Purple Broccoli, also known as Purple Sprouting Broccoli, is a vibrant heirloom vegetable prized for its beautiful deep purple florets, sweet earthy flavor, and exceptional nutritional value. This colorful cool-season crop stands out in both the garden and the kitchen while offering outstanding versatility for fresh and cooked dishes.
The rich purple coloration comes from anthocyanins, beneficial antioxidants also found in blueberries and purple cabbage. Purple broccoli has a slightly sweeter and milder flavor compared to traditional green broccoli, making it excellent for roasting, steaming, stir-fries, soups, salads, and fresh side dishes.
This hardy variety performs especially well in cooler weather and can be harvested throughout spring and early summer. Purple broccoli is easy to grow and highly rewarding, making it a favorite for home gardeners, homesteads, and market growers seeking both beauty and nutrition.
Purple Broccoli Seed Details
- Quantity: 30 Seeds
- Plant Type: Heirloom Broccoli
- Floret Color: Deep Purple
- Flavor: Sweet Mild Earthy Flavor
- Growth Habit: Upright and Productive
- Seed Planting Depth: 1/4 Inch
- Germination Temperature: 55-70°F
- Days to Germination: 5-10 Days
- Row Spacing: 24 Inches
- Plant Spacing: 15-18 Inches
- 100' Row Yield: 45 Pounds
- Sun Requirements: Full Sun
- Cool Weather Crop: Yes
- Ideal Uses: Roasting, Stir-Fries, Salads, Soups, Steaming, Fresh Side Dishes, Market Gardens, Homesteads
How to Save Seeds
Broccoli will readily cross pollinate with other members of the Brassica oleracea family including cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and brussels sprouts, so separate varieties by at least 1 mile for maintaining seed purity.
Purple broccoli is biennial and requires overwintering before producing seeds. Leave healthy plants in the garden throughout winter, protecting them with mulch if necessary in colder climates.
During the second growing season the plants will send up flower stalks after the heads begin to open and bloom. Allow the flowers to mature naturally until seed pods begin to form.
Harvest the seed pods once they begin drying on the plant but before they split open naturally. Allow pods to finish drying indoors if needed, then crack them open and separate the seeds from the chaff for storage.
