Can someone please explain to me in very simple terms what all these broccoli's are,what they are like etc and do they have variety names if I go looking for them.
I understand the broccoli that grows in the summer, big jade green head, cut it and it gets babies,I think it is called calabrese here. This I grow without any trouble, big beautiful heads.
I am trying to understand the PSB stuff, I can't. I thought it grew through the winter but I think I am wrong on that. I think some does but not all.
PLEASE someone help, take away the mystery. !! Thank you Jeannine
I am no expert Jeannine, but my Purple Sprouting Broccoli, or 'wok broc' has been sown in the unheated greenhouse. This will be planted out in May time and then grows slowely all summer long. Then I assume something in the plant in triggered by the cold snap, because as soon as the spring temps started going up, my purple sprouting sprouted! You have a BIG plant covered with lots of flowering side shoots. You do get a largish central head, but no way near as big as calabrese.
9 star perennial is a large brassica plant which you plant as a slightly more permanent veg. I don't know when this is traditionally meant to sprout, but mine is forming small heads at the moment. The only downside with this beast, and I don't know if this is just mine or normal, is it has a wide girth! It has so many branches it takes up quite a large area - I may oik it out after this harvest. I don't know how many years they are recommended to keep for.
White sprouting broc for me is similar to PSB, but it is a bit later. Again, has hogged the ground for almost a year, but now there are largish central flowering heads, and lots of smaller side shoots. The theory is, when my PSB has finished, the white takes over, then the 9 star, and then, fingers crossed, I should have a couple of caulis!
Emma, the bit I really don't understand is the PSB thing.I am told there is early sprouting and late sprouting. In a book I have just read it says that early PSB matures in February/March and late in March/April, but someone told me that early means you eat it this year not next year, then there is a early and late white sprouting too but that matures in March/April(early) and the late in April/May.
What I can't seem to find is when I sow these different types, and do they grow this year and burst into life again next year.
Is the perennial one tasty? Would you grow it if you had more room?
I am trying hard to get all this but growing squash is easier!!!
Thank you XX Jeannine
May I come in on this? J, it's exactly as Emma wrote....'early' and 'late' refer to cropping next year, not this...some years my 'late'PSB cropped in April/May....this year I'm cropping it now, presumably because of our short winter. You can sow both WSB & PSB at the same time...from now onwards..I usually do mine early May.
9 star I think I've recently written about somewhere else? As Emma wrote, it's a huge plant...mine was over 5' tall, with a formidable spread...I had 3 plants which formed a hedge....thousands of sprouting bits, but none reached the expected small cauliflower sized curds. It was supposed to go on for 3 years, but, like Emma, I took mine out after the first year.....yes, it was tasty but as I'd got PSB growing, there was just too much of a good thing!
Thank you I have it now,I have just bought seeds of late PSB online(I had early) I also bought early and late WSB, but I couldnt get 9 star perennial,all gone!!
XX Jeannine
Rather jealous - never seem to get a good central head with modern varieties.
Timing? Take Marshalls as an example -
Bordeaux Crop July-Oct
Garnet Crop from Christmas.
Purple Blend Crop Jan-Apr
White Crop Feb-Apr
Tenderstem - as in the supermarket - will crop in the Autumn.
I'm growing Nabana this year Crop from August.
Tim do you grow the Romescu cauli/broc thing if not this would fill the Nov - late Dec gap in your range
Oh Tim thanks, the first 4 you mentioned I bought,XX Jeannine
Glowie - indeedy - just hardening off!!
Thanks for this thread... I NOW understand! have been quite baffled by all the varieties of brocolli too... must get some PSB seed quick, it is one of my favourite veg and I have always missed the boat previously.
Now get stuck into the Calabrese varieties!!
Pity I did not see your pictures earlier - I direct sowed both calabrese and purple sprouting broc onto the lottie this week-end. Hope I get a decent crop. The parnips were disappointing as I pregerminated and our of two rows only got 1 plant germinate!! Have replanted this week-end (without pre germinating) and will see the difference.
Jitterbug
It's more normal to sow in a seed bed & transplant when big enough.
Hi Tim, I got Red Arrow today is that any good? XX Jeannine
No expert on this, but it's highly recommended as an early. Which is surprising, because it 'crops from March'!
The only really different sproutings, I think, are Tendergreen & Nabana. Have yet to try the latter this year.