Purple sprouting broccolli

[Greenfingers Jo]

I've now got a fair amount of seedlings to plant out. Any suggestions whether it is too early (I live in South Wales) and how far to space out?

Thanks

[Greenfingers Jo]

[Anne Robertson]

you typed the words right out of my fingers, I want to know that too.

[johcharly]

Just sown my today and have not grown these before so I too would be grateful for any info. :)

[LesH]

   Greetings  Planting for purple sprouting is
two foot six inches (75cm) in each direction.
If the plants are available get them in the ground, the longer they are in the ground, the bigger the final plants will be. LesH.

[johcharly]

Cheers LesH I will remember to sow mine early next year then. ::)

[David R]

I sowed perennial broccoli a couple of weeks ago, but my seedlings have wilted for no obvious reason i.e. no drought, no damping off. They have been kept in a light position, frost free but not too warm.

Never have much luck with brassica types and always end up buying 3-4 inch specimens from the garden centre to plant out. :(

[Bramley]

Have you got cabbage root fly.

If you look at the roots near the base of the plant there might be little white grubs that eat the roots which makes them look like there wilting.

[Lizard Man]

I grew some last year (grew from seed about this time of year and planted out in May I think - they did the job but were a little smaller than ones on other plots near me) and still have a few in the ground. They are just beginning to flower now but wondered if I can still eat them. Obviously they are past their best and a lot of the plant will have to be thrown because of being too bitter and/or tough. Any thoughts?

[philcooper]

If you don't need the space, I would leave them to flower and seed, they attract insects (flowers) and birds (seeds) and (in a way) are quite pretty

Phil

[wardy]

Me too Phil and the flowers are lovely and last for ages  ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

Careful buying brassica seedlings from a nursery, club root n all that!

[moonbells]

Careful buying brassica seedlings from a nursery, club root n all that!

I once rang up Gardeners' Kitchen (who do a lot of the seedling veggies in garden centres) and they assured me that their plants are always raised in sterile (but peat-based) compost so you don't have to worry about club root or anything else.

I did find slug pellets in one lot I bought but reading their website seems to imply it was the GC who put them on.

moonbells

[philcooper]

Careful buying brassica seedlings from a nursery, club root n all that!

DP,

You can usually see that the plants have been raised on a peat based compost or not - if they have then club root is not a problem.

Getting them from "friends" can be if they've raised them in the garden or on the allotment

Phil

[Lizard Man]

Need the space (and they are just too yummy to waste!).

[Mrs Ava]

Mine went in about 3 weeks ago in sunny Essex.  ;D

[tim]

Leaving it for the birds??

No, just couldn't keep up with it!!

[Mrs Ava]

oooooooooooooooooooo Furious of Essex here!  A whole row of early purple sprouting, gone thanks to a very greedy family of slugs!!  Have sown another lot, but it won't be so early now.  GGGRRR >:(

[philcooper]

Leaving it for the birds??

No, just couldn't keep up with it!!

Tim,

You should still receive a medal from the RSPB! - On the principle that they also serve who only stand and wait (or just don't get round to it) ;)

Phil

[tim]

A point of ? interest - the nearest plant - one of a dozen - is neither white, purple, perennial or tendergreen.

What ? The stems are tender for 6".

[wardy]

My plotty neighbour has one like that Tim which I thought was a sprouting cauli - it looks very tender and I wish it was mine  :)