Broccoli

[Paulines7]

I inspected my brassicas this morning and was amazed to see some large broccoli heads.  However, on closer inspection, the middles were all soggy.  I assume this is frost damage, so would covering with fleece have prevented it?  I thought broccoli was hardy.  ::)  ::)

[Paulines7]

[saddad]

If it makes one large central head it is summer broccoli/Calabrese which likes it cool but is quite tender. Sprouting Broccoli is very hardy but puts out spears in spring...
Fleece might have helped, as we haven't had any really hard/prolonged frosts yet.
:-\

[Paulines7]

Saddad, thanks for your reply.  Each plant had one large central head as you described so must be summer broccoli.   We had some very severe frosts a few weeks ago and I am on the edge of Salisbury Plain where it can get very cold.  I must try to get them in earlier next year.   ::)

[artichoke]

I sowed seeds of Purple Sprouting Broccoli, an "early" variety, expected in spring, and to my dismay, they are also producing heads. I shall be very sad if we get them all now rather than in the spring. I have taken one off to see what happens.