Purple sprouting broccoli - why?

[pigeonseed]

My friend who has a veg stall visited my allotment the other day and we got to talking about purple sprouting broccoli which everyone is growing.

it's small and weedy - why do people love it so much? She sells it on her stall and it's way more expensive than normal broccoli.

what's the point of it?

;D

[pigeonseed]

[legless]

its my favourite veg. i love it.

[pigeonseed]

why - does it taste better?

[Squashfan]

Mm, it's just tender and delicious. Bit more delicate than broccoli and you get these nice leafy bits to eat as well. Little broccoli heads and then leaves. Never had it until I moved to the UK and now I'm a big fan too.

[chlodonnay]

I love it too. It's sweeter than normal broccoli and has a more delicate flavour.

[Tin Shed]

Because its so tasty - and the white sprouting broc is good as well.

[David R]

and its expensive cos you dont get much off each plant - therefore bit of a delicacy in the same league as asparagus

[cleo]

I have to disagree about yield-the plants grow huge and have a heavy crop.

Price might have more to do with `fashion` or lack of a easy ways to harvest commercially?

Like many leafy crops it has a very short shelf life-better to grow one`s own :)

[shirlton]

I wish mine did. I posted the other week asking which variety was the best cropping.

[Tee Gee]

For the amount of time it is in the ground and for what you get in return I find I can get two crops of calabrese in and out in the same time.

I can't say I have noticed much difference in flavour/tast so its calabrese for me!!

[allaboutliverpool]

Pidgeons love it, I'll take their advice!

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments2_my_allotment_in_liverpool.html

[legless]

why - does it taste better?

better than what?

all other veg? yes!  ;D

[Zippy Seale]

tried this for first time this year, and even the hot weather and not really looking after it very well, I still got a good crop of tasty veg.
this year I am going to gro w more and look after it better!
as for being in the ground a lot time, it was woprth it.

[cornykev]

My Dads mate on the lottie gave me the leaves off his PSB, it makes a lovely cabbage.  :P ;D ;D ;D

[tim]

Surely Calabrese is only an Autumn crop, TG??

[Trevor_D]

PSB is a favourite because it's the only good thing around at this time of year! We've all had our fill of cabbage & kale & leeks & parsnips and are looking forward to summer stuff. Asparagus starts at the end of April (OK - early this year) and no hope of broad beans or peas until late May/early June. So let's celebrate PSB while we've got it. (And that's the important bit - you wouldn't want it at any other time of year, would you?)

Surely Calabrese is only an Autumn crop, TG??

That's what I thought Tim. Many years ago, on a visit to Wisley in March I saw calabrese under cloches. They sowed in October, over-wintered them, planted under glass and harvested in May. That's what I've done ever since.

Sow October 12th (give or take a day or two), prick out into 3" pots & overwinter in a cold frame. When they start growing again (normally mid/late Feb) pot on into 4" pots & gradually harden off. As early as you dare plant out under bell cloches. Harvest late May/early to mid June when there's not too much else around.

[Tee Gee]

Surely Calabrese is only an Autumn crop, TG??

It is Tim but as Trevor says with a bit of protection you can succeed. This year I have not needed to protect it because of the mild winter we have had.

In fact I just cleared the last of it this morning and prepared the bed for the next crop.

This is the problem I had with PSB it was always quite late up here and I often found I needed the ground it was in when it was in, or just coming into production, hence my change of alegiance!

[pigeonseed]

okay - i'm tentatively convinced.

[Bean-around]

i have thoroughly enjoyed my PSB every Sunday lunch from beginning of March and still plenty left. I reckon its worth growing 2 early and 2 late varietes and enjoy. I have only had 3 plants on the go this year.

[Mrs Ava]

I'm with Cleo, small and weedy it isn't!  I have been picking it by the bucket full, thick succulent stems, from only 6 plants!  It is still going and I want it out as I need the room!!