Topic: Waiting for purple sprouting broccoli

[Digeroo]

If any start to show a hint of yellow then I cut them off as quickly as possible and it may produce some more.  Be brutal.

[antipodes]

So surprised that in France no one knows what it is! My neighbour said to me, is that still producing spears? He thought it was calabrese left over from summer!  I said it was "spring broccoli" and that the English eat it. He was amazed.
I got another bag full yesterday so I have frozen it. We are getting a wee bit sick of it! I just ordered some seeds to start sowing again for next winter!

[Ninnyscrops.]

[/U

when do you know its ready?

RL]

Similar or the same as this  ;)

Ninny

[Duke Ellington]

What month do you sow PSB seeds?

Duke

[Ninnyscrops.]

I'd sow them the back end of this month up to early June, Duchess - once planted late in summer a good watering and netting and a long wait  ;)

Ninnysssssssssssss

[Duke Ellington]

Ta!! Ninnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnys :)

[steve76]

 Hi all
antipodes you say you freeze yours how's best to do this do you blanch or just put it in no fuss??? Iam getting half to a carry bag every picking and love the stuff, would love to be able to have it longer than the season allows..

Many thanks
 steve.

[Ninnyscrops.]

Not a freezer of PSB here, as we don't plant too many plants that we have a glut. I think they are too delicate, a little like asparagus, best eaten fresh.

Someone will be along to give you their best tips.

Ninnys

[pigeonseed]

How come yours are as tall as a house, Tony? What have you been feeding them??  :o ;D

I'm really enjoying this year's - delicious. And getting loads of about 8 plants too. I couldn't see what the fuss was about when I grew them last year - maybe they're an acquired taste.

[boydzfish]

I had almost given up on mine as well - planted last autumn but there are a couple of sprouts now so I won't dig them up for the compost bin!!!

[artichoke]

I have found that if I blanch mine very briefly, plunge into cold water, and freeze, it is very like fresh broccoli. I use this to extend the season a bit - I wouldn't keep it frozen for months, just days or weeks.

[Bing]

mine PSB has  been infected with bugs, they hide under leaf and inside the purple head.

I used slat water to wash them but still have them after boiling.

how to avoid the bugs? anyone?

[antsuxx]

 :)  My  4 ramainling plants almost ready for picking, took a photo but dont know how to post on here.

[Kleftiwallah]

Worth waiting for.



Demolished it last night with Barnsley chop, carrots and spuds.     Cheers,     Tony.

[Deb P]

Good pickings from my four netted plants, so I will be having them tonight! Yum!

[strawberry1]

I picked the last yesterday and all 7 plants are now chopped up in the compost bin. I have a dilemma in that I only have an 8 x 4 bed but it is a good bed and under a very sturdy and high cage. I am certainly not growing 7 this year but I have some rudolf and some red arrow on the go. I also have doric sprout doing well and now samson calabrese, so I have to make some cold calculating decisions as the other beds ar spoken for. My thinking is for 2 x samson, 2 x doric and 2 psb BUT which one gives best value for space ie red arrow or rudolf?

My last lot were an afterthought, so I got a great set of psb plants from ebay but unlabelled