Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: tim on July 19, 2008, 19:02:42

Title: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 19, 2008, 19:02:42
Someone else mentioned it?

The Maypole Calabese has been 'in' - off & on - since April. All 'sideshoots'.

The Peter Spring Cabbage too! This one was 2.5 lb stripped.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: kt. on July 19, 2008, 19:06:09
Is the cabbage washed & bagged to be frozen whole?  Or to be kept in the fridge ready for the pot......
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: calendula on July 19, 2008, 22:08:31
I agree Tim, the brassicas are early as well - my caulis not supposed to be ready yet, cabbage hispi can hardly keep up with and they all look so healthy as well - maybe a lack of cabbage white butterflies + the rain + the cooler conditions - whatever they really are the mainstay for me, love all the brassicas and hope the good fortune carries on to and through the winter
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: Froglegs on July 20, 2008, 07:02:16
My Zen Calabese is the same Tim.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: PurpleHeather on July 20, 2008, 07:27:27
Great results here too.

Friends and neighbours as well as relatives getting a share there is so much.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: saddad on July 20, 2008, 08:24:24
Ours are doing really well too.....  :)
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 20, 2008, 09:14:31
KT - both picks were for No2 Daughter to take to Cornwall yesterday.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: manicscousers on July 20, 2008, 15:42:32
our calabrese is doing really well, didn't expect it yet  ;D
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 21, 2008, 06:15:59
A good year, yes, but all that glistens is not gold!!

The plants are thriving & some are giNORmous but, as with the Romanesco, some heads are disappointing.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: saddad on July 21, 2008, 07:36:01
Went to an Open Day (NGS) yesterday and he had some Romanesco which were the only thing not behaving this year! Oh and he said shooting the Pigeons was a very effective deterrent, when I asked him why they weren't netted!
;D
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: Deb P on July 21, 2008, 07:46:50
My calabrese are all harvested now, 'Marathon & Parthenon', and I can't keep up with the cauliflowers! Have tried 'Trevi' bright green cauli this year, just starting to be ready now...different!
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: manicscousers on July 21, 2008, 08:55:39
interesting, that, I thought it was just our romanesco  :-\
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 21, 2008, 09:37:36
It's good to talk!!
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 21, 2008, 11:02:48
This shows the Romanesco leaf size better - compared with the rather poor heads.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: Mushy Pea on July 21, 2008, 12:24:50
Does anyone have a picture of a romanesco 'head'?  A plot neighbour kindly gave us quite a few brassicas which are doing really well.  But what I labelled as broccoli, seem to look a bit like a cauliflower head, BUT there are dark bits among the white curds.  Just wondering a) could they be romanesco, or b) if they are withering away.  :'(  Leaves look healthy.  Will have to get OH to take a piccie....

This sounds a bit like the 12 brussels we bought from a nursery.  They now have turnips on the end.  :-\

Hope I have explained myself okay.....
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 21, 2008, 12:43:08
That's Romanesco in my 4th photo - or trying to be!!
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: Mushy Pea on July 21, 2008, 12:56:43
Tim, on looking at the photo, I don't think ours is Romanesco.  Unless it changes in the next few weeks of course!  Is it supposed to be a cross between broccoli and Cauli?  Yours certainly looks good enough to eat  ;D

We harvested a smashing broccoli (marathon) yesterday for today's tea  ;D
OH and I stood and looked at it for a while and then out came the knife.  It will be in the pot tonight!
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: antipodes on July 21, 2008, 13:01:55
romanesco, when I grew it was definitely green from beginning to end! It has a distinctive pointy head on it, like an upside down cone inside a sheaf of leaves.
Personally i prefer green broccoli (whay you guys call calabrese) but a  lot of folk like the milder flavour of romanesco, I certainly found it easy to grow.
Title: Re: Good year for Brassica?
Post by: tim on July 21, 2008, 15:51:22
We find Romanesco the most flavoursome of the breed.

And it breaks up into convenient florets. Very crisp.