Purple Cape winter Cauliflower?

[antsuxx]

  Hi all,lovley dollop of rain again here in sussex, right , iv just bought a pack of purple cape broccoli ready to plant , any one grown this please , tips always welcome ,
                       thanks . Ant :)

[antsuxx]

[saddad]

Purple Cape is a true Cauli... grows near the ground not up a tall stem. I'd have started it off before now... but try a few... it will grow through the Winter in milder areas... the "Cape" in the name is South Africa...  :)

[realfood]

The central flower head is fairly small, but it should grow smaller side heads as well. It must be the hardiest of the cauliflowers, and I think that it must be closely related to purple sprouting broccoli, judging by colour and shape.

[saddad]

I've had heads 10-12" across... but no side heads...  :-\

[Robert_Brenchley]

Early records from the 19th Century describe it as a broccoli. It's probably been selected to be more cauliflower-like over time.

[antsuxx]

  Well thanks, will be interesting to see
what the end result will be like then,

  :)

[tim]

So sad it doesn't keep its colour when cooked?

[plainleaf]

Robert_Brenchley early records from 19 century also
called patty pan squash marrows. I don't put to much stock in 19 century categories and convention .   Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette) .

[Robert_Brenchley]

Eh??? What on earth has a broccoli/cauliflower got to so with patty pans, marrows or courgettes?

[plainleaf]

robert it is a matter of classification and categories in both case people did not know the right classifications the the veg were in though lack knowledge or ignorance.   

[Robert_Brenchley]

I don't know about the US, but squashes weren't grown much here back then, so maybe it's not so surprising if they didn't distinguish them as we do now. What makes you think they were 'ignorant' about standard European veg? So much of what we grow now was developed back then, after all.

[tim]

Given a Marrow & a Courgette, how do you tell them apart??

[saddad]

Shame on you Tim... Size isn't everything....  :-X

[Deb P]

The purple cape I'm growing is actually looking a lot more like PSB at the moment, so much so I'm beginning to wonder if I have had a mix up somewhere...... ::)

[pumkinlover]

Given a Marrow & a Courgette, how do you tell them apart??

Dunno but if you are looking for something to do with them- you cannot go far wrong with Gadget's ginger and marrow jam!!!!

[Bean_Queen]

 Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette)

Ya really know how to make friends doncha?   ;D

[plainleaf]

  Until a few years ago most people on this board could not tell difference between a marrow and zucchini(courgette)

Ya really know how to make friends doncha?   ;D

it is not my fault that certain people had no idea what they were talking about as for the difference between the two.
the answer can be found in the book :The Compleat Squash"
or you you can email Dr harry Paris for further details.
there several threads already  deal with this subject.