How to Grow Broccoli in Pots Step by Step

Broccoli is one of those crops that seems "for a big garden," but it grows perfectly in a pot if you respect two things: a deep pot and the cool weather it needs. In return it gives you a generous central head and, if you look after it, weeks of side shoots.

When to plant it

Broccoli is a cool-season crop: it thrives between 50 and 68 °F (10–20 °C). In strong heat it "bolts" (flowers suddenly) and the head opens up too early. That's why it's sown in late summer for a fall harvest, or in late winter for a spring crop. In warm climates, avoid the peak of summer.

Pot and soil

A deep, wide pot: 10–12 in (25–30 cm) deep and 2.5–4 gal (10–15 L) per plant.
One plant per medium pot; broccoli takes up a lot of room.
A compost-rich mix with good drainage. It's a heavy feeder: it appreciates a balanced fertilizer during growth.

Varieties for pots

Not every broccoli variety suits a balcony. Look for:

Small-headed or compact varieties, which take up less room and mature sooner.
Sprouting types, which give lots of small side shoots instead of one big head: ideal for harvesting a little at a time at home.
Purple sprouting broccoli is very hardy, cold-tolerant and highly productive in shoots — perfect for pots.

If it's your first time, start in cell trays and transplant to the final pot once the seedling has 4–5 true leaves.

Sun and temperature

It wants full sun (at least 6 hours), but cool temperatures. In hot areas, a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade extends the harvest and keeps it from bolting.

Watering

Water regularly and consistently: the soil should stay moist but not waterlogged. A lack of water stresses the plant and encourages it to flower early. Water the base, not the leaves, to prevent fungi like powdery mildew.

Pests to watch

Broccoli is a brassica and attracts the usual pests:

Gray or green aphids on the undersides and the head: check often and treat early with insecticidal soap. See our guide to aphids.
Cabbage white caterpillars that chew holes in the leaves. Pick them off by hand or use Bacillus thuringiensis.
A light insect mesh keeps the butterflies from laying eggs.

Harvest: the side-shoot trick

Cut the central head when it's firm, tight and green, before the buds open into little yellow flowers.
Make a clean, angled cut, leaving the plant in the pot.
Don't pull it out: within a few weeks smaller side heads will sprout in the leaf axils. Harvest those too.

If you see yellow buds, you've waited too long! Flowered broccoli is still edible, but it loses flavor and texture. Always harvest a little early.

Use the whole plant

Waste almost nothing: besides the head and side shoots, broccoli's tender leaves are edible and cook like any leafy green, and the main stalk, peeled, is sweet and crunchy. If the plant ends up bolting with yellow flowers, those flowers are edible too in a salad. That way a single pot gives you several different harvests over the season.