Topic: ?

[Glyn]

Does anyone recognize this veg?

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Apparently it's Italian "Cabbage/Cauliflower"

[Mimi]

I have seen it somewhere Glyn.  Wracking my brains here but I think that it may be called fabinachi, but Im sure that someone else more knowledgabel will tell you. 

[ruud]

Hi glyn,it is called romanesco,tastes a little bit like cauliflower/broccoli.I had it also on my plot.

[ruud]

Glyn,look at this webside and you find the information you need.www.italianseedandtool.com

[Glyn]

That's it ruud, I found it rather too dense in texture and flavour, and could only manage small portion's, but never the less very palatable?

You were close Mimi, so close.

Thanks

ps It so reminded me off Christmas cos they look like xmas tree's don't they?

[ina]

Did you grow that one Glyn?
They are available at the greengrocers here in Holland. I think they look so pretty, just wish I could grow cabbage things in my lottie but the clubroot is too wide spread.

[Glyn]

It's taken me half an hour to get in here and post this reply, just to say "No I didn't grow it Ina". The mrs picked it up at the market and they were'nt sure what it was there? 

So thanks all

[Mimi]

I remember now when I saw this.  Over the Chistmas period here we have some lectures from the Royal Institute.  These are usually science or physics based.  A few years ago they did a series of lectures on 'fractals' and they used one of these cauliflowers as an example. 
Quote:         Simply put, fractals are shapes which show similar features at different sizes. Much as a very close inspection of a rock can show similar features to an aerial view of a mountain, fractal shapes are characterized by this property of self-similarity.
 
Woohoo.... science stuff  :)

[Glyn]

Hence the mountain of Christmas trees Mimi?

 

[Pixie]

They sell them in Safeways (sorry Morrisons) in Cornwall my lover said there was no way he was going to eat one - cali should look like cali as that is waht they are marketing it as.

Sam

[Mrs Ava]

I grew them on the plot, altho not successfully as I fear my soil was toooo soft for them to head up properly, however, they have produced masses and masses of smaller spears which I have been cutting like brocolli and enjoying for ages!

[john_miller]

You could be finding out why F₁ varieties are so popular EJ, rather than anything you have done. Sometimes called the 'Mother of Broccoli'. Presumably because broccoli/calabrese was developed from it.

[gavin]

Oooh yes - romanesco;  beautiful to look at, and truly gorgeous to eat. 

And easy to grow on my old plot - anxiously waiting to see if they grow as easily on the new.  If it grow easily on your soil - well worth a go, imho :-)

All best - Gavin

[john_miller]

Unfortunately not in a climate where it isn't winter hardy Gavin. The unevenness EJ has noted really makes it a waste of space here- I came to that conclusion after three years of growing it in the 1980's and getting less than 50% of harvestable heads before frost ruined it. That included trying in the last two years the cultivar 'Minaret' which promised improved uniformity. My abandoning it is despite my opinion of it's flavour agreeing with yours- I would imagine Glyn got some heads grown in California, which would put anyone off! My trials with red Brussels sprouts also ended with the same conclusion despite, again, their noticeably better flavour than others.

[gavin]

Ah, John - definitely a strong argument for moving house!  :-)

All best - Gavin