Harvest guide

Broccoli harvest guide: when to pick and how much to expect

Broccoli has a narrow window: cut the head while the buds are tight, then keep picking the side shoots for weeks. Here is how to time it and what to expect.

Days to harvest: 70 days from transplanting(Montana State University Extension)
Harvest months: July–October(RHS)
Typical yield: 3.2 kg per 3 m row (7 lb per 10 ft)(Montana State University Extension)
Per plant: about 0.64 kg (1.4 lb) per plant(Montana State University Extension)
Spacing: 30–45 cm (12–18 in) apart, rows 45 cm (18 in) apart(RHS)
Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Botanical name: Brassica oleracea (Italica group)

Broccoli planting and harvest calendar

Sow March–June. Plant out April–June. Harvest July–October.(RHS)

Broccoli season timeline

Sow
Plant out
Harvest

Heading broccoli (calabrese). Months are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate, based on RHS (UK) guidance. Shift them earlier or later to match your own frost dates, or by about six months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Sow
Plant out
Harvest

When to harvest broccoli

Cut the main head when it is about 10–15 cm (4–6 in) across, well formed and still tightly in bud.(RHS)
Don't wait for yellow. Once flowers start to open the head is past its best, and in hot weather that can happen fast.(RHS)

How often to pick

After the main head, smaller side shoots keep coming. Check every few days and you can keep picking for up to a couple of months.(RHS)

How many broccoli to expect

A 3 m (10 ft) row typically gives about 3.2 kg (7 lb).(Montana State University Extension)

That works out to about 0.64 kg (1.4 lb) per plant. Row yield divided by the 5 plants per 10 ft row that the same table assumes (50 plants per 100 ft).(Montana State University Extension)

Yields vary with variety, weather, soil and care. Treat these as ballpark figures, not targets.

Plan for your family

For 4 people eating broccoli fresh, plan on about 20–40 plants(University of Missouri Extension). That should give roughly 13–25 kg (28–56 lb) over the season(Montana State University Extension).

To preserve or store some as well, allow 5–10 plants per person.(University of Missouri Extension)

See the full planting-per-person guide →

Storing your broccoli

Keep broccoli cold and humid. University of Minnesota Extension gives about two weeks.(University of Minnesota Extension)
It freezes well if you have more than you can eat.(RHS)

Track it

Log every broccoli harvest

Harvest Journal is a private garden journal for your phone. Tap to log each picking of broccoli by weight or count, and see your season add up, with no account needed.

Prefer paper? Make a free harvest report PDF in your browser, with no account needed.

Broccoli harvest FAQ

When should I harvest broccoli?

When the head is 10–15 cm across and the buds are still tight and green. The RHS warns that flowers can open quickly in warm weather, so check every few days.