Broccoli 'Marathon' (Brassica oleracea) – F1 Calabrese Vegetable Plants (12 Plants in 2 x 6-Cell Trays)

Broccoli 'Marathon' is a firm favourite with home growers and allotment holders, an F1 hybrid calabrese that produces large, dense, blue-green heads with a tight, uniform curd. It is known for reliable cropping, vigour and good disease resistance, including tolerance to downy mildew, and it performs well across a range of UK growing conditions.

You get 12 young broccoli plants, growing in 2 trays of 6 cells with one plant to a cell, which saves sowing from seed. Plant them out once they are well rooted and the risk of hard frost has passed.

Grow broccoli in full sun, in fertile, well-drained soil that is firm underfoot and not acidic. Space plants about 45cm apart in rows 60cm apart, and firm the soil well around each base so the plants stay stable. Keep them watered in dry spells without letting the soil become waterlogged, and feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to encourage strong growth and good heads.

Use brassica collars and netting to protect against cabbage root fly and pigeons. Cut the heads promptly while they are compact and before the florets start to yellow. Broccoli grows well in raised beds and kitchen gardens as well as allotments, and suits beginners and experienced growers alike.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Broccoli 'Marathon' (Calabrese)
• Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea Italica Group
• Fully Grown Height and Spread: Approx. 60-90cm tall and 40-60cm wide
• Growth Habit: Upright, bushy, with a central dome-shaped head
• Perfect For: Vegetable beds, raised beds, allotments, kitchen gardens
• Planting Position: Full sun
• Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, firm soil, not acidic
• Hardiness: Hardy
• Seasonal Interest: Harvest in summer and autumn
• Type: F1 hybrid vegetable