Mustard 'broccoli' tastes better than broccoli...

[Vinlander]

Found this out by chance: I have a big green mustard plant that 'volunteered' in a 30cm pot (well fertilised because the chilli it was set up for died in November). It is in my sunny front garden and got to about 60cm across.

It was going to be my backup for a hungry gap stirfry but flowered before I got to it.

One head about 3cm across and about 6 @ 1cm - taken with 15cm of stem they were just enough for a side-dish so I steamed them.

Doesn't taste of mustard at all! just the best broccoli I've ever tasted.

I will grow an extra row this year just for the heads - after all there's lots of space in winter when they bulk up. 

Pity I don't have the red type to try this year - I will next year.

[Vinlander]

[lavenderlux]

I've found that the 'Nero' Tuscan Kale is tasier than 'purple sprouting broccoli, and it stands the winter weather better.  I take out the growing point as the first 'picking' and then it sends out very tasty side shoots, and lots of them.  Purple sprouting broccoli suffered during this cold winter but the 'Nero' came through fine

[saddad]

Which reminds me the "Purple Cape" Cauli is ready...  :)

[fi]

Never heard of mustard broccoli. Is this a seed you can buy easily? is it the same as Wok Broc?  i have some wok broc seeds but never set any,

[electric landlady]

Is it the same as broccoletto? I tried to grow that but it just bolted everywhere. Hmmm...Tuscan Kale. May give that a try.

[saddad]

 I'm fairly certain Vinlander just means the flowering heads from "Mustard" as a leaf crop... :-\

[Vinlander]

I'm fairly certain Vinlander just means the flowering heads from "Mustard" as a leaf crop... :-\

Absolutely right Saddad - I think it was 'Green in the Snow' but I'm pretty sure any of the big ('chinese') mustards will do the same...

Incidentally I just tried some more spears, but boiled - and they were nothing like as good.

If you've never tried broccoli/calabrese lightly steamed then you've never really tasted it... but it is even more essential for the even less robust heads on mustard - they really are too tender to cope with the traditional English culinary disease (ie. boiled veg.).

Cheers.