Purple sprouting broccoli

[gledhillbo]

I have just about finished cropping my purple sprouting broccoli and it is sensational in the kitchen. But it is so late harvesting it gets in the way of spring cultivation and spring planting.

Is there a variety that crops before Christmas and is finished by March? - Bob

[gledhillbo]

[Merry Tiller]

I know exactly what you mean, mine was supposed to be early purple sprouting and it's still going strong

[tim]

It was an amazing season for sprouting. But you really don't have to stick to purple. I reckon the green & white are nicer.

Marshalls Tenderstem. Autumn.
                Garnet.    From Christmas.
                Nabana.   From August.

Organic.    Rudolph.   From December - or earlier.
                 Spike.       From August.
                 Bordeaux .From June - November..

[Justy]

I have some of this in pots on deck at the moment.  Never eaten it but so many people seemed to recommend it that I though I would give it a try.  Is it ok to plant out now?  What do I do with it once planted?  My books don't seem to mention it.

[Svea]

plant out - yes.
do with it? other than netting against birds, and protecting against cabbage root fly and slugs - i suggest you let it grow? ;)

[telboy]

You may need to stake it, it can grow tall.

[Merry Tiller]

No sorry, I much prefer 'Purple' Sprouting, sourced my seed from a different place last year and I'm glad I did, it tastes even better than usual, had to freeze a ton of it yesterday as I need the land now for my squashes

[gledhillbo]

In my part of Lancashire the biggest villain for broccoli and all brassicas is cabbage white caterpillers. I crush them daily, spray derris daily and it goes on for weeks and weeks. I am trying nematode worms for slug control this year, just wish there was something more effective than derris for caterpillars. And since my allotment is in my back garden I don't want great hoops of fleece greeting me when I look out of the back window

[gunnerbee]

gledhillbo, you could get a couple of pet chickens, just had mine 2 months now and they eat anything nasty that i find, and repay me with lovely eggs and manure for the garden.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Had you thought of trying BT? I've hsed it for greater wax moth, and it was really effective, the horrible things just vanished. I haven't tried it on cabbage whites though. There are different strains for different caterpillars, so I assume there's one for these pests.

[tim]

Once again - fleece or mesh them?