Collection: Brassicas & Leafy Greens

Brassicas and leafy greens are great for growing in the UK as they can withstand lower temperatures and actually prefer to be cooler. For brassicas the optimum temperature is between 13 and 24°C, and for leafy greens it’s 10-21°C.

Brassicas are best planted in early spring (after the last frost has passed) for an autumn crop or in autumn for a spring crop. Leafy greens can be planted at any time of year when the temperature is sufficiently high, with the best time being from spring to late summer. You can also plant them in autumn, but they may need some winter protection.

Brassicas and leafy greens do best in a fertile, well drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. If your soil is very heavy or sandy, mixing in plenty of compost or well rotted manure will do the job.

Brassicas and leafy greens will do best in full sun (at least six hours per day throughout the growing season) but most will be absolutely fine with a little shade.

For the best results, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, as this could cause root rot. It’s better to water deeply once a week rather than little and often, but you shouldn’t have to water at all throughout autumn and winter.

All brassicas and leafy greens use a lot of nitrogen, so they should be regularly fed with a high nitrogen fertiliser. However, once cauliflowers, broccoli and romanesco begin to form heads, ease off on the nitrogen as it can cause splitting or bolting.

You can harvest leafy greens as a cut and come again plant - simply pick the outer leaves whenever you need them and more will grow, or wait and harvest the whole head when it’s fully grown. Brassicas are ready to pick once their heads are firm and have reached a good size. With broccoli, once you pick the main head, leave the plant in the ground as it will then start to produce more side shoots. There’s lots more advice from our growers in these guides to growing cauliflowers and growing broccoli.