Purple Broccoli

Purple Broccoli Starter Plants in 4-Inch or 5-Inch Pots Available in Jupiter, FL

Add bold color and gourmet flavor to your winter garden with Purple Broccoli—a cool-season standout with vibrant violet heads and tender, sweet stalks. Unlike traditional green varieties, Purple Broccoli brings beauty and high-antioxidant nutrition to both your garden bed and your dinner plate. This variety thrives in South Florida's mild winter temperatures, making it a reliable and productive choice from fall through early spring.

These starter plants, available in 4-inch or 5-inch pots, are already hardened off and ready to plant in raised beds or larger containers.

Care & Growing Info (Optimized for South Florida):

Sunlight: Full sun is ideal—at least 6 hours daily. Purple Broccoli produces best with consistent sun exposure during the cool months.

Watering: Moderate. Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Use mulch to conserve moisture and protect shallow roots.

Soil: Rich, well-draining soil with high organic matter. Amend with compost before planting and maintain fertility with side-dressings of worm castings or organic fertilizer.

Fertilizer: Apply a nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer at planting, followed by balanced feeding every 3–4 weeks. Crucial during the leafy growth phase and early head formation.

Growth Habit: Upright rosette with central stalk forming a single head. May produce side shoots after main harvest.

Temperature: USDA Zones 9–11 for fall/winter growing. Prefers temps between 50°F and 75°F. Plant in fall for best results in South Florida.

Maintenance: Low to moderate. Protect young plants from caterpillars (especially cabbage loopers) using row covers or neem spray. Remove yellowing leaves to maintain airflow.

Harvest & Seasonality:

Planting Time: September through January is ideal for South Florida gardens.

Harvest Time: 60–90 days from transplanting. Cut the central head when it's tight and about 4–6 inches across.

How to Harvest: Use a clean knife to cut the main head before it begins to loosen or flower. Allow side shoots to develop for continued harvests.

Seasonal Notes: Best eaten fresh, steamed, or roasted. Holds color well in light cooking and adds a striking touch to winter meals.

Medicinal & Nutritional Benefits:

Purple Broccoli is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, fiber, and powerful anthocyanins—the same antioxidants found in blueberries and red cabbage. These compounds support immune function, heart health, and inflammation reduction, making this not just a beauty, but a health powerhouse.

Ideal For:

• Raised bed and backyard vegetable gardens

• Fall and winter planting in South Florida

• Gardeners seeking both ornamental and edible value

• Culinary gardeners growing nutrient-rich produce

• Companion planting with calendula, dill, or nasturtiums

Plant Classification:

Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea var. italica
Common Name: Purple Broccoli
Plant Type: Cool-season vegetable
Family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family)
Class: Dicot – Broad-leafed plant with a deep taproot and branched vein structure
Growth Form: Upright annual vegetable
Evergreen/Deciduous: Neither—this is a seasonal crop
Perennial or Annual: Annual—completes its life cycle in one season

Container Sizes: 4-inch or 5-inch pots