to keep the side shoots coming.
For more detail, see growing broccoli in containers
Storing broccoli
Broccoli tastes best eaten soon after picking. It keeps in the fridge for a few days and freezes well. Purple sprouting broccoli turns green when it's cooked, which is normal.
After the harvest
Once a plant stops producing new shoots, pull it up and add it to the compost heap, unless the roots are swollen with clubroot, in which case bin them. Grow broccoli and other cabbage-family crops in a different bed next year.
If your plants haven't formed heads at all, see why broccoli doesn't form heads. For the whole growing season, see how to grow broccoli in the UK
Common questions
Does broccoli grow back after you cut it?
Yes. After you cut the main head or central spear, the plant produces smaller side shoots for several weeks. Keep picking them before the buds open and they'll keep coming.
How big should broccoli be before harvesting?
Calabrese heads are ready at 10–15 cm across. Sprouting broccoli spears are ready once they're well formed with tight buds, usually picked with about 10 cm of stem.
What happens if broccoli starts to flower?
Once the buds open into yellow flowers, the head becomes tougher and less tasty. Pick any remaining tight buds straight away, and keep picking side shoots to encourage fresh ones.
When is purple sprouting broccoli ready in the UK?
Traditional purple sprouting varieties crop from late winter into early spring. Newer summer varieties can be ready from early summer, depending on when they were sown.
Harvest times and picking method based on RHS guidance.