PSB questions

[Digeroo]

I have several questions about PSB

1.  Some of the plants of other allotments holders were devasted by cabbage white but are now covered in new leaves.  Some people have already got broccoli.  Was removing all the caterpillars a good idea?

2.  Some people have had very very early purple shoots but very poor yield.  Any ideas why please. One allotmenteer had this happen to a high percentage of plants.

3.  If I fleece up some of the plants will they produce earlier.

4.  Are there any ways of hurrying things up?

[Digeroo]

[Tee Gee]

My guess is;  it is this spell of mild weather we are having that has got the plants out of sync!

Usually PSB heads develop  after a cold spell which we have not really had yet.

I think we have only had one frost upto press.

I think the plants reproduction cycle has kicked in a bit early hence the poor yield.

I wouldn't expect a crop for at least another two or three months yet so I would say there is still hope for your plants yet.

I would say no to covering them with fleece!

[tim]

Good thinking.

On the other hand, you can harvest PSB from September to May - depending on variety.

[Digeroo]

PSB from September

Like the thought of them in September which varieties are best for this.  Tried Rudolph but did not grow well.

[RobinOfTheHood]

This may be worth a try, I think I'm going to give em a go as my PSB seeds are 4 years old now.

http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/catalogue/product/14415/

[tim]

"Extra Early Rudolf"?

Of course, poor performance is not always the fault of the variety.

[Digeroo]

Actually I think it was particularly favoured by the pigeons.  In fact only variety they went for.

[Borlotti]

As there was nothing much to pick at the allotment and I wanted some veg. I picked some PSB leaves and some brussel sprout tops to cook.  I know brussel tops are OK because Mum made me eat them, but are PSB leaves OK as don't want to poison OH tonight.

[PurpleHeather]

I must say with aldi selling large caulis for 39p. Same for washed parsnips and a big bag of sprouts, there was plenty of other fruit and vegetables cheap, too. It was not worth getting my feet wet and muddy going over the plot which is squelchy after the rain in the NW.


Plot and shop are an equidistant walk in different directions from our house so the dog still got a walk and was less muddy too.

Back to the question. PSB seems to have a mind of its own, I get the odd one producing in July just after planting out (nothing of any decent quality) and others waiting until the following Easter.  They have all been treated exactly the same and even planted next to each other.

[Robert_Brenchley]

PSB, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels, and half a dozen more that I've missed, are all varieties of the same plant. You can eat all the leaves without worrying.