Calabrese

[tim]

Strange. Maypole started the year stunted, gave small heads in late April & tried to go to seed.

Now look at it - 5 heads!! Even the one that I showed decimated by pigeons has woken up.

[tim]

[jonny211]

Sounds like it needs a good talking to Tim.

[calendula]

how have you got it so early Tim, I haven't even planted mine out yet, I know it is a bit late but even so I would love to have calabrese that early  :)

[manicscousers]

just spotted one of our romanesco hearting up, trouble is, it's been slugged  :-\

[tim]

Planted 29 Sept Calendula.

[calendula]

right, overwintered - I always thought it was a tender plant, to be sown in May and harvested in the Autumn - are there many varieties you can sow like this or does it depend on it being mild - I can understand it haerting up now but ready to eat surprised me  :)

[delboy]

Mine are started in Feb in an unheated greenhouse and planted out in early April.. mind you this is the pansy South..

Have had brilliant heads, but the fleece has to stay over them to keep the bugs and pests at bay.

[tim]

Addendum!

Speaking of Fleece - just checked under mine & find that this year's sowing is ready.

That's bad timing!!

Sown 30/3 - put out 5/5.

[calendula]

 :o

next year I'm going to sow mine much earlier then - one of my favourite brassicas, but at least I still have a lot to look forward too - romanesco still proves to be a challenge but the plants look good right now - always hopeful

[Deb P]

I've tried Marathon and Parthenon this year, both F1 varieties from P.O.D, but they have done the old F1 trick of all being ready at the same time.... very large heads frozen for later use now (note to self, must successional sow next year!!)
The non F1 varieties look a bit pathetic in comparison, but are going to help me spread the harvest a bit..they were all planted out in early May!